Geo Expertise is active in the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as an essential tool for decision making in the fields of natural resources management as well as in social and economic research and human rights monitoring.
Geo Expertise is a non-profit organization governed by its own statutes and by articles 60 and following of the Swiss Civil Code. It is denominationally neutral. The headquarters of the association are in the Canton of Geneva, Switzerland.
The association works towards the following goals:
Holds a PhD in Human Geography. He is researcher at the French Institute for the Middle East. Read more
is Professor at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva, and at the Geosciences and Environment Department of the University of Lausanne, Switzerland. He has an extensive experience of development issues in dryland areas, in the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa. His research and publications are focused on desertification, water management and dry land development policies at the international, national and regional level. He is currently leading research projects on water resources and management issues in the Orontes River basin in Lebanon, Syria and Turkey, and on small scale irrigation in Niger and Burkina Faso.
Holds a degree in Geological sciences from the University of Damascus, Syria and post-graduate diplomas in hydrogeology and geophysics from the high institute of Lengeprovodkhouse (USSR). He worked as Director of the Orontes basin Directorate and Director of water resources in Homs Governorate.He is Director of Geo Expertise Turkey. He has set up a training program on water management during crisis and a humanitarian aid program on drinking water supply in Syria.
is holds a PhD in Development studies from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID, Geneva, Switzerland) and a Master’s in Geosciences and Environment from University of Lausanne (UNIL, Switzerland). He has a background of engineer in the Rural Engineering, Water and Forests and has worked as reforestation and landscape restoration. M. Bukobero worked for a time as lecturer Institute of Political, Historical and International Studies (IEPHI), University of Lausanne (UNIL, Switzerland) where he taught International environmental policies. He’s currently working as senior scientist at the School of Agricutural, Forest and Food sciences (HAFL, Bern, Switzerland) in the fields of International forestry especially activities related to REDD+ programmes.
Youness is a geologist in charge of GIS (Geographic Information System) and of Geology within our organization. Graduated from the University of Grenoble in Geosciences, Youness Chtaini has accumulated a great range of experiences on the field during his previous positions. He has also been involved in sustainable development in Switzerland, as well as internationally. Additionally, Youness works on projects supporting the popularization of sciences within schools. He is also a member of the Swiss Association of Environmental Professionals, the Swiss Society of Hydrology, as well as the Swiss Society of Geology.
is holds a PhD in Human geography: Geography of Transport and Communications and a Master’s in transportation and land use planning at University of Le Havre, France. He has a background of physical and economic geography specialty. M. Mahmoud worked as lecturer Department of Geography at the University of Geneva in Switzerland, Faculty of Education at the University of Gaziantep in Turkey and Human and Economic Geography, Department of Geography at the University of Aleppo. He’s currently working as lecturer Lausanne University. His research with Geo Expertise focuses on effects of the Syrian conflict on transport infrastructure, forests and archaeological sites.
Hydrologiste
Mukta is a second year Master's in International Affairs candidate at The Graduate Institute, Geneva, specialising in Environment, Resources and Sustainability. She is keen to explore water and sanitation issues and is currently interning at Toilet Board Coalition as a Research and Communications Associate. Passionate about environmental peacebuilding, she is also participating in a working group for Geneva Peacebuilding Platform. She wishes to explore the role of water as a catalyst for social cohesion in Syria, for her master's dissertation as a part of Geo Expertise's project. She is a communications enthusiast and speaks French, English and Hindi.
Holds a degree in veterinary from the Al-Baath University, Syria and participated in training in Rapid Rural Appraisal, Personal safety and security, First aid & Information security awareness, Effective strategy planning using the balanced score and special administrative behavior of organizations. He worked in humanitarian aid in Syria. He works with the program in the planning of data collection in the crisis.
Holds a degree in Hydraulic enginnering from the University of Aleppo, Syria, and participated in training in Water resources management during crisis and Drinking water quality standards in emergencies. She worked in private engineering office and in the Directorate of technical services. She was volunteer in the Red – Crescent organization and in BIR Association.
She holds a Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) Audit Interne and master degree in management. She is responsible for the Internal Audit within the organization, especially: risk management and controlling of operational processes.
Yasuka is currently pursuing MA in Development Studies at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID), specializing in Mobilities and Migration. She studied at Columbia International School in Japan and obtained BA in Anthropology/Sociology from Sophia University in Tokyo. Her educational background and volunteer experiences with Habitat for Humanity (HFH) gave her the incentive to study further the roots of issues such as climate change, poverty, and gender inequality. During her volunteer experience in Sri Lanka and Thailand, she witnessed how climate change, poor infrastructure, and gender inequality intertwine to disrupt people’s lives. She joins Geo Expertise to realize lifestyle enhancement and empowerment of people by supporting projects related to water management.
holds a BA degree in international relations (concentration international history and law) from the University of Geneva where he pursues a MA degree on Russia and East Central Europe at the Global Studies Institute. His master's thesis which he is writing with Geo Expertise analyses the use of water in the longstanding conflict in Ukraine's eastern and southern parts from a historical perspective. Previously, Dan has been active for medical NGO's in Switzerland and Australia including Mercy Ships Lausanne and has been a trainee for the shipbrokers society Barry Rogliano Salles in Geneva.
