At Sayara International, we are pleased to share that we have been certified to the ISO 9001-2015 quality management systems standard. ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is the world’s largest developer and publisher of International Standards, comprising a network of national standards bodies in 165 countries. The ISO 9001-2015 international standard describes the fundamental...
Hawa Ahmadi is a Research Program Coordinator and Translator with Sayara. Within this role, Hawa leads the coordination of gender and child-related programming in Afghanistan, ensuring that necessary gender standards are in place to account for gender sensitivity and safeguarding in the field.
Based in Sayara’s Kabul office, Hawa manages the training, data collection, and quality control of all collected data. In many instances, Hawa leads qualitative data collection and travels to target communities to conduct IDIs or FGDs with targeted females (girls, youth, and women).
Specific project experience includes managing fieldwork for an evaluation of gender-based violence (GBV) survivors through Women for Women Afghanistan, conducting interviews with female caregivers on maternal health with UNICEF, facilitating workshop sessions on safeguarding and ethics with female beneficiaries in Kabul for BRAC, and supporting the baseline and midline evaluations of DFID’s Girls’ Education Challenge (GEC) STAGES II and BRAC GEC-T projects.
Prior to joining Sayara, Hawa worked with several NGOs and organizations in areas of research, project management, and translation with UNHCR, IOM, and several gender-focused civil society organizations in Kabul.
Hawa holds a B.A. in English Literature from a private university in Kabul, Afghanistan. Her native language is Dari. She speaks fluent English and very good Urdu and Pashto.
As Video Director in Sayara’s production team, Baryalai directs and manages production of video content – such as dramas, documentaries, and PSAs – used in Afghanistan-focused development programs. Creative and impactful video products are invaluable tools to communicate key messages.
Over a decade working at Sayara, Baryalai has worked closely with partners (including government officials and NGOs) to deliver their requirements. He writes shooting scripts, coordinates security visits, and liaises with actors to ensure a smooth process.
Prior to joining Sayara, Baryalai gained experience as a camcorder operator, documentary maker for various media companies, and a higher education teacher of video editing and camcorder operation.
Baryalai holds an M.A. in Mass Communication & Journalism from Mysore University, India, as well as a B.A. in Film Directing from Kabul University, Afghanistan.
Baryalai speaks Farsi/Dari, Pashto, English, and Urdu.
As Sayara’s Production Manager, based in Kabul, Aziz leads a large production team in the conception and creation of high-quality materials for use throughout client programs in Afghanistan. Aziz brings more than 15 years of experience in radio, video, and theater to Sayara. Since joining the organization in 2004, he has written, directed, and managed over 35 projects.
Aziz’s work includes coordinating the production of video and radio products (including dramas, documentaries, PSAs, commercials, interviews, and more), and managing mobile theater and mobile cinema projects throughout the country on different social and political issues.
Highlights include directing production elements for several Counter Narcotics Awareness Campaigns from 2007 – 2016, the 2004 & 2009 Presidential Election Campaigns, a Disability and Mine Risk Awareness Campaign (2005-2006), and the 2005 & 2010 Parliamentary Election Campaigns.
Prior to joining Sayara, Aziz worked in various creative roles, including as Media Action International’s Mobile Theater Director, acting in popular BBC radio drama series “New Home, New Life,” and serving as director, actor, and script writer at the National Theater in Kabul.
Aziz holds a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Kabul and has completed various English Language and Drama Studies programs. He speaks Dari (native), Pashto, Urdu, and English.
As a Radio Producer within Sayara’s Kabul-based production team, Susan is responsible for creating high-quality radio content for our partners’ programs in Afghanistan. This includes writing scripts, recording and directing radio programs, presenting and narrating radio dramas and public awareness programs, monitoring and supervising provincial radio stations and partner activities, conducting interviews, liaising closely with clients, and more.
In addition to producing radio content, Susan also translates scripts into Pashto for TV programs and trains fellow producers and journalists in Counter Narcotics law. Susan’s scriptwriting skills and understanding of this legal area were particularly valuable during implementation of the INL Counter Narcotics Counter Engagement program.
Prior to joining Sayara in 2013, Susan worked as a Radio Manager at Arakuzia Radio in Kabul, where she oversaw the daily operations of the radio station, developed content, ensured compliance with broadcast standards, and participated in the implementation of the station’s goals and operating procedures. Susan also held a Producer role at Kaboora Production, focusing on developing content.
Susan speaks Pashto (native), Dari, English, and Urdu.
