Ahmed ABDELWAHED

With over 27 years of professional experience in international development, governance, and capacity building, I and 4 years in peace building bring a unique combination of expertise in fostering institutional resilience, designing innovative strategies, and driving impactful outcomes in some of the most complex and fragile settings, including Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, West Bank/Gaza and across the MENA region. Having successfully led multiple internationally funded initiatives, such as the Iraqi Community Action Program and evidence-based peacebuilding efforts in Syria, I have honed my ability to manage large-scale programs that integrate governance reform, civil society engagement, and conflict resolution. My tenure includes overseeing technical assistance assignments addressing public policy reform, decentralisation, and climate-sensitive governance, aligning seamlessly with the mission of international organisations to create transformative change in the most challenging environments. Notably, as Team Leader and Program Manager for the "Strengthening Resilience in Dealing with Crises and Conflicts in Ninewa" project, I directed a multidisciplinary team in implementing participatory, inclusive, and sustainable peacebuilding strategies. Similarly, during my leadership of the Governorates Capacity Building Program in Iraq (funded by DFID), I developed strategic frameworks and facilitated high-level dialogues that strengthened local government capacities and promoted citizen engagement. My work exemplifies a commitment to participatory action research (PAR) and applying both qualitative and quantitative methodologies to inform sustainable development practices. Beyond program implementation, I have contributed to thought leadership in the field, with publications like “The Role of Civil Society Organisations and the Private Sector in Filling Gaps in Service Delivery” (HFI360, USAID) and advisory contributions to provincial strategic development plans in Iraq. My ability to synthesise complex research into actionable insights has consistently informed policy development and fostered collaborative stakeholder relationships. My expertise in MEAL system development and implementation, including frameworks such as OECD-DAC and outcome harvesting, has allowed me to deliver measurable results in multi-donor, multi-implementer programs. At the heart of my work lies a commitment to resilience programming and addressing the intersection of climate change and conflict, evidenced by leading evaluations that assess climate-conflict dynamics and inform adaptive strategies.