Near East Foundation

THE UNITED STATES

Dr. Charles Benjamin
President
Charles Benjamin has over twenty years of experience in international development, with extensive experience in community development and natural resource management throughout the Middle East and Africa. He has been associated with NEF since 1993, when he began a 5-year assignment as Country Director in Morocco. Based in rural Ouarzazate Province, he helped establish NEF’s Appropriate Technology Training Center, which spearheaded rural development initiatives across southern Morocco. He also served in Morocco as a Fulbright scholar, conducting research on traditional irrigation systems and agricultural development in the Draa Valley, and as a Peace Corps Volunteer, teaching at Hassan II University in Casablanca. Prior to becoming President of NEF in January 2010, he was a Senior Manager with the International Resources Group, an international development consulting firm based in Washington, DC, where he managed USAID-funded development projects in the Middle East and Africa. From 2005 to 2007, he taught courses on international environmental issues and development at Williams College as Class of 1946 Visiting Professor. He holds a PhD in natural resources and environment from the University of Michigan, with a focus on decentralization and local institutional development in West Africa.

Lucy Berkowitz
Vice President (Joined NEF in 2009)
Ms. Berkowitz oversees NEF's finances and administration and is also involved with project management. She previously worked for a European multi-national and has extensive experience ranging from the management of strategic projects to the management of global planning, forecasting and results analysis. She is a Chartered Accountant and has an undergraduate degree in economics from the London School of Economics.

Sarah Peterson
Program Officer (Joined NEF in 2010)
Sarah Peterson provides support to NEF's programs, focusing on project management.  Prior to joining NEF, she worked with Aga Khan Foundation USA, and undertook internships with the Africa Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and the Social Development Center in Sokone, Senegal.  She received her Master in Public Administration and MA in International Relations from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University, with studies abroad in South Africa and at Bogazici University in Istanbul, Turkey.  She holds a BA from Macalester College (St. Paul, MN) in International Studies, with a minor in French and Francophone Studies. 

EGYPT
NEF operates its office and programs in Egypt in partnership with the Center for Development Services, an Egyptian company founded by former NEF Staff to pursue diverse opportunities in the economic development and consulting field throughout the Middle East and North Africa Region. Started as an NEF initiative in 1990, CDS became an independent organization in 2006 and has since thrived.

Dr. Alaa Saber, MD, MPA
Country Director, Egypt
An expert in poverty alleviation, Dr. Saber has held positions in the public, private and nonprofit sectors over the course of his 15 years of experience in international development. He holds a Masters of Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and a Medical Degree in Behavioral Science from the Cairo Medical School.

Mr. Ali Mokhtar
Chief Executive Officer, Center for Development Services
Mr. Mokhtar is a founding member and the CEO of the Center for Development Services (CDS). He has over 20 years of experience in community development and program management. He served at many international development organizations mainly in the area of program development and grants management in Egypt. Mr. Mokhtar holds a postgraduate degree from the Cranfield School of Management, in Bedford, England. He serves on the international editorial board of many development publications and he is the global coordinator of the Participation and Learning Network.

Dr. Tandiar Samir
Health and Population Program (Joined NEF/CDS in 1996)
Dr. Samir is an Egyptian physician and public health professional with nearly two decades of experience in addressing public health issues, including ending female genital mutilation and improving the quality and availability of medical care. An Ashoka fellow, Dr. Samir leads NEF's project to educate Cairos youth about reproductive health and to reduce the incidence of dangerous practices such as unsafe sex and self-induced abortions. She also provides support to other NEF projects dealing with health and population.

Eng. Ahmed Farouk
Agriculture and New Lands Development Program Manager (Joined NEF/CDS in 1999)
An engineer and a specialist in agriculture, water resources, and rural development, Mr. Farouk has over 20 years of experience working in various settings, including Iraq, Palestine, Lebanon and Yemen. Mr. Farouk currently serves as Program Manager for the New Land New Life program to support agricultural and rural development in Upper Egypt.