Mariam is a Master in Development Studies candidate at The Geneva Graduate Institute (IHEID), specializing in Mobilities/Migration and Health. After receiving her Bachelor’s in Modern Language Studies in the US, she spent one year in Georgia as a Peace Corps English Education Volunteer. Mariam is passionate about women’s empowerment, education, and environmental sustainability. She joins Geo Expertise by collaborating on a component of the Amwaj project that will focus on the empowerment of Syrian women via a participatory approach to water governance and management. Mariam is Tunisian-American and speaks English, French, Arabic, Russian, and Georgian.
holds a BA degree in French Studies as well as a certificate on International Relations from Smith College (2017-2021). She attended the Sorbonne in Paris for a year (2019-2020) and studied both history and French literature. She pursues a MA degree on Development Studies at the Graduate Institute of Geneva with a primary specialization in Power and Conflict and a secondary on Environment, Resources and Sustainability.
She has volunteer experiences with a museum (Smith College Museum of Art), an NGO in Washington, DC (Human Rights Campaign) and other grassroots organizations like the Pioneer Valley Project in Springfield Massachusetts. She also completed an internship in 2021 on the outreach team of InReach (formerly known as AsylumConnect), focusing on verifying and reverifying resources and organizations for refugees and asylum claimants in Canadian provinces. She currently research with Caritas Suisse on an Applied Research Project (2022-present), in coordination with the Graduate Institute of Geneva, on advocacy for migrants in the Sahel region of Africa.
Outside of academics, her primary personal interests include advocacy work centered around social justice issues, human rights, and humanitarian action. She is passionate about solving issues ranging from climate change, the global refugee and migrant crisis, ethnic and civil conflicts, and providing for historically and currently marginalized groups. She looks forward to combining her interests in human rights and humanitarianism in tandem with current environmental issues and the future of sustainable development and resource management projects to better serve local communities through this internship with Geo Expertise this year.
holds a BA in International Development Studies from UCLA, where she specialized in sustainable development and the MENAS region. She is currently pursuing a MA in Development Studies at the Graduate Institute Geneva. She is working with Geo Expertise on the governance, humanitarian aid, and basic service restoration in northwestern Syria. Her academic research for the masters centers around migration and refugee studies.
holds a BA degree in Political Science and Modern History from the University of Zurich and is currently pursuing a MA in Development Studies at the Graduate Institute in Geneva. She works with Geo Expertise on issues related to governance, humanitarian aid and basic service restoration in North-western Syria. Her academic research focuses on conflict resolution, peacebuilding, and humanitarian action. Her master thesis focuses on natural resource governance as a tool for post-conflict reconstruction and peacebuilding.
holds a BA degree in International Affairs from the University of St. Gallen and is currently pursuing a MA in Development Studies at the Graduate Institute in Geneva. Her work with Geo Expertise concerns issues related to governance, humanitarian aid and basic service restoration in North-Western Syria. Her academic research centers around humanitarian response, poverty reduction and conflict prevention.
holds a BA in International Relations from the University of Geneva and a MA in Development Studies from the Graduate Institute in Geneva. Her work with Geo Expertise concerns the analysis of the role of water in the Syrian conflict. More specifically, Elodie’s master’s thesis investigates The Weaponization of Water in the Syrian Conflict: The Targeting of Civilians. Passionate about water and water access issues, she is active in several associations, among which The Water Initiative that she co-created. She is currently working on events and publications on the role of water in conflicts.
worked with Geo Expertise on civil society organisations operating in Idlib province of Syria. She takes keen interest in protection issues and the operational, political and methodological challenges concerning organisations with protection mandates. She has done her Master’s in Development Studies at the Graduate Institute, Geneva. Her academic and professional experience revolves around humanitarian action, with a focus on forced displacement and protection of civilian populations. Malvika is currently working at the ICRC HQ in the Protection Division.
Holds a BA in Economics from Bilkent University, an MA in Development Studies from the Graduate Institute in Geneva and an MA in European Economics from the College of Europe. He has worked previously in several organizations focusing on migration, humanitarian aid, and peace building. Zahed is currently working as a researcher at Geo Expertise addressing the strengthening role of water in fostering social cohesion and as a tool for peacebuilding.
is working with Geo-Expertise on its Syrian Civil Society Support Program. She is currently studying the state of local organisation in areas controlled by Syrian Democratic Forces. Aparajita holds a BA Politics & International Relations from University of Westminster, London and is currently pursuing MA International Affairs at The Graduate Institute, Geneva. Her academic and professional experience is centred around conflict, peace building and humanitarian programming with a specific focus on humanitarian partnerships and localisation of aid. Also, working as the Program Quality Intern with CARE International, Geneva; Aparajita has an in-depth understanding of Humanitarian aid chain and elements of standard humanitarian programming in a global context. Previously, Aparajita has worked with organisations such as UNICEF, Geneva Gender Champions and is also an awardee of Davis Peace Project for establishing her own social enterprise in India.
