Shahla Al Kli, PhD
About Shahla Al Kli, PhD
Shahla Al Kli, PhD, serves as the Research, Analysis, and Knowledge Mobilization Director at Proximity International in Bethesda, Maryland. With extensive experience in political economy analysis and program implementation, she has held various leadership roles in organizations such as Mercy Corps and DAI, and she is also a Non-Resident Scholar at the Middle East Institute.
Work at Proximity
Shahla Al Kli serves as the Research, Analysis, and Knowledge Mobilization Director at Proximity International, a position she has held since 2022. In this role, she focuses on leveraging research and analysis to inform decision-making and enhance knowledge sharing. Her work involves developing strategies to mobilize knowledge effectively within the organization and among stakeholders.
Previous Experience
Prior to her current role, Al Kli worked at Mercy Corps as the Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East from 2020 to 2021. She also held multiple positions at DAI, including Senior Advisor for Political Economy Analysis and Principal Development Specialist. Her career includes significant roles at Counterpart International, where she served as Country Director and Chief of Party, overseeing humanitarian programs in Iraq.
Education and Expertise
Shahla Al Kli earned her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in International Relations and Affairs from The Fletcher School at Tufts University, completing her studies from 2013 to 2019. She also holds a Master's degree in Conflict Resolution and Southwest Asia from the same institution. Earlier, she obtained a Master's degree in Linguistics from the University of Baghdad, where she also completed her Bachelor's degree in English Literature.
Research Contributions
Al Kli has produced critical studies and reports for the USAID Mission in Iraq, including National and Provincial Political Economy Analysis and Conflict Sensitivity Analysis. She has led the implementation of the USAID-funded Iraq Governance Performance and Accountability (IGPA) program at DAI Global, managing diverse teams and projects aimed at improving governance and accountability in Iraq.
Community Impact
During her tenure at Counterpart International, Al Kli implemented 80 community action and Marla projects, which positively impacted 300,000 recipients and created over 8,000 jobs. She currently provides technical and managerial oversight for the USAID Accountability and Research Team (ART) activity, focusing on stabilization efforts in Syria and fostering stakeholder relationships.