A valued member of Sayara’s team in Kabul, Saifurahman leads management of the organization’s media buying and placement across various client programs. He utilizes a strategic approach of different phases that include media planning, buying, analysis, and adjustment.
With unique insights from researching market trends, and experience in negotiation and ad space purchases, Saifurahman excels at securing the best possible placement at the lowest price for both digital and traditional advertising.
Before moving to his current role, Saifurahman served as a Program Manager for Sayara’s Strategic Communications Program in Afghanistan, with a focus on countering violent extremism, strengthening local governance, and paving the way for stabilization in conflict-affected societies.
Saifurahman holds a BSc in Electrical Engineering from Pakistan. He is fluent in English, Pashto, Dari, and Urdu.
Elizabeth has a background in research and M&E in support of a wide range of interventions in conflict-affected and fragile states. She has focused on both qualitative and quantitative research design and analysis as part of a third-party monitoring team, as an external evaluator, and as a country analyst.
At Sayara, Elizabeth has worked on evaluations in Afghanistan covering education, civil society development, and a health sector response to gender-based violence. She has also evaluated an education programme in Somalia and continues to work on media research in Eastern Europe.
Elizabeth’s areas of expertise include the ethics of programming and conducting research in conflict zones, strengthening accountability of international organizations, and developing innovative approaches to M&E which support flexible and adaptive programming in conflict-affected and fragile states.
Prior to joining Sayara, Elizabeth’s work in Syria covered the fields of stabilization, governance, civil society development, philanthropic support to accountability initiatives for grave crimes, access to justice, countering violent extremism, and peacebuilding.
Elizabeth holds a B.A. (Hons) in Arabic and Middle East Studies with Spanish from the University of Exeter, UK, where she focused on Kurdish Studies, Arabic literature, and religious identities in Egypt. She also holds an M.A. in European Studies: Transnational and Global Perspectives from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium, focusing on EU foreign policy in the Middle East and North Africa.
Masih is a Program Manager at Sayara International, based in Kabul. He is an experienced program manager and team lead for some of Sayara’s flagship communications campaigns in Afghanistan. These include UNDP’s 2019 elections campaign, USAID’s PROMOTE communications and advocacy work, and the EU’s national visibility and public awareness programs.
Masih manages planning and implementation of programs, monitors progress, manages program budgets and resources, liaises with stakeholders, and supervises the program team’s activities. Over his decade in the organization, Masih has also held roles focusing on radio production, journalism, and scriptwriting, and has a strong understanding of what content works in the Afghan context.
Prior to joining Sayara, Masih worked as reporter and music editor at Good Morning/Evening Afghanistan and as reporter, writer, announcer, and producer at UNICEF. He also served as Media Manager at Urozgan Governor’s House, among other roles.
Masih holds a B.A. in Finance from Dunya Institute of Higher Education and the Swiss University of Management, Economics, and Finance. He speaks Dari, English, Pashto, and Urdu.
Fareed has over fifteen years of experience designing and managing strategic communications, capacity-building, and research programs for an array of donor agencies and host governments, including DoS, DoD, FCDO, GIZ, UN and EU agencies.
Fareed leads some of our most complex programs, with an emphasis on social resilience, local governance, and community policing. In addition to overseeing a broad portfolio, Fareed manages the reporting, strategic and operational planning, and administrative and financial policies of the company.
Before joining Sayara, Fareed served as a Senior Program Manager at USAID, where he designed and managed stabilization programs whose total budgets exceeded $365 million. As a Political Advisor with the Disarmament and Reintegration Commission of Afghanistan, he led the Disarmament of Illegal Armed Groups (DIAG) program.
Fareed also worked as a Public Information Officer with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Afghanistan where he led strategic communications and public information campaigns for Return of Voluntary Afghans (RVA), Return of Qualified Afghans (RQA), and Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) programs.
Fareed holds an M.A. in Political Science from Balochistan University in Quetta, Pakistan.
Nama is a social scientist who specializes in mixed-methods data collection in complex environments. Over the past eight years, Nama has built a global research network throughout South Asia, the Middle East, the Horn of Africa, Eastern Europe, and Latin America.
Nama oversees all of Sayara’s research, monitoring, and evaluation activities, which are conducted on behalf of the European Union, the U.S. Department of State, UN agencies, USAID, international NGOs and foundations, academic institutions, and a variety of other clients. She uses sociology and behavioral economics to inform and evaluate policies and programs that protect vulnerable groups, address trans-national crime, and counter violent extremism and disinformation.
