Nadia TAHER

n.taher@dpu-associates.net

Specialisation

Gender in policy and planning; addressing poverty and inequalities in development; diversity and development; politics of development; Islamism and development; Institutional change; housing; research methodology; baselines and evaluations.

Country experience

Egypt, Yemen, Sudan, Jordan, Lebanon, South Africa, Namibia, Guinea Conakry, Nepal, Mongolia, Chile

Languages

English, French, Arabic (mother tongue)

Education and professional qualifications

1978

BA in Psychology, The American University in Cairo

1983

MA in Social Anthropology, The American University in Cairo

1997

PhD in Social Policy and Administration, London School of Economics (LSE), University of London

EMPLOYMENT

2003-

Freelance Consultant and Associate to the Development Planning Unit (DPU), University College London (UCL).

1998-2003

Director of the MPhil/PhD Programme, Development Planning Unit (DPU), University College London (UCL). This included both administrative and academic functions. Administration of the Programme included the management, starting with reviews and decision-making concerning applicants, the running and management of students over the course of their registration (three to four years), coordination with supervisors and the College, organisation of upgrading processes and vivas. The running of the Programme also involved decisions on internal policies, regulations and procedures. The academic work included the design and teaching of the 'Taught Programme' over the first year of student's studies. This was made of two seminars, one dealing with the theoretical aspects of the PhD dissertation and the other on research methodology. The work also involved the supervision and back-up supervision of students.

1995-98

Co-Director, Gender Policy and Planning Programme (GPPP), DPU, UCL. The GPPP is one of the most active programmes in the DPU. The DPU GPPP developed a methodology which is acknowledge and adopted by international, national and NGOs organisations worldwide. Besides for sharing the administration of the Programme, the co-directorship of the Programme also involved teaching on a number of long as well as short training programmes in London and abroad. Participants of these training courses were professionals working in international organisations, government, NGOs, universities and research institutions. The Programme also involved advisory inputs with professionals from international organisations, government, NGOs, universities and research institutions in a range of countries. This included inputs in mainstreaming gender in policies, programmes, projects and research, including strategy development to integrate gender in procedures, guidelines and budgets. 1999-03 Member, GPPP, DPU, UCL. This entailed carrying out training and advisory inputs both in London and abroad (as above).

1993-2003

Lecturer, DPU, UCL. In addition to the main teaching responsibility on the MPhil/PhD Programme, teaching on the MSc Programme included a course on 'Foreign Aid and Development Policy' as well as designing and co-running workshops for MSc students on Development Theory, 'Community'-led Planning, and `Gender Policy and Planning'. The work also included the dissertation supervision of MSc students (I supervised around sixty students over ten years). This entailed close supervision of students as they developed their MSc dissertations over three months of their studies.

1992

Part-time lecturer, LSE. Lecturer on "Gender and Development" seminar in the MSc programme in `Social Policy and Planning in Developing Countries', London School of Economics.

1991

Part-time lecturer, LSE. Lecturer on the MSc in 'Social Policy and Planning in Developing Countries', London School of Economics. This involved the design and teaching of a seminar on Research Methodology in the Developing World. The seminar included teaching research methods and supervising students in carrying a research exercise in London.

1990-93

Part-time lecturer, DPU. Lecturer and tutor on 1990, 1991 & 1993 annual three months "Planning with Women and Men for Development" course at the DPU, UCL.

1983-87

Senior Researcher with Sinai Health Systems Consultation Group, Cairo, Egypt.

1981-82

Fellow, Department of Anthropology, Sociology and Psychology at the American University in Cairo. This involved working as research and teaching assistance to academic staff.

1978-81

Graduate assistant, Department of Anthropology, Sociology and Psychology, American University in Cairo. This involved working as research assistant to academic staff. Other Organisational Posts

2001-03

Vice Chair of the MSc Board of Examiners, Bartlett School of Graduate
Studies, UCL

2000-03

Departmental Equal Opportunities Officer, DPU, UCL

1999-2003

Member of the Bartlett Research Sub-committee Degree Admission Panel Group, UCL. The main function of this committee is to make final decision on the admission of MPhil/PhD applicants, to approve upgrading from MPhil to PhD status and to approve examiners.

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CONSULTANCY, TRAINING AND RESEARCH

2007

UNDP Mongolia. Capacity building in Gender Mainstreaming for UNDP staff and national counterparts and for researchers working in NGOs and national research institutes.

Advisory inputs into Gender Mainstreaming Strategy for UNDP Mongolia and of the design and methodology of the 'Joint UN Programme on Prevention of Violence Against Women and Children'.

