Dr. Noha El-Mikawy: An Intellectual and Leadership Journey at the Heart of Political and Developmental Transformations in the Middle East
In a rapidly changing world marked by political and social transformations, certain leaders emerge as agents of meaningful change through their deep vision and unwavering commitment to positive reform. Among these distinguished figures is Dr. Noha El-Mikawy, Dean of the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy (GAPP) at the American University in Cairo (AUC), who stands at the forefront of academic and professional voices advocating for reform and good governance in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Dr. El-Mikawy’s career spans over three decades of research and fieldwork, during which she masterfully bridged academic insight with real-world practice. She has made a lasting impact in the fields of development and public policy through her work in major international institutions as well as prestigious academic platforms.
Between 2012 and 2022, Dr. El-Mikawy led the Middle East and North Africa office of the Ford Foundation, where she championed community empowerment, social justice, and the role of civil society. Prior to that, she served as Governance Team Leader at the UNDP Regional Center, providing technical and advisory support to countries such as Egypt, Tunisia, Sudan, Yemen, Jordan, and Kuwait during a crucial period of political transition.
Her most notable contribution during that time was organizing the first international conference on “Transitions to Democracy in the Arab Region” in June 2011. The event brought together policymakers and civil society representatives from Egypt, Tunisia, and Yemen, alongside experts from Asia, Africa, and Latin America, offering a critical moment for exchanging experiences and insights.
From 2007 to 2009, Dr. El-Mikawy worked as Political Advisor at the Oslo Governance Centre (Norway), affiliated with the UNDP, where she oversaw a global project on governance assessment. She also contributed to the publication of a joint UNDP-UN Women guide on gender-sensitive public service delivery.
In the academic realm, her journey began in the 1990s. She has taught Middle East politics at AUC, Freie Universität Berlin, and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg in Germany. Between 2000 and 2005, she led comparative research on the political economy of the MENA region at the Development Research Center of the University of Bonn.
Dr. El-Mikawy holds a Ph.D. and M.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and a B.A. from the American University in Cairo. She is the author of two books and numerous scholarly articles addressing institutional reform and governance in the Arab world. In addition to her academic and developmental roles, she serves on the board of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and the Arab Reform Initiative (ARI), and is a former board member of the Economic Research Forum (ERF).
Dr. Noha El-Mikawy’s biography is not merely a record of prestigious positions, but a testament to her enduring commitment to justice, governance, and institution-building in one of the world’s most complex and diverse regions. She represents a powerful female voice in the realm of public policy and development—an emblem of conscious leadership that seamlessly connects knowledge with action in pursuit of a better future for the region and its people.