Nama holds an M.A. in International Relations from the Sorbonne University in Paris, an M.A. in Sociology from the University of Caen in Normandy, and a B.A. in Social Science from the University of Strasbourg. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Political Science at the Sorbonne and a junior fellow in the European Research Council’s Social Dynamics of Civil Wars research program.
George is a media and business innovation specialist with a decade of experience working in emerging markets throughout the Middle East and North Africa. George’s private sector background has focused on developing ground-breaking media products tailored toward youth.
While working for Viacom’s broadcasting arm, OSN Network (previously Showtime Networks), George helped develop the pan-Arab Axis of Evil Comedy Tour and an interactive English Premier League program that allowed Middle Eastern audiences to interact with commentators, celebrity guests, and former Premier League football players via SMS and television chat.
George has also taught marketing and entrepreneurship at EMDI, in Dubai, and lectured at the Lebanese American University in Beirut. He currently lectures at Madrid’s IE Business School.
George holds an M.B.A. from the IE Business School and a B.A. in Marketing and Entrepreneurship from Northeastern University.
Haroon oversees Sayara’s team of analysts and manages data collection operations in Afghanistan. With over a decade of experience coordinating MEL and mixed-method research to inform public health, rule of law, education, and community development programs, Haroon specializes in designing methodologies tailored to complex environments. He has managed and co-designed a wide variety of large-scale evaluation surveys for donors such as USAID, DFID, and the EU.
Haroon holds an M.D. from the University of Nangarhar, with a focus in epidemiology and biostatistics and an MSc. in Demography and Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Haroon is fluent in English, Dari, and Pashto, and proficient in Urdu and Arabic.
As a Research Analyst, Katie supports Sayara’s program portfolio and business development efforts. Prior to joining Sayara, Katie worked as a political analyst at a political action committee, where she supported communications and worked with over 65 congressional campaigns to implement a program of collaborative politics and digital engagement.
Katie holds an M.Sc. in Global Health and Public Policy from the University of Edinburgh. Her research and studies focused on the intersection of socio-economic conditions, health inequalities, and human rights and the changing role of civil society in governing global health policy.
Katie also holds a B.A. in Journalism from New York University. She speaks intermediate Italian.
Abdiaziz Ismail is Sayara’s Country Advisor for Somalia. Abdiaziz is an expert in countering human trafficking, migration, and governance. Prior roles include working in Somaliland’s Ministry of Interior as a capacity development officer for local governance, where he was instrumental in forming and institutionalizing Somaliland’s new Counter Human Trafficking Agency.
Abdiaziz led the Somaliland component of Sayara’s EU-funded Better Migration Management project to map migration service providers across five countries in the Horn of Africa. In addition, he also has extensive experience as a consultant for international organizations including the United Nations and Expertise France, among others.
Abdiaziz holds a Master’s degree in Project Management and Planning from Amoud University in Somalia, and a Bachelor’s degree from Alneelain University in Khartoum, Sudan. Languages spoken include English, Somali, and Arabic.
Sahar Mohammad is a Senior Program Manager at Sayara, based in Kabul, Afghanistan. Sahar has over 18 years of professional experience in designing and managing strategic communications, local governance, and community development programs in Afghanistan.
Prior to joining Sayara, Sahar worked for USAID Afghanistan as a Project Management Specialist for five years, overseeing several major stabilization, local governance, and community development programs.
Sahar also worked with the U.S. Military Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) and Civil Affairs Teams in Afghanistan’s Khost province for six years in various capacities, providing cultural and programmatic advice and proficient linguistic support. In this role, Sahar helped to bridge the gap between the Afghan government and local communities, while providing the PRT with better understanding of programmatic context and culturally appropriate ways of conducting business.
Sahar holds a B.B.A from Mashal University in Kabul, Afghanistan. He is fluent in English, Pashto, and Dari.
A social researcher and evaluation expert, Rohina is an M&E Manager based in Sayara’s Kabul office. She has over ten years’ experience coordinating projects in Afghanistan on topics such as education, gender-based violence, women’s economic and political empowerment, and conflict and security.
Rohina’s work involves development of project plans, coordination of fieldwork, management and recruitment of field staff from across the country, and liaison with national and international clients.
Notably, Rohina has managed educational projects like those from Aga Khan Foundation (STAGES) and BRAC, as well as gender projects implemented by NGOs like Women for Women. She has also provided training for Girls’ Education Challenge programs in Somaliland.
