Yara Shawky is a seasoned researcher and civil society professional with over 20 years of experience. She has collaborated with international organizations, donors, and funders to enhance the resilience of civil society organizations. She has worked with organizations such as Save the Children, UNHCR, and UNDP focusing on youth participation, gender inclusion, and development programs. In her recent roles with European Union Delegation to Egypt and Ford Foundation Yara’s efforts have centered on media reform, freedom of expression, digital rights, and the societal impact of technology. Yara brings extensive technical expertise in strategy development, policy and context analysis, program and project management, and institutional capacity building for civil society organizations. Yara earned degrees in political science, human rights, and public policy. She is also a Senior Fellow at The Atlantic Fellows for Social and Economic Equity (AFSEE) program, with research focused on the challenges of designing entrepreneurship programs, including digital entrepreneurship and the role of women in the digital economy.