Education Action International. Advisory inputs into a Research and Advocacy Programme for Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and Jordan.

ILO Yemen. The design of a Health Advocacy Strategy and the writing up of a Policy Brief to promote women and men workers in the Health Sector in Yemen. The work was done with the Directorate General of Women Workers in the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour.

UNICEF Madagascar. Advisory inputs into a gender and education research entitled 'Connaissances, Attitudes et Pratiques sur L’éducation des Filles et la Prise en Compte de la Dimension Genre dans des Districts Sélectionnés à Madagascar' (Desk Study)

DFID. Advisory inputs into a background paper on gender in the Middle East and North Africa Region entitled "Is Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment a Priority for MENAD?"

DPU, University College London (UCL). Advisor and lecturer on a twelve week course on 'Gender, Citizenship and Social Justice'.

2006

UNDP Mongolia. An Interests and Need Assessment as part of the process of designing a Gender Mainstreaming Strategy for UNDP Mongolia.

UNDP Mongolia. Advisory inputs into designing a Gender Mainstreaming Strategy for UNDP Mongolia The Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC). Gender consultant supporting the Gender Unit, Governance Division, through backstopping activities. Education Action International. Advisory inputs into a Research and Advocacy Programme for Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and Jordan Development Planning Unit (DPU) University College London (UCL). Advisor and lecturer on a twelve week course entitled 'Participation of Women'. This course deals with social justice, citizenship and gender in countries where Muslims constitute the majority of the population.

2005

ILO/Yemen. An evaluation of the "Strengthening the National Machinery for Advancing Women's Employment in Yemen" Programme. This is an institutional building programme, focusing on the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour, the General Federation of Workers, Trade Unions and the Chamber of Commerce and Industries. The ultimate aim of the Programme is to improve the employment opportunities for women and promote full equality for women workers. Education Action International. An evaluation of a three year project entitled "Palestinian Women's Research and Advocacy". The review included carrying out interviews with the coordinators, trainers, supervisors and trainees involved in the project. Development Planning Unit (DPU) University College London (UCL). Advisor and lecturer on a twelve week course entitled 'Participation of Women' course. The Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC). The development of a tool to assist users to reach a more qualitative understanding in their reading and interpretation of quantitative data from a gender perspective. This was developed with the view of developing terms of reference for baseline research and indicators for monitoring and evaluation. Five matrices were developed covering Political Participation and Decision Making, Poverty, Employment, Health and Education.

2004-05

KIT Development Policy and Practice. Advisory inputs into the "Inclusive Governance and Citizenship" Programme. The programme, which still in its design phase, includes research and capacity building components on gender issues in governance and citizenship in East Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe.

UNDAW in Windhoek, Dakar, Addis Ababa and Beirut. Capacity building in gender and ICT for members of National Women's Machineries. This is programme, entitled "Strengthening the Capacity of National Machineries Through the Effective Use of ICT", was coordinated by the UN Division of the Advancement of Women. It consisted of five workshops. The first was held in Windhoek-Namibia (April 2004) with representatives from 12 Southern African countries. The second in Dakar-Senegal (May 2004) with representatives from 10 West African countries. The third workshop was held in Addis Ababa-Ethiopia (April 2005) with representatives from 8 East African countries, and finally in Beirut (June 2005) with representatives from 12 Middle Eastern countries. 2003 SDC. Co-organiser and facilitator of a workshop entitled 'Capitalisation of Gender in SDC'. The workshop was attended by participants from SDC Head Quarters and Cooperation Offices from Latin America, Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. 2003-04 UNDP/Sudan. Capacity building in gender mainstreaming in UNDP, Sudan. The programme started with a needs assessment carried out through interviews with UNDP staff, key members of the Government of Sudan, international and bilateral agencies and a range of civil society organisations in Khartoum. It was then followed by a training workshop for UNDP staff with the aim to mainstream gender in their peace building Programme. SDC. Gender Consultant making inputs into SDC gender mainstreaming programme in Eastern and Central Europe. Involved in developing methodologies in capacity building with focuses on situational analysis, training and planning workshops and mid-term reviews with Julian Walker who carried out the in-country missions. 2002-03 ILO/Geneva. Capacity building in gender mainstreaming in the International Programme for the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC). This is a medium term programme that included a needs assessment, training and advisory inputs. The main objective of the Programme was to carry out capacity building through training staff and consolidating their skills through the review and inputs into the development of research, project and programme manuals and guidelines. 2001 ILO/Yemen. Evaluation of the Child Labour Country Programme in Yemen for the International Programme for the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) ILO. The evaluation consisted of interviewing project planners and implementers both at ILO and country level, as well as carrying out focus group discussions.