Prior to joining Sayara, Rohina worked as an M&E Specialist, and research coordinator/consultant with various organizations, including Checchi and Company Consulting, Inc., Eureka Research and Evaluation, and QARA Consulting. She has also spent time as an independent national research consultant and translator.
Rohina holds a B.A. in Social Science from Kabul University, Afghanistan. She speaks English, Urdu, Pashto, Turkmani, and Dari (native).
Rahmatullah manages and supervises the program management team in Sayara’s Washington, D.C. headquarters. He has over a decade of experience in stabilization, community engagement, and civilian-military initiatives. His recent projects have focused on Islamic militancy and radical movements in Central Asia and P/CVE programming in the MENA region.
Rahmatullah has managed and supervised over $50 million in development and stabilization projects for USAID in Afghanistan. As USAID-Afghanistan Deputy Field Program Officer for Khost Province, he oversaw the implementation of a variety of development and stabilization programs, including the Local Governance and Community Development Program and the Afghanistan Civilian Assistance Program.
Rahmatullah holds a B.A. in Journalism from the Afghan University in Kabul. He speaks English, Dari, Pashto, and Arabic.
Naqeeb oversees Sayara’s financial systems and manages sub-contracts. He has more than 12 years of experience in public financial management, accounting, and industrial finance.
In Afghanistan, Naqeeb served as a financial advisor for the Ministry of Finance, training staff to implement the Afghanistan Financial Management Information System (AFMIS). He later worked as a financial analyst for USAID, leading the agency’s Financial Analysis and Risk Management Team.
Naqeeb holds a B.A. in finance from Kardan University. He is fluent in English, Dari, Pashto, Hindi, and Urdu.
Sarah is particularly interested in ethnic and civil conflict and human security issues. She works on both communications and research projects in Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa, and Central America, focusing on P/CVE, governance, migration, gender equality, and education.
Previously, Sarah worked as a Program Associate for the United Nations of Minnesota Global Classrooms program. From 2013 to 2015, she was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Colombia, teaching English for Livelihoods in Cartagena.
Sarah holds an M.A. from Georgetown University’s Security Studies Program, with a concentration in Terrorism and Sub-State Violence, and a B.A. in International Relations, with a Certificate in Conflict Studies, from Hamline University in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
She speaks English, intermediate Spanish, and basic Dari.
Laura oversees Sayara’s operations in East Africa. A U.S.-trained attorney, Laura has over a decade of experience designing and managing programs to enhance human rights, good governance, and social inclusion in Africa.
Prior to joining Sayara, Laura worked for several years as an independent consultant for a broad range of clients, including African governments, local and international non-governmental organizations, and large donor organizations such as USAID, the UN, and EU consortiums. Laura is passionate about research and practical interventions that enhance the social inclusion of marginalized communities such as migrants, ethnic minorities, survivors of trauma, and other vulnerable groups.
Laura received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Minnesota Law School, and holds an M.A. in Public Health from Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, and a B.A. from the University of Virginia. She speaks English and French.
Manuela oversees Sayara’s social and behavior change initiatives and business development efforts in Latin America. She designs educational communication campaigns and produces media content focused on migration, human rights, transitional justice, and the historical memory of the armed conflict in Colombia.
Previously, Manuela designed communication strategies for organizations such as World Vision International, IOM, Medellín’s Mayor, University of Antioquia, and Bolivarian Pontifical University. She was also a fellow for Havas PR, in New York. Manuela has over nine years’ experience working with grassroots organizations, NGOs, museums, local governments, and academia.
Manuela holds a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Antioquia, Colombia. She speaks fluent Spanish, Portugese, and English.
Bakry Osman is the director of Sayara’s Sudan country office. Prior to joining Sayara International, Bakry co- founded and led Apex Consulting, a leading Sudanese consulting company providing services to many of the largest donor organizations in Sudan. Bakry has strong expertise in youth engagement, civil society, peace and conflict management, Political Analysis, entrepreneurship, and economic growth.
Bakry previously worked for an international development agency in Khartoum and has carried out independent consultancies for international organizations including the German and the French governments.
Bakry holds a degree in Business Administration from the Canadian Sudanese College in Khartoum. He is fluent in English and Arabic.
Ziyanah supports Sayara’s program portfolio and business development efforts. She previously interned with the Aga Khan Development Network, supporting the Central Scholarship Unit.
As an undergraduate, Ziyanah interned at the Middle East Institute, as well as with the University of Virginia’s Initiative on Religion, Politics, and Conflict.
