Scholars Incubator Program (3 Ed. 2026)

Fedaa Khaled is a Political Science and Economics graduate from Egypt with a growing interest in public policy, governance, and evidence-informed decision-making. She is passionate about exploring how research and data analysis can contribute to designing, evaluating, and improving public policies that address complex governance and development challenges.

Fedaa research interests include civil-military relations, governance, public policy evaluation, and state–society relations, with a particular focus on the MENA region. She is especially interested in bridging policy research and data analytics to generate practical insights that support more effective and accountable policymaking. Beyond her academic interests, Fedaa has volunteered in several youth programs with Egypt’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, where she strengthened her leadership, teamwork, and communication skills through community engagement and collaborative initiatives. Through her academic and professional journey, she aims to contribute to policy research that connects theory with practice and promotes sustainable, evidence-informed solutions to public challenges.

Ibrahim Helal is an open-source investigator and data journalist based in Istanbul, currently leading the OSINT Investigations Unit at the Misbar Project at Alaraby TV. A mechanical engineer by training, he spent seven years at Al Jazeera Network as an editor and data journalist, producing data-driven stories on social and economic issues across the Arab world. He has since built investigations into digital misinformation campaigns, edited open-source investigative narratives, and trained journalists in OSINT and data journalism with ZeroDays Academy and ARIJ. He holds diplomas in Big Data and Data Journalism, and is pursuing a Master's in security studies and digital fornesics.

Mustaf Ishak Ali is a data analyst and research professional with experience in quantitative analysis, policy research, and development planning. He currently works as a Research & Analysis Advisor at the National Economic Council (NEC) of Somalia, contributing to analytical initiatives related to governance, economic resilience, and long-term development planning, including support to Somalia’s Centennial Vision 2060 (CV2060).

His academic and professional interests include governance, development policy, economic resilience, AI governance, and data-driven decision-making in fragile and developing contexts. Alongside his professional work, he is pursuing an MSc in Financial Engineering at WorldQuant University.

Mustaf has contributed to analytical reports, institutional documentation, and data-driven projects involving economic, environmental, and socio-economic datasets. He is particularly interested in interdisciplinary research, regional cooperation, and strengthening evidence-based policymaking across the MENA region and the Horn of Africa.
 

I am a Palestinian educator and emerging researcher from Gaza, born in 1994. I hold a BA in Mathematics Education from the Islamic University of Gaza and completed an Erasmus Mundus year at the University of Almería, Spain.

During the ongoing conflict, I co-founded a Tent School in Khan Younis serving 200+ children, coordinating with UNICEF to deliver trauma-informed, game-based learning. One student, Jameel, who had lost his entire family,  became my turning point: I helped him recover through active learning, and today he ranks among the top in his class. That experience redirected my path toward health psychology research. I am applying to a Master's in General Health Psychology at Universidad de Jaén. I seek through SIP the mentorship and affiliation to become the researcher these children deserve.

Hajar is a Moroccan doctoral student specializing in educatio and postcolonial cinema. She holds a Professional Master’s degree in Applied Linguistics and English Language Teaching and a Bachelor’s degree in Cinema and Cultural Studies. Her doctoral research explores the representation of Moroccan teachers in national cinema and its impact on pre-service teachers. With over five years of teaching experience, she currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at the Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences in Rabat and as a linguistic and cultural partner at NIMAR Morocco. She is also the founder of EnglishGoDarija, a language-learning initiative reaching over 24,000 learners .

I'm a Sudanese human rights researcher, legal scholar, and humanitarian practitioner from Darfur.  I'm co-founded Berlee for Peace and Development Organization in 2019 Sudan's first youth-led peacebuilding organization and currently serves as its Programs Director, overseeing operations in North and South Darfur. I holds a Law and Sharia degree from the University of Nyala and is pursuing a Master's in Public International Law at Kampala International University, researching IHL application in Sudan's armed conflict. I'm  also works as a researcher with The Reckoning Project Orgniazation Sudan, documenting human rights violations in Darfur. my work spans civilian protection, IHL, transitional justice, and humanitarian response, with partnerships including Norwegian People's Aid, PAX, GIZ, Saferworld, and The Carter Center.

