Meet our new Research Fellows

This January, the Institute brought on two new Human Security team members - Senior Research Fellow Adel Elsayed Sparr and Research Fellow Leen Aghabi. Last week, we spent a few minutes getting to know our new arrivals  and heard about what they're going to be doing over the next year, and what they'll be bringing to the Institute. 

What attracted you to the work of the WANA Institute?

Adel: The main premise is of course my passion for this region, which seems to be worse off than ever. One of the structural problems I see is the lack of good role models; that people from this region get educated and get out. This leaves us with a huge gap in homegrown knowledge, few people to look up to and get inspired by, and a predomination of outside perspectives. The WANA Institute, as an initiative from the region, seeks to compensate for this, and this is my rationale for joining the institute.

Leen: As a Jordanian who is passionate about policy and research, I was thrilled to know that the original WANA Forum has been re-launched into the WANA Institute; a policy think tank producing cutting edge research, from the region, for the region. I was attracted to the work of the Institute, as it will enable me to take part in developing a regional knowledge base to guide more effective policy, at a time when the region is in dire need of evidence based guidance.

What were you each doing before you joined the Institute?

Adel: I used to teach Middle East Studies at Uppsala University, in Sweden, and before that, I worked with the Consulate General of Sweden in Jerusalem.

Leen: I was completing my Master’s degree in International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

What projects are you going to be working on in the coming year?

Adel: As a Senior Research Fellow, I supervise all projects that the human security team is working on. This means that I am engaged in all of them, but I will be working a lot with finding new ideas and strategies for dealing with the refugee situation, as well as our conflict resilience model.

Leen: For the coming year, I am excited to be part of the Human Security Team and work on projects pertaining to countering violent extremism, as well as developing the Conflict Resilience Model (CRM).

What projects, outside of Human Security, that are being worked on by the Institutes’ team most interest or excite you?

Adel: Having previously been researching intersection between legitimate statehood, legal pluralism, tribalism, and the rule of law – and I think this is particularly important – I find the projects that aims to expand access to justice by legal empowerment really fascinating. Anything that has to do with women’s rights and access to justice is equally important to me, and coming back to the issue of good role models, women’s rights is contingent upon good male role models. Excluding half of the population from crucial parts of social, economic, legal and political life is always a bad idea, full stop.

Leen: I am particularly interested in the Greening WANA project that is currently being worked on by the Green Economy Team. The project is aimed at integrating Islamic and community-driven natural resource management systems for environmental sustainability and conflict resilience.

Adel, you’ve spent extensive time in the Middle East. Did anything in particular motivate you to move to Jordan in your work?

Adel: I have Egyptian roots, so that has always been a focus area. My time in Jerusalem was quite intense, with ongoing violence and the smell of teargas in my apartment in the Old City on particularly bad nights, and the subsequent Swedish recognition of Palestine. I think I basically wanted to move to something new, which would capitalize on my previous experience. Jordan is a beacon of stability in the region, and even if pressures are mounting, it feels good to be ‘on the ground’ while at the same time not having to think about security concerns when going to the local supermarket. In addition, Jordan houses some of the best scientific institutes in the region, and is a de facto regional hub for a plethora of organizations in development, finance, education and science.

Leen, as a Jordanian who’s recently returned to the country, do you feel particularly connected to the issues that the Institute is exploring?

Leen: Most definitely! I believe the Institute’s work is unique, as it addresses the issues that the WANA region’s citizens feel most concerned about and connected to.

What would you like to get out of your time at the Institute?

Adel: I want to be able to leave Amman with a sense of accomplishment; that my work and action changed the situation for the better. The WANA Institute is a platform to do precisely that, as well as grow my own network, meet some flabbergasting people, and just learn more about this really mesmerizing region.

Leen: I would like to build my network with experts in the policy world through the projects I will be working on at the Institute, as well as harness my research and policy analysis skills.

What’s your favorite thing to do in Amman?

Adel: I’ve only been here for a few days, and so far (being half Swedish) going to IKEA has been a highlight! But I think that as the weather starts to get warmer, hanging out on the roof that surrounds my apartment is going to be a real winner, activities ranging from BBQs to books.  This is likely to get revised as time pass, and I get the chance to explore Amman in more depth.

Leen: Reading books at Wild Jordan in Jabal Amman with a magnificent view of the city!