Ziyanah holds a B.A. in History and Women, Gender, and Sexuality, with a minor in Middle Eastern Studies, from the University of Virginia. She speaks intermediate Arabic.
Gianluca is a Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning expert with a focus on gender in Latin America and the Caribbean. Formerly, he was a planning, monitoring, and data specialist for UN Women Colombia throughout 2014 to 2017.
Gianluca worked as a program officer for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Fund (SDG-F) and as a monitoring and evaluation specialist in the United Nations MDG Achievement Fund in New York (2012-2013). Gianluca joined the Fund after serving the UN Resident Coordinator Office, UNDP and UNICEF in Trinidad & Tobago (2011-2012) and the UNDP Strategy Unit in Honduras (2009-2010).
During 2006 – 2008, Gianluca worked in Colombia as a program manager for poverty reduction initiatives focusing on displaced populations, victims of the conflict, and reintegrated ex-combatants. His experience included working for the first National Human Development Atlas of Trinidad and Tobago and serving as lead author of the National MDG Report in Honduras 2010.
Gianluca holds a Masters degree in program evaluation and international development from the Institut d’Etude du Développement Economique et Social in Sorbonne University, Paris.
Gisela Zapata, Ph.D, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Demography and researcher at the Centre for Regional Development and Planning (CEDEPLAR) of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil. She previously worked as a researcher and Teaching Fellow at the Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies (CURDS) at Newcastle University (UK).
Gisela has extensive teaching, research and consulting experience in Latin America, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Her research focuses on socio-economic and population themes, especially international migration and displacement, and the migration-development nexus. Her work has been published in prestigious scientific journals.
Gisela holds a Ph.D in Human Geography from Newcastle University (UK) and a Masters’ Degree in Economics from North Carolina State University (USA). Gisela is a native Spanish speaker, and is fluent in English and Portugese.
Yvonne Maingey, Ph.D, holds a doctorate from the University of Nairobi, Institute for Climate Change and Adaptation. Her research interests focus on the nexus between development and climate change adaptation, with a specific interest in multiple stakeholder engagement as a tool for mainstreaming climate change adaptation into national infrastructural development.
With a decade of experience as a consultant in the sustainable development and environment sector, Yvonne is the founder and CEO of CaelKlima – a climate change advisory and product development startup. She started CaelKlima to play a significant role in informing and ensuring that adaptation to climate change is integrated into decision-making processes. The organization is dedicated to building capacity of the private sector, as well as local and national state agents, to mainstream climate change.
Yvonne also holds a Master’s degree in environmental education from New York University and an LLB Law degree from the London School of Economics.
Scott is a governance, stabilization, and communications specialist with a decade of experience in countering violent extremism and disinformation. Having worked for more than fifteen years in conflict-affected environments, in both the public and private sectors, Scott has unique insight into how mainstream media and digital platforms – as well as non-traditional means of communication – relate to development and stabilization activities.
After starting his career as a White House aide, Scott spent several years as a senior communications advisor to two American ambassadors in Afghanistan, where he assisted with the coordination of communication and public diplomacy strategies for the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.
Scott went on to work for USAID’s Office of Transitional Initiatives in Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Pakistan, specializing in the development of district-level governance and CVE strategies. Before joining Sayara, Scott also served as a communications advisor to Zain Telecommunications, in Iraq.
Scott holds an M.Sc. in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles.
William is a Colombian economist with over 35 years of experience as a researcher in socio-economic, population, and migration issues. He brings an unrivaled track record in data collection, handling, and analysis of large sets of socio-demographic information, both quantitative and qualitative, for studying Latin American migration.
William has dedicated almost 20 years to working on migration issues in the fields of research, training, analysis, and public policy formulation. He is a leading expert on Venezuelan migration and a key advisor for organizations such as the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Regional Office for the European Economic Area, EU and NATO (Regional Office of South America, Missions of Colombia, Ecuador, Spain, Peru, and El Salvador), and the International Labor Organization (ILO) in Lima, Geneva, and Brasilia.
William also has significant experience in formulating, managing, and executing projects for international cooperation agencies, Colombian government institutions, academia, and the non-governmental sector in Latin America and Colombia.
Williams holds a Master’s in International Migration from the Technological University of Pereira, Colombia, and a B.A. in Economics from Universidad Libre Seccional Pereira. Frequently published and invited to speak at international events, William has also participated as an invited professor at institutions in Colombia, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Peru, Panama, and Spain.
