Shahad Zuhair

Shahad Zuhair is an environmentalist conservationist and climate-justice advocate currently working with IUCN ROWA. With over six years of experience supporting environmental project management, she contributed to the development of over six protected area management plans in the West Asia region. As part of IUCN's Green List operational team in West Asia, she provides technical advisory to sites aiming to achieve the certificate. This manifested in the successful Green Listing of three protected areas in 2024. She also builds regional capacities through targeted trainings which aim to achieve successful conservation outcomes. Shahad organized several regional youth-driven conservation interventions, including Digital Storytelling, Participatory 3D Mapping, and Mission 1.5. She is an active member of IUCNs WCPA, IUCN WCPA Specialist Group on World Heritage, and newly joined Jordan's Species Specialist Groip.  She also has an extensive history working in UN development organizations such as the UN-Habitat and UNDP specifically with the Environment, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction portfolio, she also has a multidisciplinary background starting with a Bachelor's Degree in Biology and Biotechnology, and a Master’s in Social Work with focus on women working in informal agriculture sector in Jordan. Her passion for humanitarian and environmental justice causes laid the foreground for four years of professional experience conceptualizing and supporting the implementation of projects with local community organizations and civil society non-profit organizations that directly address the needs of vulnerable community members. She has intensively developed her skills in monitoring, reporting, budget management and project design, learning how to conceptualize, plan and liaise multi-million-dollar programs to meet requirements and interests of donors, such as Global Environment Facility (GEF), Green Climate Fund (GCF), and the European Union (EU) both direct project conceptualization and programmatic support. She has also supported the monitoring and implementation of a diversity of projects that address the climate risks, disaster risk management, and those of concern with the realities of vulnerable communities specifically in rural areas. Working in different sectors, such as protection, promoting both climate and social justice, climate activism and women and girl’s empowerment has allowed her to diversify her skill to cohesively address the needs that change over time. She has also proven to be a pivotal asset to project monitoring, reporting, design and management teams with her knowledge and ability to develop solutions and learn the latest advancements to apply for programmatic success. Shahad cemented her extensive background in partnership development through networking, communication, and good team building to create a conducive and trustworthy environment among stakeholders.