Ali Abu Hamrah is a physician from Libya and a graduate of Istanbul University’s Faculty of Medicine. He also holds an Honors Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Anadolu University.

His academic and research interests lie at the intersection of health diplomacy, global health governance, and international development, with a particular focus on how political and economic systems shape healthcare delivery and health outcomes in conflict-affected and resource-limited settings. As a multilingual scholar, he is fluent in Arabic, English, German, and Turkish. Through the Scholars Incubator Program, he hopes to deepen his understanding of global policy challenges and contribute to interdisciplinary research that advances more resilient and equitable health systems.

Ghaidaa Motahar is a researcher practitioner specializing in gender studies, peacebuilding, and humanitarian governance, with over a decade of professional experience across the UN system, international NGOs, such as, UNDP, UNMHA, OCHA, FAO, Oxfam and ICRC. Her scholarly work examines the intersectionality and humanitarian aid effectiveness in conflict-affected contexts, with a particular focus on Yemen.

Her PhD research at the University of Malaya explores the effectiveness of humanitarian aid in empowering women through resilience building programmes, offering empirically insights into gender responsive humanitarian policy and intersectionality in humanitarian aid. Prior to her doctoral studies, she held a research fellowship for two months in 2013 at Roskilde University, Denmark, where she worked on a proposal about women’s roles in peacebuilding during Yemen’s political transition. Her MA thesis at the University of Warsaw similarly engaged critically with questions of political participation, state structures, and gendered power relations.

Alongside her academic work, she has served in analytical, humanitarian coordination and managerial roles with UNMHA, OCHA, UNDP, FAO and Oxfam, producing political analyses, policy briefs, and evidence based assessments that have informed decision making at organization level. This professional experience inspired her to pursue the academic path, contributing knowledge in the areas relevant to gender, humanitarian aid and peacebuilding. She published with a journal, thinktank platforms, and policy outlets, covering themes such as gender justice, displacement, social cohesion, and humanitarian access.

I am a recent graduate of the Faculty of Economics and Political Science at Cairo University. Throughout my undergraduate studies, I developed a strong interest in research and academic writing, gaining experience in producing research papers, policy briefs, literature reviews, and book reviews. I also participated in a range of training programs at governmental and non-governmental institutions in Egypt and engaged in volunteer work. My academic interests include political philosophy, religion and politics, gender politics, women's rights, security studies, and international relations, with a particular focus on the intersection of religion and politics. My graduation thesis examined the political role of Sufi orders in contemporary Egypt. I am currently seeking to establish myself in academia. My immediate goals are to develop my research papers for publication and to refine my academic specialization within political science.

I am a humanitarian practitioner and English Language and Literature student at Al-Quds Open University, with over four years of experience in education, training, and community development in Gaza. I currently work as an Administrative and Logistics Associate, supporting humanitarian operations and educational activities in displacement settings. I have served as a field coordinator, English teacher, and life skills trainer, delivering programs that reached hundreds of children and youth. My work focuses on psychosocial support, protection, and youth empowerment in crisis contexts. I have also completed multiple certifications in project management, leadership, and PSEA/GBV. I am passionate about using education and community-based initiatives to create sustainable social impact and support vulnerable populations.

Hamdi Rassam I am a Yemeni researcher, journalist, and program manager with over ten years of experience working at the intersection of media, governance, civil society, and peacebuilding. I currently serve as Program Manager at the Studies and Economic Media Center (SEMC), where I lead development and media initiatives focused on transparency, economic development, civic engagement, and social cohesion. I hold a pre-master's degree in Sociology from Taiz University and a bachelor's degree in Arabic Language and Translation from Sana'a University. My academic background, combined with extensive field experience, has shaped my interest in evidence-based research and public policy in conflict-affected contexts. My work and research focus on media governance, fact-checking, data journalism, peace journalism, digital violence, transitional justice, and the role of civil society in promoting accountability and sustainable development. I have conducted research on NGO–media relations in Yemen and authored policy-oriented studies on media and transitional justice. I have also trained journalists across Yemen on fact-checking, digital verification, and conflict-sensitive reporting.