Ms. Passinte Issak
Public Private Partnerships Program Manager (Joined NEF/CDS in 2004)
Ms. Issak's work focuses on building partnerships and networks among professionals and organizations interested in sustainable development efforts in Egypt and other countries of the Middle East. After receiving her CSR Diploma from Nottingham University in England, she returned to promote CSR among development practitioners and the private sector.

JORDAN

Mr. Khaled Waleed
Interim Program Manager (Joined NEF in 2006)
An expert in training and capacity-building, Mr. Waleed serves as the Project Manager for the CIDA-funded effort to build capacity of women business associations in Jerash and Ajloun. He also assures overall coordination of NEF field activities in Jordan. Mr. Waleed holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Sociology from the University of Jordan in Amman.

Mr. Mahmoud Shassa
Financial Manager (Joined NEF in 1999)
Mr. Shassa has 15 years of experience in bookkeeping, accounting, and administration and is responsible for financial management of the 'Local Development and Urban Newcomers' project. Mr. Shassa holds an undergraduate degree in Financial Management.

Mr. Bady Al-Buqaeen
Lead Project Coordinator (Joined NEF in 2006)
With six years experience in field coordination, Bady Al-Buqaeen has a strong record of field supervision, logistics coordination and community relation for development projects in rural Jordan. He has five years of experience in providing field support and technical assistance in agriculture development, fish farming, irrigation systems, and management support for local communities in Southern, Middle and North Ghor, Mafraq and Zarqa.

MALI

Mr. Yacouba Dème
Country Director, Mali (Joined NEF in 1991)
Mr. Deme serves as NEF-Mali's Country Director and West Africa Regional Director. He is an internationally recognized expert in rural development. Mr. Dème leads a team of 40 people in rural development in Mali, with an emphasis on natural resource management, rural credit, and community capacity building. Before joining NEF in 1991, Mr. Dème coordinated national-level NGO activities at CCA-ONG. He holds a MSc in Public Law from the National School of Administration in Bamako, Mali.

Mr. Yamadou Diallo
Program Coordinator (Joined NEF in 1992)
Mr. Diallo is responsible for conceptualizing, managing and evaluating projects. He holds a Masters degree in Public Law from the National School of Administration in Bamako, Mali.

Mr. Abdourahamane Diop
Program Coordinator (Joined NEF in 1991)
Mr. Diop is an expert in agro-ecology and conservation and coordinates NEF-Mali's project to combat climate change in the Tarab-Korombana region. He holds a degree in Engineering with a concentration in Agronomy from the Rural Polytechnical Institute in Katibougou, Mali.

Mr. Daouda Cissé
Program Coordinator (Joined NEF in 1991)
Mr. Cissé designs and coordinates NEFs construction of wells and water-catchment systems. Mr. Cissé holds an undergraduate degree in hydraulic engineering from the University of Bamako’s National Engineering School.

Mr. Aly Bocoum
Program Coordinator (Joined NEF in 1990)
Mr. Bocoum coordinates NEFs project in natural resource management. Mr. Bocoum holds a degree in Engineering with a concentration in Forestry and Hydraulics from the Rural Polytechnical Institute in Katibougou, Mali.

MOROCCO

Mr. Abdelkhalk Aandam
Program Director (Joined NEF in 1995)
Mr. Aandam leads NEF's efforts in strategic planning, programmatic development, management and fundraising in the Soussa-Massa-Draa region in southern Morocco.

Mr. Larbi Akouayri
Regional Finance Director (Joined NEF in 2005)
Mr. Akouayri is responsible for overseeing NEFs accounting operations in Morocco, Mali and Sudan, assisting in the preparation of NEFs annual audit, and reviewing and revising NEF financial and accounting procedures and policies.