2001-

SDC. Gender consultant in programmes of training and strategy development supporting the Gender Unit, Governance Section. This is a long-term programme providing training to both headquarter and country-based SDC staff. Support to the Gender Unit includes inputs into policy development, backstopping, and strategy development

2000-01

Development Planning Unit (DPU), University College London (UCL). Co Director of a six week tailor made course entitled "Gender Policy and Planning: Translating Beijing Commitments into Practice in Pakistan", part of a DFID supported and British Council managed capacity building programme. Co-director of a four week tailor made course entitled "Gender Planning in Tunisia: Institutional Capacity Building" (in French); part of the DFID supported and British Council managed "Capacity Building of Tunisian Institutions in Gender Policy and Planning Programme". Co-director of a four week tailor made course entitled "Gender in Public Policy in Vietnam"; part of the UNDP Capacity Building Programme in Vietnam.

2000

GTZ Jordan. Social Development Consultant to GTZ Office in Jordan to carry out a Pilot Area Resource Assessment in Waqqas/Jordan. The consultancy was part of the Social Productivity Programme in Jordan. It entailed a baseline research with government employees, NGOs, community leaders and community members to assess how the programme can contribute to already existing resources at the community level. This entailed an analysis of socio-economic conditions, agencies, facilities and Services in Waqqas.

1999-2000

Development Planning Unit (DPU), University College London (UCL). Co-director of a three week French course entitled "Integrating Women and Men in Development: Training of Trainers in Gender Policy and Planning". The participants of the course came largely from West Africa, with some from North Africa.

1997-99

EU. Gender Consultant. Part of a team with KIT, Holland, to develop a system for monitoring the resolution on gender integration in the activities of the Directorate General of Development (DGVIII). Involves research into the monitoring systems of member States and consultative development of recommendations.

1997

Chile. Research and Training Consultant. Part of team working on a British Council Link Award with the Institute of Housing, University of Chile. Working towards the integration of gender into research and academic courses.

1996-2000

Ford Foundation/Egypt. Co director with Caren Levy on the Ford Foundation (Egypt) DPU Programme, "Strengthening the Work of Environment NGOs in Egypt through Gender Policy and Planning', which comprised research, documentation and advisory inputs.

1996

EU. Training Consultant. Part of a team carrying out need assessments, delivery of training strategies and undertaking training for DG VIII. Guinea Conakry. Research consultant, EU. Carrying out training needs assessment in Guinea Conakry. South Africa. Training Consultant, SIDA. Co-training a group of Southern African researchers and trainers in Gender Policy and Planning.

1994-95

World University Services. Research and Training Consultant on `Integrating Gender into Policy Research, Consolidating Skills in the West Bank'. The Programme Included the design of an eight week training workshop on gender in policy research, advisory inputs in the development of research projects and follow-up of the research output in the region.

1994

Nepal. Research Consultant, South East Asia Division (SEADD), ODA. Undertaking an Impact Study of a Training Programme in Gender Planning in Nepal which involved interviewing a sample of staff working in ODA funded projects, Nepali government officials, Nepali NGO staff and other donor agencies.

1993-96

Ford Foundation/Egypt. Co Director on a Ford Foundation/Egypt - DPU Programme, `Gender Policy and Planning: Working with Women and Men in Micro-enterprise and Community Development in Egypt', which comprises training, documentation and consultancy.

1993-2002

Development Planning Unit (DPU), University College London (UCL). Co-director, Gender Policy and Planning twelve weeks annual courses.

1992

Namibia. Research Consultant to Swedish International Development Authority (SIDA), Namibia Conducting a monitoring exercise on the SIDA/Namibian government programme, 'Strengthening the Development System in Namibia through Gender Planning'.

1991

Ian McDonald, Brighton. Co-trainer on "Gender Planning and Development" workshop attended by professionals from national government and NGOs.

1988-90

Egypt. Research project as part of my PhD at London School of Economics. This was research on the politics of foreign aid study which examines the relationship between USAID and the Government of Egypt though the examination of a ten year span of the Helwan Housing Project. The Project was jointly funded by USAID and the Government of Egypt. There are two major parts to the research; the first focuses on the extent to which the relationships of power and control between the major actors involved has had an impact on the outcome of the Project; the second focuses on the populations affected by the Project and the way in which they dealt with its consequences within the wider socio-economic situation of Egypt.