Javier Morla is a monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning specialist based in Mexico City with experience in 15 countries around Sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South America, and South East Asia. In his previous role, Javier led research and monitoring evaluation activities on a labor and education project in Mexico among migrant communities.
Before moving to Mexico from Washington, D.C., Javier provided technical and management support for research, monitoring, and evaluation components of global health, food security, and emergency projects at the Research Triangle Institute and the Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance (FANTA) Project. Javier has consulted with Population Services International, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundations, the World Bank, and various civil society organizations to lead teams in developing and implementing research solutions and comprehensive monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems.
Javier holds a Master’s degree in development management with a focus on program evaluation from American University, Washington, D.C., as well as a B.Sc. in International Affairs and Economics from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts.
Holly Ashmore is Sayara International’s Communications and Content Manager. Based in the UK, Holly has over a decade of experience in communications, public relations, and marketing.
Before joining Sayara in 2020, Holly led the global communications function for London technology company 7digital and handled freelance PR and communications for audio and music technology clients. During five years at PR agency Weber Shandwick, Holly worked with global consumer and business-to-business technology clients including Microsoft, Motorola, Sonos, Citrix, Technicolor, and more.
Holly holds a B.A. in English & American Literature from University of Warwick.
Fredrick is a mixed-methods researcher and a monitoring & evaluation specialist based in Nairobi. He has significant experience in designing and conducting research, designing MERL frameworks, leading third-party monitoring assignments in fragile states, and evaluating projects across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Fredrick has worked for several years as an independent consultant for international development organizations (such as Hivos, Save the Children, Oxfam, Women for Women, Hand in Hand International, UK FCO/FCDO, and the Society for International Development), government agencies (including the City Council of Nairobi, Agricultural Finance Corporation, and Kenya Trade and Remedies Agency), and private sector institutions (such as the Export Trading Group and Kenya Forex Bureau Association). He is passionate about development finance and interventions that improve the livelihoods of the most vulnerable members of the society.
Fredrick holds a Master’s degree in Development Studies from the University of Nairobi’s Institute for Development Studies, and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Nairobi’s School of Business. He speaks English and Kiswahili.
Zena is the Program Manager in Sayara International’s Sudan office. Zena has more than 5 years of experience in international development, specifically designing, implementing, and providing oversight for programs and projects in post-conflict or fragile settings. Her work has included focusing on the humanitarian response in formal and informal settlements in Lebanon, responses to the migrant crisis in Khartoum, and evaluating education programs in Afghanistan.
In her time at Sayara, Zena has worked on projects such as an evaluation program for UNICEF, a socio-economic assessment for UNDP, a livelihood and education program for USAID, a Countering Violent Extremism program for the U.S. Department of State in the MENA region including Lebanon and Syria, and a migration program for IOM in Sudan. Zena has managed and implemented initiatives to improve governance, social cohesion, and social behavior change in Lebanon for ‘at risk’ and vulnerable communities.
Before joining Sayara, Zena worked for USAID, the U.S. Department of State, various UN agencies and international NGOs on a range of projects in the MENA region. Her experience covers private sector, social, economic, and development fields including conflict/stabilization, disinformation, migration, health, youth, education, and P/CVE pillars.
Zena holds a B.A. in Communication Arts with a minor in Economics from the Lebanese American University (LAU) and an M.B.A. from the University of Florida (UF). She is bilingual in Arabic and English with basic French.
Naseer has been with Sayara since 2009, when he joined the Kabul office as an IT Assistant. Naseer now leads the IT and cyber security functions for the organization, ensuring the protection of information systems as well as providing technical support and computer-related training to the team globally. He manages the website infrastructure and coordinates IT needs for new projects.
Previously, Naseer was a Program Manager at Sayara and handled a one-year social media campaign in Afghanistan which was focused on migration issues and funded by the European Union. He has also managed two components of a program to counter violent extremism in Kabul.
Naseer holds a B.A. in Computer Science from Kabul University, Afghanistan, as well as various Microsoft certificates.
A Program and Financial Management expert with over 15 years’ experience, Mansoor has managed the implementation of more than 30 multi-million-dollar Strategic Communication programs.
Mansoor’s role is to oversee all programs and support activities in the Middle East and South Asia (MESA) region, as well as designing, updating, and evaluating the strategy for this region and each country Sayara works in. He supports and oversees monitoring, evaluation, and reporting on the implementation of planned activities and manages the overall programs and support functions.