Mr. Mohamed Nejmedine
Financial Manager (Joined NEF in 1997)
Mr. Nejmedine provides budgetary and administrative support for NEF's projects in the Soussa-Massa-Draa region. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Chemistry and Physics, respectively.

Ms. Naima El Abdellaoui
Project Manager (Joined NEF in 2009)
Based in Rabat, Ms. El Abdellaoui is a youth development specialist on the USAID-funded Local Governance Project. Previously, she managed the Empowering Youth in Poor Neighborhoods Project. Ms El Abdellaoui has over 10 years of experience in financial and micro-credit management and has worked on leadership and capacity-building programs. She has an undergraduate degree in Economics from Cadi Ayad University.

PALESTINE

Mr. Salah Abu-Eisheh
Country Director (Joined NEF in 2004)
Mr. Abu Aishah serves as NEF's Country Director for Palestine and as interim Regional Director. He oversees NEF's Nablus office and leads program design, implementation, monitoring and reporting. A specialist in food security and nutrition, he also manages NEF's Children's Nutrition and Women's Employment Project. Mr. Abu-Eisheh holds an undergraduate degree in Animal Production, Nutrition & Health and a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from An-Najah National University in Nablus.

Ms. Hanan Halaweh
Project Assistant (Joined NEF in 2006)
Ms. Halaweh provides technical and logistical support for NEFs Children's Nutrition and Women's Employment project. She holds an undergraduate degree in Agricultural Sciences from An-Najah National University in Nablus.

Mr. Ayman Sawaftah
Field Coordinator (Joined NEF in 2006)
Mr. Sawaftah provides technical and logistical support to NEF's Children's Nutrition and Women's Employment project. Mr. Sawafta has over 15 years experience in field coordination and has a strong record of field supervision and community relation in north of West Bank.

Mr. Fares Jabi
Senior Agribusiness Consultant (Joined NEF in 2006)
Mr. Jabi plays an advisory role in implementing NEFs work to revitalize olive production in the West Bank. He holds an undergraduate degree in Agricultural Sciences from the University of Alexandria and a graduate degree in Olive Farming from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Mr. Saleh Hamdan
Field Coordinator (Joined NEF in 2006)
Mr. Hamdan holds an undergraduate degree in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Latakia in Syria. He has a long experience dealing with olive trees and olive oil production, which helped in olive projects NEF implemented in Palestine. He also has long experience in community relations and provides logistic and technical support for NEF projects in Palestine.

Ms. Majd Nabulsi Anabtawi
Monitoring and Communications Officer (Joined NEF in 2009)
Ms. Anabtawi provides administrative support and coordination for NEF projects in Palestine. She has over 15 years of experience in training and fieldwork. Ms. Anabtawi holds an undergraduate degree in plant production from university of Jordan in Amman, Jordan, and will get her professional Diploma in NGO’s management from Birzeit University, Palestine in May 2011.

Ms. Aya Nabulsi
Accountant (Joined NEF in 2009)
Ms. Nabulsi is responsible for accounting operations at our Nablus office. She holds an undergraduate degree in accounting from An-Najah National University in Nablus, Palestine.

SUDAN

Mr. Musa Gismalla
Country Director (Joined NEF in 1993)
Mr. Musa Gismalla, Sudan’s Office Director, has been with us since 1993. Before starting at NEF, he worked as Accounting Unit Supervisor for Mobile Oil Company and as a Finance Officer for Gezira Services and Trade. He holds a degree in Accounting from the University of Khartoum. 

Mr. Bashier Sahal
Natural Resource Management Specialist
Mr. Bashier Sahal has been affiliated with NEF since 2001. He began as a project officer for our microcredit program, in which capacity he was responsible for the design and implementation of our microloan systems, as well as supervising and monitoring all local credit comittees. He currently serves as NRM specialist on the Sudan Gum Arabic initiative. He has a degree in natural resources and environmental studies from the University of Kordofan, and is fluent in both English and Arabic.