Board Members
Prof. Dr. Djawed
Sangdel
Presently, Prof. Djawed SANGDEL serves as Director General of SWISS UMEF, a higher education institution founded in Geneva in 1984, which is accredited by the Swiss Council of Accreditation as a university institute of applied sciences. Prof. SANGDEL is an educator strongly involved in the education of minorities in developing countries.
He has also created and directed several private universities on three continents: Europe, Asia and Africa. He has a keen interest in education policy and its impact on creating a sustainable society. He has published numerous articles and books on the topics of leadership and education.
AMBASSADOR M. ASHRAF HAIDARI
M. Ashraf Haidari served as the Ambassador of Afghanistan to Sri Lanka and was concurrently the Director-General of the South Asia Cooperative Environment Program (SACEP) from 2018 to 2022. He was the Director-General of Policy and Strategy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan from 2015 to 2018, during which he consistently promoted the development of youth leadership and meritocracy to underpin recruitment processes against nepotism. Before this role, he served as Afghanistan’s Deputy Chief of Mission to India, following his term as Afghanistan’s Deputy Assistant National Security Advisor. Currently, Ambassador Haidari is a Senior Fellow at the World in 2050, Diplomatic Courier, and has taught as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. Notably, he is the recipient of several awards, including the 2021 Roots of Peace Global Citizen Award for his work in humanitarian diplomacy, promoting peace and prosperity through youth and women’s empowerment in conflict-affected countries from Afghanistan to Vietnam.
Dr. Hedayatullah
Stanekzai
Dr. Hedayatullah STANEKZAI is a senior adviser to The Medical Management and Research Courses Afghanistan (MMRCA). Dr. STANEKZAI have led projects, including developing service provision in primary, secondary, and tertiary care projects.
DR. STANEKZAI contributed to effective implementation of some vertical health projects and programs (including child survival interventions at community level; Malaria and lashmaniosis control programs; tuberculosis control program; hospital management programs and health emergencies in refugee camps).
Dr. Homaira
Rahimi
Dr. Homaira Rahimi is a Co-founder and Vice President of Women For Afghanistan (WFA), an NGO registered under the Swiss Law in Geneva, Switzerland. Also, Dr. Rahimi is a Co-founder and the External Relations Manager in Child Life Action (CLA).
Prior to these positions, she worked as training & international cooperation officer in International Civil Defence Organization and an international consultant in Advancing Afghan Trade project with International Trade Center in Geneva, Switzerland. Dr. Rahimi also served as public relation & project coordinator consultant with the United Nations for Training & Research in Geneva, Switzerland.
Gilles-Emmanuel
Jacquet
Mr. Gilles-Emmanuel Jacquet is the vice-president of the Geneva International Peace Research Institute. He holds a master’s degree in political science and a Master degree in European studies, both obtained at the University of Geneva.
Mr. Jacquet worked as an intern at the UNHCR and was employed by the French Ministry of Justice, as well as the French embassy in Moldova and the Alliance Française of Chişinău.
Mr. Jacquet works as a lecturer for various private universities in Geneva and also worked as a university lecturer in Kabul in 2012-2013.
Taranum Orya
Taranum Orya holds a robust academic foundation in Political Science and Public Administration, complemented by a master’s degree in International Development with a concentration in Forced Migration, Refugees, and Belonging from Clark University. As a member of a research team in the USA focused on Afghan immigrants, Taranum actively contributes to scholarly work aimed at improving the lives of displaced communities, ensuring their stories and challenges are recognized and addressed. Through these endeavors, Taranum exemplifies the power of empathy, knowledge, and action in driving meaningful change for those who have been forced to leave their homeland.
Firoz
Alizada
Mr. Firoz Alizada works for the Secretariat of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention in Geneva. He provides technical support to the States Parties in their efforts to fulfill the Convention’s obligations.
He holds a bachelor’s in social and Political Science and an executive master’s in Development Policy and Practices from the Geneva Graduate Institute. He was awarded with Service-Above-Self by the Rotary.
Mohammad Ashraf
Zaki
Mr. Mohammad Ashraf Zaki is a member of the International Standards of Accounting and Reporting (ISAR) which is a Standing Intergovernmental Working Group of Experts on International Standards of Accounting and Reporting created by ECOSOC in 1983 and coordinated by UNCTAD.
Mr. Zaki has served as a diplomat in Switzerland,Turkey and he has experience of working with Finance ministry, Trade ministry and Central bank of Afghanistan.
Mr. Zaki holds a Master’s degree in International Trade from International University in Geneva. His areas of expertise include international relationship, conflict resolution and peace building.
Board of Advisors
Nourhan Moustafa
Ms. Moustafa is a seasoned professional with over five years of experience in international humanitarian law, human rights, arms proliferation and international security issues. Her extensive background encompasses a range of successful initiatives, discussions, and formal and informal dialogues, both at regional and international levels.
Khalida Faqiry
Ms. Khalida Faqiry is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP) with the Project Management Institute. She currently serves as the Legislative Program and Project Coordinator for the Municipal Government of Canada, specifically the City of Ottawa.
In addition to her governmental role, Ms. Faqiry is the founder of “Creating New Paths”, a not-for-profit organization in Canada dedicated to advocating for mental health issues within newcomer communities.
Zaki Afshar
Mr. Zaki Afshar is a dedicated professional with a strong background in plant sciences and field research. With extensive experience in both field and lab settings, Zaki excels in managing research operations, leading teams, and utilizing technical skills to advance agricultural and food production science. His academic achievements, coupled with a successful career at Bayer Crop Science in the U.S., highlight his commitment to innovation, improving food quality and eliminating hunger.
Anthony Dedouche
Mr. Anthnoy Dedouche is a Lawyer at the Madrid Bar Association and trained in political science at the Sorbonne University he graduated with a master’s degree in international relations at the Geneva School of Diplomacy in 2014. Then, he provided support between 2014 and 2020 to various actors of multilateralism, in particular a permanent mission to the United Nations, and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).
The Executive Team
Muska Karimi
Senior Fellow - Human Rights
Ms. Muska finished her undergraduate studies in 2004, followed by a bachelor’s in International Comparative Politics and International Public Law at the American University Central Asia (2005-2010) on scholarship. She earned an LL.M. in Democratic Governance and Rule of Law from Ohio Northern university in 2011. Recently, she completed Master programs at the International Anti-Corruption Academy (2019-2022) and the Geneva Center for Security Policy.
Her dedication covers gender integration, women’s empowerment, human rights law, humanitarian work, and human security.
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