Mansoor specializes in compliance and oversight, ensuring that all program activities and support functions comply with applicable national and international laws and regulations.
Prior to joining Sayara, Mansoor worked with the Financial Management Office of the U.S. Embassy Kabul, where he supported U.S. Embassy, USAID, U.S. Army, and Provincial Reconstruction Team missions across Afghanistan. He also worked as a Finance Officer at the Aina Media and Culture Center where he supported U.S. Army Strategic Communication and Journalism training projects.
Mansoor holds an M.B.A degree in Project Management and Leadership from Kardan University (Faculty of Economics) in Afghanistan and a B.B.A degree in Business and Financial Management from Maryam University, Afghanistan.
Sara is a Program Assistant based in Sayara’s Sudan office. Coordinating data collection and handling monitoring and quality control of researchers throughout Sudan’s 19 states, Sara supports the team’s activities across a variety of programs focusing on migration, strategic communications, transitional justice, and more.
Prior to joining Sayara, Sara worked with Apex Consultancy as a Programs Officer, liaising with partners, handling project logistics, and preparing desk reviews and qualitative research tools used in programs conducted for clients such as Save the Children, AICS, and IOM.
Sara has also worked as an Outreach Officer at Sahla Services in Sudan, promoting the company through handling community marketing, relationship management, and customer engagement, among other responsibilities. Sara also interned with Schlumberger Sudan as a Health, Safety, and Environment officer, promoting environmental sustainability measures, and implementing project activities.
Sara holds an M.Sc. in Gender Development and Peace Studies from Ahfad University in Sudan. She also holds a B.A. with Honors in Environmental Science, with a major in Environmental Technology from Omdurman Ahlia University.
Sara speaks Arabic and English.
Shams is a Program Assistant based in Sayara International’s Khartoum office. She provides support to the program technical team, assisting with the development of materials and handling data management among other responsibilities. While at Sayara, Shams has contributed to projects for international donors focusing on strategic communications, transitional justice, disinformation, migration, and other key areas of research in Sudan.
With a keen interest in human rights, Shams has experience in research, communications, project management, and teamwork within international development and research contexts.
Prior to joining Sayara, Shams served as a Communication and Outreach Officer with the Sudan Research and Consultancy Group.
Shams holds a B.A. in International Relations and Diplomatic Studies from the National University in Sudan. She speaks both Arabic and English.
Nathalie is a Project Manager at Sayara International. She is currently responsible for managing a project which addresses the issue of COVID-19 disinformation in 7 countries of the Sahel region of Africa (Senegal, Mali, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad) and in Sudan.
Based between Paris and Khartoum, Nathalie has also lived and worked in Zimbabwe, Mexico, and Bahrain. Prior to joining Sayara, Nathalie worked for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a role managing projects promoting academic, cultural, and scientific cooperation between France and Bahrain. She has also spent two years as a research fellow at CEDEJ (The Centre for Social, Legal, and Economic Studies and Documentation) in Khartoum, Sudan.
Nathalie holds an M.A. and a B.A. in Social and Political Sciences from Sciences Po Paris (The Paris National Institute of Political Studies). She is also working towards a PhD in international relations, focusing on separatist conflicts and state-building in Africa. Her findings are based on extensive field trips in Sudan, South Sudan, and the United States.
Nathalie is fluent in French, English, and Spanish, and is also familiar with Sudanese Arabic.
Rohullah Faqirzada is a graphic designer at Sayara International based in Kabul, Afghanistan. Working within Sayara’s Communications and Content team, Rohullah brings more than 10 years of professional experience to supporting the company’s projects and business development efforts.
Since joining Sayara in 2012, Rohullah has designed a variety of creative communications products which are client-facing, brand-focused, or designed to interact with program beneficiaries and communities. These include reports, maps, posters, billboards, brochures, banners, comic books, social media infographics, and more. Rohullah is also a skilled photographer and digital animator.
Rohullah’s designs have featured as key elements of Countering Violent Extremism, strategic communications, and counter narcotics programs in Afghanistan, as well as in projects for Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), USAID, IOM, MORE, The Asia Foundation, and ISAF, among others.
Prior to joining Sayara, Rohullah handled graphic design for Mediacom Afghanistan Grey Worldwide in Kabul and worked as an art trainer for the SOLH Constellation Group, training more than 100 students in calligraphy, painting, and other artistic skills.
Rohullah speaks Dari, Pashto, and English.