1983-87

Egypt. Senior Researcher with Sinai Health Systems Consultation Group, Cairo, Egypt The job involved the design and implementation of qualitative and quantitative research in rural and urban areas. This included the design and development of research methods and data collection instruments; training researchers in research methodology, data collection techniques and research ethics; supervising teams of researchers carrying out quantitative research, analysing results and writing final reports.

1983

Egypt. Research Consultant to Arab Publishing and Printing House to undertake research on `Basic Needs in the Arab World', Cairo.

1980-81

Egypt. Researcher in a team working for Nicholas Hopkins, Professor of Anthropology at the American University in Cairo. This involved fieldwork on a time budget study for rural women in Musha/Assuit, a village in Upper Egypt. The results were published in Agrarian Transformation in Egypt, Nicholas Hopkins, Boulder, Westview, 1987.

1979

Egypt. Researcher on a Project undertaken by a PhD student in Berlin University on `Survival Strategies of Women Living in Boulac' (a low income neighbour-hood in Cairo).

1978-79

Egypt. Volunteer teacher at Ramsis College, Department of Children with Learning Disabilities.

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SELECTED PUBLICATIONS, CONFERENCE PAPERS AND REPORTS

2006

Strengthening the National Machinery for Advancing Women's Employment in Yemen: An Evaluation, International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour (MOSAL), Yemen

2005

Qualitative Reading of Statistics: a Gender Perspective, Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC), http://www.siyanda.org/docs/sdc_qualitativedata.pdf

2005

Palestinian Women's Research, Training and Advocacy Programme: A Review, Education Action International

2004

National Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour In Yemen: A Mid term Evaluation, ILO Interest and Needs Assessment for Capacity Building in Gender Mainstreaming UNDP/Sudan, UNDP Capitalization of the Swiss Development Cooperation Experience in Gender Mainstreaming, with Caren Levy and Julian Walker

2003

Gender and Environment in Development: Methodologies for Planned Actions, Research and Advocacy in Egypt, with Caren Levy, The Ford Foundation, Cairo

2003

Poverty, Social Justice and the Rise of Political Islam in an SDC conference in Bern on Islam and Development Co-operation.

2002

Beyond the Gender Paragraph, with Caren Levy, Geneva: ILO/IPEC

2001

In the Shadow of Politics: USAID- Government of Egypt and Urban Housing Intervention, in Environment and Urbanisation, Vol 13 , No 1, pp 61-76

2000

Addressing Men and Masculinities in GAD", with Caren Levy and Claudy Vouhé, in IDS Bulletin, Vol 31, No 2, April 2000 Spaces for Insurgent Practices: Lessons from Gender and Housing, with Caren Levy, in Open House International, Vol.25, No 4, December 2000 A Pilot Area Resource Assessment in Waqqas, Jordan, GTZ 1997

Socio-Political and Economic Costs of a Donor-Led Housing Programme: The case of Rashed-Greater Cairo", DPU Working Paper, The Development Planning Unit, University College London, No. 84, August Foreign Aid and Power Relations: the Government of Egypt, USAID and Housing in Helwan", (PhD Dissertation), London School of Economics

1996

Gender Training Needs Assessment in Guinea Conakry, Report presented to DG VIII, EU

1994

Impact Study of Gender Planning Training in ODA Projects: Nepal, Report presented to the South East Asia Division, ODA

1992

Monitoring The Programme of Strengthening the Development System in Namibia Through Gender Planning, Monitoring Report, SIDA, Namibia.

1999

The Effect of Housing Policy on Family Resources: the Case of Helwan, Cairo, presented at the Istanbul Population Council Conference, Family Resources and The Health of Women and Children, June 4-6, 1990.

1986

Social Identity and Class in a Low Income Neighbourhood, in Cairo Papers in Social Science, Vol.9, Monograph 4.

1985

Mother Treatment Seeking Behaviour in Rural and Urban Egypt. An Evaluation Report prepared for the World Health Organisation (WHO). Client, Household and Provider Survey: Urban Health Delivery System Project. An evaluation report submitted to the Egyptian Ministry of Health and USAID.

1984

Health intervention profiles: Urban Health Delivery System Project. Prepared for the Egyptian Ministry of Health and USAID. The Documentation of twelve interventions included: Organisational Development, Community Outreach Services, Food Donations, and Improved Medical Record System.

1983

Basic Needs in the Arab World, with Aly Mokhtar, for "The Arab World and Development" conference in Tunis.

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