Navigating Aid Divergence in Conflict Zones
Navigating aid divergence in conflict zones can be a challenge following disasters and crises. Explore the complexities of aid divergence in conflict settings and strategies to enhance aid effectiveness. Learn about the “triple advice” approach of going local, small, and technical to mitigate divergence risks. Discover practical examples, such as projects in Somaliland and northwest Syria, highlighting successful collaborations with local actors to rebuild medical education systems. Gain insights into operational frameworks and monitoring techniques essential for ensuring impactful interventions amidst geopolitical complexities. The Center recorded this video during the dialogue program Disaster Management & Recovery: Creating Cooperative Opportunities – part of the Center’s Collective & Human Security series.
Speaker Biography
Abdulkarim Ekzayez serves as a health system expert at the Centre for Conflict and Health Research at King’s College London. He is a co-investigator of a four-year NIHR funded project, Research for Health System Strengthening in Northern Syria (R4HSSS). His prior experience includes various academic and consultancy roles with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, American University of Beirut, Chatham House, Chemonics International, Blumont International and Integrity Global. He has led major humanitarian health programs for Save the Children International and Expertise France. This included involvement in polio eradication programs, primary health care, health information systems, and health governance initiatives.
Additionally, he specializes in health systems strengthening, humanitarian health, health security, epidemiology, public health impacts of conflict and building health research capacity in conflict settings. His medical background includes clinical experience in neurosurgery, gleaned from his medical training program between 2010 and 2013.
Furthermore, Ekzayez has authored over 30 academic journal articles and four book chapters on topics related to health and conflict. He serves as the general secretary of the Syrian British Medical Society, deputy chair of the Syria Public Health Network, board member of the Syrian British Consortium, and trustee at Shafak Syria and Amna (Refugee Healing Network). Previously, he received his MD from Aleppo University, his MSc in epidemiology from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and his PhD on health systems and conflict at King’s College London.