holds a BA in Social Communication Sciences/Journalism from the Azad University of Tehran and is currently obtaining her MA in International Affairs from the
Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva. By working as a journalist for more than four years in Iran, she obtained extensive professional experience, especially concerning environmental issues, ecotourism, and migration. She also worked in the field of education and held various workshops on creative writing and journalism for Afghan and Iranian women in Tehran. In her Master thesis, she focuses on the perception of Iranians towards Afghans in Iran. Shadi is fluent in Farsi (Persian) and English and is currently learning French.
is a M.A. candidate in International Affairs at the Graduate Institute in Geneva and holds a B.A. in social anthropology from the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. Her academic focus is on migration, refugee studies and humanitarianism. She has worked with Syrian refugees - among other nationalities - in Greece, Lebanon and in Geneva.
Holds a degree in mechanical engineer from the University of Aleppo, Syria. He worked as Director of pumping stations in the authority for Drinking Water and Sanitation in Idlib -Syria. He is Adviser Geo Expertise. He is setting up a training program on Installation and operation and maintenance of pumping stations equipment.
earned a B.A. in Politics and International Relations from Royal Holloway, University of London. She is currently pursuing an M.A. in International Affairs at the Graduate Institute for International and Development Studies in Geneva, with a research focus on human rights in the Middle East. She has held several positions in grassroots civil society organizations in the MENA region, and she is currently the acting UN Liaison for Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain.
Dominique Fraser is a postgraduate student currently completing a Master in International Affairs at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva. She also holds a B.A. in Peace and Conflict Studies and an Honours degree in International Relations from the University of Queensland. Her previous work has centred on humanitarian intervention and the Responsibility to Protect, as well as women's inclusion in peace processes and the Women Peace and Security agenda.
holds a BA in political science from Cairo University and is currently an MA student at the Graduate Institute in Geneva where he studies international affairs. He joined swisspeace in April 2016 as a Program Assistant at the Mediation Program. Before that, he worked as a Program Officer at the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation’s office in Egypt, and as a Political Officer at the US Embassy in Cairo, as well as with UNDP and IOM country operations.
Working with Geo Expertise on its Syrian Civil Society Support Program, Steven holds a BA from the University of Leeds and an MA from the Graduate Institute in Geneva. Steven's academic experience is centred on humanitarian intervention, conflict and peace building and humanitarian response. Previously employed as a research assistant at the Inclusive Peace and Transition Initiative (IPTI), Steven was responsible for analysing the role of women in peace negotiations, co-authored the report "Making Women Count - Not Just Counting Women" and was a credited contributor to the UN Women Global study on resolution 1325 released in 2015. Passionate about the dynamics of humanitarian response, Steven wrote his Master’s thesis on the localization of humanitarian assistance in the Syrian crisis.
Holding a BA in International Relations from the University of Geneva, Elsa completed a Master of International Affairs at the Graduate Institute in Geneva. She is working with Geo Expertise on the Syrian Civil Society Program in addition to working as a tour guide at the Palais des Nations, the United Nations Office in Geneva. Interested in the interplay between armed conflicts and humanitarian action, Elsa wrote her Master’s thesis on humanitarian access in the Syrian crisis, looking specifically at the role of the Syrian state in obstructing humanitarian assistance. She is fluent in French, Spanish and English, and is currently learning Arabic.
Amal completed a Master of International Affairs with a specialization in Conflict and Peacebuilding at the Graduate Institute in Geneva and is currently working with Geo Expertise on the Syrian Civil Society Support Program. She wrote her Master's thesis on the role of Syrian civil society capacity building in remote humanitarian operations. She holds a Bachelor Honours degree in International Relations and History from the University of Toronto, Canada. She has recently completed a 3-month internship with the Qatar Red Crescent in Gaziantep, focusing in their remote humanitarian operations and partnerships with Syrian NGOs. She is a fluent speaker of English, Urdu and Pashto.
Leads a program on Water for Resilience and recovery in Syria (Negotiations of Agreements for the Rehabilitation and Management of Shared Water Supply Networks in Syria, Rehabilitation and Management of Irrigation schemes and training on water projects design and management in crisis situations). He has published many articles on water resources and management in dry land areas and water management in crisis situations.
His research focuses on geopolic of water and water management as a tool for post-conflict peace-building and reconciliation in Syria.
He holds a PhD degree in Geography form Faculty of Geosciences and Environment, University of Lausanne, Switzerland, post-graduate diplomas in Development Studies, Human Ecology, Geomatics from the University of Geneva and an engineering degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Aleppo, Syria.
He is scientific collaborator at the Graduate Institute for International and Development Studies, Geneva, Switzerland. He is co-founder and executive director of Geo Expertise a Swiss based NOG.
Email: ahmed.haj.asaad@geoexpertise.org
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