I am a Yemeni-Turkish researcher based in Istanbul, with an MA in Political Science and International Relations from Ibn Haldun University and a BA in International Relations from Erciyes University.

My academic focus has centered on political analysis, Middle Eastern affairs, and policy research. Professionally, I have gained experience in research, external relations, communications, project management, public relations, translation, and humanitarian support through roles at the Strategic Fiker Center for Studies, the e-commerce platform Turkey Store, GoldMoore Real Estate, and the International Catholic Migration Commission. These roles have strengthened my skills in analysis, communication, leadership, and cross-cultural understanding.

Currently, I am developing a political education platform for Yemeni and Arab audiences and preparing for a future PhD and a long-term career as a scholar-practitioner.

Hamza Ahmed Hamza Shehada is an English language teacher, academic researcher, and community founder dedicated to leveraging education and technology for societal advancement. With five years of experience managing regional e-government initiatives, his research focuses heavily on digital health transformation and public administration efficiency.

Driven to bridge the gap between global academic theories and practical local implementation, he holds upcoming postgraduate offers in Health Services Management from the University of Glasgow and Health Economics from the University of Sheffield. His long-term vision is to become an established university professor, educating the next generation of scholars while leading impactful research in public health management. Locally, he actively supports youth and technology infrastructure, having launched a workspace initiative for medical students in Khan Yunis and founded Project Hamama to foster cross-community dialogue and economic collaboration.
 

I am an interpreter-translator holding a Master’s degree in interpreting, a journey highlighted by a transformative internship at the United Nations in Vienna, where I gained invaluable experience navigating high-stakes linguistic environments.

Currently a second-year PhD student, my doctoral research focuses on Moroccan cinema and subtitling, with a specialized emphasis on the complex nuances of cultural translation. I have actively shared my research over the past two years, presenting at three international conferences and one national conference. Alongside my doctoral studies, I also teach at my university. This teaching experience, combined with various professional training programs, has allowed me to improve my pedagogical skills and shape my identity as an educator. I pride myself on being dynamic, proactive, and deeply dedicated to both the academic research and professional practice of translation.

I am Ibtihal Ben Said, a committed and motivated woman from a marginalized city in Morocco. Being born in 2003, a year marked by the American Invasion of Iraq and the Casablanca Terror Attack, profoundly influenced my upbringing. Thanks to that, I have always wanted to give back and contribute meaningfully to society. Through my experiences, I discovered a passion for understanding the dynamics of politics, foreign affairs, and global economics.

In 2025, I graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration and a minor in International Studies. I am currently pusuing my Master’s in Political Science at Shanghia Jiao Tong University under the Chinese Government Scholarship.

My academic interests focus on MENA politics, and the intersection of policy, development, and social equity. I am particularly interested in how research and evidence-based analysis can inform decision-making and contribute to sustainable, and inclusive policy solutions. While I consider myself at an early stage of my research journey, I am deeply motivated to strengthen my analytical and methodological skills.

Beyond academia, I founded and led the Anaruz Club, the first Single Mothers’ Empowerement Club at Al Akhawayn University. This experience reinforced my commitment to social inequalities and the policy structures that shape them. I also gained exposure to international institutional environments through volunteering at the World Bank Group and IMF Annual Meetings in Marrakech.

I am a PR and communications professional with over four years of experience across education, tourism, technology, and cultural sectors. Currently a Public Relations Officer at Qatar Foundation (QF), I lead institutional communications for a QF school under the Pre-University Education division. I holds a Master's in Media and Cultural Studies from the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies and a BA in English Studies from Mohammed V University in Rabat. My academic work explored media framing of political crisis, and my research interests center on digital media, platform governance, and gender representation in Arab public spheres. As an alumna of the European Innovation Academy and PRCA MENA's Taa' Marbouta Program, I am committed to connecting rigorous scholarship with real-world communications practice across the MENA region.