Hind Saad is a highly skilled Program Associate based in Sayara International’s Khartoum office, supporting Sayara’s program portfolio and business development efforts. With over 5 years’ experience in Sudan, Egypt, and the United Kingdom, Hind is committed to ongoing development and research to maximize efficiency and business results.
Previously, Hind worked with Apex Consulting as a Programs Officer, conducting literature review and qualitative research for projects to ensure data quality and ethical standards were upheld. In this role, Hind traveled to the field to conduct focus group discussions with women’s groups focused on gender equality and livelihoods and conducted key informant interviews with local children’s service provider organizations. Hind drafted qualitative interview notes, worked in a team to conduct an analysis of qualitative data, assisted with the development of project materials, and handled data management for projects.
Prior to joining Apex Consulting, Hind was the head of the Environmental section at Ghrabib Consultancy, where her team undertook a national project for the Sudanese Ministry of Petroleum and Gas entitled “Assessment of Potential Non-Edible Bio-Fuel Resources in Sudan for Bio-Fuel Production Project.” Hind also contributed to the bioremediation and biodegradation project for produced water treatment in petroleum sites at the Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company.
Hind holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology from Misr University for Science and Technology in Egypt.
Diana is a graphic designer at Sayara International based in Colombia. Working within Sayara’s Communications and Content team, Diana supports the company’s projects and business development efforts by overseeing and developing creative communication products displaying complex data and subject matters. These include full communication campaigns, visual concepts and identity, data visualization, reports and proposals, and brand communications.
Prior to joining Sayara, Diana led creative design at the Communications Research and Extension Center (CIEC) at the University of Antioquia, Colombia. There, Diana designed international and external communication campaigns aimed at promoting human rights, civil society mobilization, governance, peace, and public health. The role entailed conceptualizing graphic pieces, developing online platforms, editorial and multimedia graphic design, and design of printed materials such as marketing stationery and booklets.
Other roles have included graphic design and advertising communication at the Poncherazo Amagá Cultural Corporation and Lasallian University Corporation in Colombia. Diana also worked as a freelance advertising graphic communicator, and production and media coordinator with the INVITRO Advertising Agency at the University of Medellín.
Diana holds a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design and Communications from the University of Medellín, Colombia.
Lee is responsible for overseeing Sayara’s portfolio of MEL (monitoring, research, and learning) projects. She has a particular focus on participatory research and evaluations, and on developing and testing innovative methodologies to ensure all research projects take a multi-voiced approach.
Lee’s experience includes leading research, monitoring, and evaluation projects for a wide variety of partners, including UN agencies, governments, international foundations, and NGOs.
Lee holds an M.A. in International Development from the University of Melbourne. She speaks fluent English, French, and Russian, and is proficient in Pashto, Dari, and Arabic.
As Director of Global Innovation, JP Gravelines leads the development and implementation of novel methodological techniques that strive to incorporate the attitudes and perceptions of people on the ground into the heart of everything Sayara does, by marrying cutting-edge technology with rigorous analytical methods.
JP has over a decade of experience in various capacities in the greater strategic communications community including counter-disinformation, government communications, independent media support, preventing and countering violent extremism, counter-insurgency, and stabilization. JP’s technical skills intersect these themes through M&E, primary research, audience analysis, and assessment.
JP has worked with the NATO International Security Assistance Force, the United Nations Office Counter Terrorism, and the Canadian Army’s Psychological Operations element. JP has supported programming led by the UK FCDO, U.S. Department of State, USAID, and thought leadership agencies such as RUSI and the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence.
JP holds an M.A. in Political Science, an M.B.A. in Finance, and a B.Sc. in Mathematics. He is based in Kyiv and speaks basic Russian.
Wojciech is the Director overseeing Sayara’s project portfolio in Eastern Europe. He is an expert on geo-political insecurity in the Baltic region and Eastern Europe.
Prior to joining Sayara, Wojciech managed research projects on behalf of major international organizations, including the European Commission, DFID, Foreign Commonwealth Office, World Bank, and U.S. State Department. Recently, he led an FCDO-funded Baltic Independent Media project and an IOM-funded project that sought to understand how radicalization and violent extremism spread online in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Wojciech holds a Postgraduate degree in Computer Science from the Warsaw University of Technology, an M.A. in Public Administration and NGO Management from Grand Valley State University (Michigan, USA), and an M.A. in International Relations from the Cracov University of Economics.
In addition, Wojciech is currently pursuing a certificate in Data Science from Harvard University. He is also a PhD candidate at King’s College London. He speaks Polish, English, and Spanish.