From: Palestine
Graduated: 2002
University: Westminster
Course: MA Diplomatic Studies
Ibrahim Natil is the founder of Society Voice Foundation in Palestine. Dr. Natil is an international development consultant and has worked for many international organisations such as UNDP, GTZ, a World Bank project and other Palestinian NGOs. He has also launched and managed more than 56 human rights organisations that deal with, women empowerment, peace building and good governance in Palestine.
He holds a PhD in politics and history from Coventry University, U.K. And an MA in diplomatic studies from Westminster University, London. He attended and presented a number of academic papers at international conferences. His most recent publications include “Turkey's Human Security Agenda in the Gaza Strip” (Human Security in Turkey Challenges for 21st Century, 2013); “Hamas between Militarism and Governance” (Peace-Building and Reconciliation, 2012; Journal of Conflict Transformation and Security, July 2011).
He authored and published several articles and book chapters on a wide range of topics, including conflict resolution, peacebuilding, human security, NGOs, revolutionary movements, political violence, and the Middle East in Journal of Peacebuilding and Development, Routledge, Pluto, Palgrave, Journal of Conflict Transformation and Security, Inter-Disciplinary Press and Springer.
In addition to his scholarly work, he was nominated for the Tällberg Foundation Global Leadership Prize 2016.
Experience
Lecturer in Politics and Business
Dublin City University (DCU)
September 2016 - present
Visiting Scholar
University College Dublin (UCD)
February 2015 – August 2016
Researched and presented in over 15 different conferences and authored several articles and book chapters on a wide range of topics during the last three years.
The most recent selected seminars and conferences presentations are:
- Women Social and Political Empowerment, DCU, Dublin, November 16, 2016
- National Identity: Northern Ireland and Palestine, University of Illinois, September 23, 2016
- Local and International Organisations Intervention in Libya, Conflict Research Studies Conference, Trinity College Dublin, September 8th, 2016
- Does Turkey’s Foreign Policy Fail in Syria?, Royal Irish Academy, May 30, 2016
- Young Refugees Transformation: Opportunities and Challenges, DCU, Dublin, April 6, 2016
- Civil Society Challenges, Arab World Institute, Paris, March 19, 2016
- Hamas Crisis: Resistance, Governance and Transformation (2006-2015), SOAS, Gaza Conference, October 31st , 2015
- Turkish NGOs in the Arab Spring: Human Security or Foreign Policy Agenda? School of Politics, UCD, October 8th, 2015
- National Identity: Northern Ireland and Palestine, London School of Politics, LSE, April 23, 2015
- National Identity: Northern Ireland and Palestine, School of Politics and International Relations- UCD, April 29, 2015
Most recent publications:
Books:
Chapters:
Peer - Reviewed Journals:
Articles:
Has the UN failed in Libya? The Journal of Democracy and Independent Thought, 2015.
Palestinian youth: A wave of popular resistance or a smart uprising? The Journal of Democracy and Independent Thought, 2015
Awards:
Robert Chambers Award for the Best Overall Paper (2018), awarded by the Development Studies Association, Ireland (DSA Ireland).
International Development Consultant
Independent (Registered by the British Council in 2014)
2010 – Present
Deliver expertise in team leadership and technical support experience in capacity building/development programs, evaluation, monitoring, fundraising, management, strategic communication, gender and post conflict reconstruction and peace building for a number of project funded by international organisations and donors such as EC, USAID, OFID etc.
Delivered for Panel Review, Global Integrity Report, 2011, Society Voice Foundation, VIVA etc. Experience working in conflict, post-conflict, transitional and fragile environments.
Providing consultancy in evaluation and management of peace building, human rights and development programmes with experience in different agency contexts and strong understanding of risk management and mitigation in relation to conflict sensitivity in developing countries.
Founder and Director
Society Voice Foundation - Palestinian Territory
July 2002 – September 2010
I was responsible for development of strategic management and staff supervision from working in conflict, post-conflict, transitional and fragile environments. This included responsibility for staff development and organisational capacity building. I managed more than 45 human rights, community development and conflict resolution programs targeting youth and women. This required a strong understanding of risk management and mitigation in relation to conflict sensitivity in the region. I was responsible for programs implementation and ensuring quality development of foundation's programs management of field researches, production of public relations and media materials and radio programs. I also directed evaluation and monitoring teams to ensure progress of the programs and projects of civil society. I also conducted various fundraising, advocacy and international communications activities. I succeeded to raise funds from well-known donors such as European Commission, OFID, WFD, MBI and MEPI among others to implement more than 45 projects in the fields of peacebuilding, human rights, and women empowerment since the inception of the foundation in 2002. I was responsible for coordination among the organisation's board of administration, community organisation and other stakeholders and donors. I also supervised management of different conferences and events of public relations and raising awareness.
