Ms. Kali Yaseen Kareem, a 2019 graduate of the American University of Iraq, Sulaimani, joined the CGDS Team as a research assistant for our UNFPA-funded grant project to improve women’s equity. Her role is to support the researchers, prepare literature reviews, and conduct surveys and interviews. Ms. Kali has experience working in humanitarian aid organizations that focus on women’s empowerment and capacity building. Before joining CGDS, she worked as a MEAL Officer at REACH Organization on a Cash-for-Work project to increase the economic well-being of the community’s most vulnerable people. Her role was to ensure that the project provided equal opportunities and a safe working environment for beneficiaries without discrimination based on gender, disability, or social background. She has also served as a Project Officer at the People’s Development Organization on Future Forward: The Iraqi Women's Leadership Initiative. She was in charge of implementing a mentorship program to empower women and girls by tackling barriers they face in securing their economic and social rights within their homes and communities. Kali enjoys playing various sports such as football, kickboxing, and basketball. She has been a part of the AUIS women's football team and her high school's football team. Her favorite parts about working at CGDS are its diversity and its supportive environment. Welcome to CGDS, Ms. Kali!
Photo description: A woman with long brown hair, parted to the right, stands in a hallway, facing the camera, smiling slightly. She wears a dark blue tank shirt under a striped, long-sleeved, dark blue shirt. Her arms are crossed.