Public Relations and Awareness Consultant
Social Safety Network Program and German Technical Corporation - GTZ - Palestinian Territory
September 2004 – September 2005
Responsible for delivering consultancy of leading public relations activities including producing media materials and radio programs. Also providing consultancy to manage different conferences and events of public relations. It included raising awareness and intercultural learning, improving, drafting, reporting and proposing official public relations documents.
Responsible for improving the public relations and awareness materials and literature; including promotion of the image of the project at all levels. Delivered PR and awareness expertise for 12 months to the Social Safety Network Program managed by the Ministry of Social Affairs and funded by the World Bank... in addition provided six months PR and awareness consultancy for German Technical Corporation GTZ as a PR consultant for GTZ’s youth health awareness project and the Solid Waste Management project
Public Relations and Fundraising Officer
The Palestinian Centre for Democracy and Conflict Resolution
1999 – 2003
Responsible for conducting various fundraising, advocacy and international communications activities. Assisted the director in planning strategic management and staff supervision: Tasks included drafting, reporting and proposing official documents, project and programs developments. Contributed to field researches, production of public relations and media. Worked in coordination with the organisation's board of administration, community organisation and other stakeholders and donors. In addition, represented the centre in international and national conferences and events. Participated in management of youth, women and children development programs based on human rights, community development and conflict resolution values. Also contributed to a number of training and facilitation civil society activities targeting mainly youth.
Community Youth Development Coordinator
United Nations Volunteers and UNDP - Palestinian Territory
March 1997 – December 1999
Planning, and implementing community based actions designed to engage youths in civil society and community development programs. Responsible for management of youth actions including designing and implementing a number of different conferences and events of targeting youth. This included management of community volunteers and participating in preparation reporting and proposing official documents, project and programs developments. In addition, led a number of summer camps and social and cultural youth events.
Education
Coventry University- UK
PhD, Politics
2005 – 2011
Activities and Societies: Research at the Centre for Peace and Reconciliation Studies
Westminster University - London
MA, Diplomatic Studies
2001 – 2002
Attended and participated in a number of conferences, academic and social activities.
Activities and Societies: Attending the Diplomatic Academy of London
Projects
The Non-Governmental Organisations Project: 1st Global Meeting
Started December 2014
Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) play an increasingly important role in generating the political, economic and social developments that shape daily life in our contemporary, global society. NGOs have the capacity to drive innovation and provide humanitarian relief in the face of natural disasters, war and other crises around the world. With a diverse range of organisations, objectives and activities that target local, national and international issues, the NGO sector is an expansive terrain characterised by dynamic relationships between agents of action, the causes they serve and the communities. Occupying the ground between business and government, the NGO sector faces a number of regulatory and financial challenges that affect its overall health and sustainability.
The Global Project on NGOs seeks to promote greater understanding of the sector, its societal contributions, current operational practices and strategies for future development through a raft of conferences, workshops, short courses and special events that foster inter-disciplinary dialogue. By bringing together representatives from NGOs, researchers and professionals working in fields where NGOs are active, the project will foster engagement that explores the factors, circumstances and historical changes that influence the development and activities of NGOs as well as the organisational, financial and political challenges facing the sector today.
The following key themes will guide project development:
1) Scope:
– Types and activities of NGOs: the rise of INGOS, BINGOS and RINGOS as a response
2) Funding:
3) Networking, Sharing Information and Expertise:
4) Clientalism:
5) Legitimacy and Sustainability:
6) Political Environment:
7) Regulatory Environments in which NGOs Operate:
8) NGOs and Cross Culture Relations:
9) NGOs and (Inter)National Economies
Empowerment Women Political and Social Participation
September 2003
Education and Communications for Dialogue, Conflict Transformation
Starting November 2011
Languages
English: Full professional proficiency
Arabic: Native or bilingual proficiency
Hebrew: Limited working proficiency
French: Limited working proficiency