Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

Dr. David S. Bassiouni is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Bassiouni Group.

A former government official/minister, diplomat and International Development veteran, Dr. Bassiouni’s track record encompasses a wide range of experiences. He served in the United Nations (UN) system for over twenty years, primarily working with UNICEF, DHA, OCHA and UNDGO and held several senior positions including Deputy Director for UNICEF’s Office for Emergency Programmes, Chief of the Interagency and Response branches in DHA/OCHA and Coordinator for IASC/ECHA. Dr. Bassiouni also marked an important milestone in UN history by becoming the first-ever Humanitarian Coordinator and the only Coordinator directly appointed by the Secretary-General and the Security Council.

Dr. Bassiouni also served as the UNICEF Representative in Somalia, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Israel/Palestine, and Egypt. Prior to his career in the UN, Dr. Bassiouni served in senior government positions, including Regional Minister of Agriculture, in the Sudan. His experience includes Humanitarian Aid/Assistance, Complex Emergencies, Conflict/Crisis Resolution, Post- Conflict Reconstruction, Change Management, Sustainable Development, Agricultural & Natural Resources Management, and Veterinary Science/Medicine. Dr. Bassiouni is a graduate of the Veterinary Medicine School at Khartoum University, Sudan, and he holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government as well as a Parvin Fellowship from Princeton University. He sits on the boards of the Sérgio Vieira de Mello Foundation, International Institute for Rural Reconstruction and Global Humanitarian Forum.

At UNICEF, Dr. Bassiouni led and oversaw the successful implementation of UNICEF’s global campaign of the Universal Programme of Immunization (UCI) that protected over 20 million children against the five deadly preventable diseases of children, contributing significantly to UNICEF achieving its global goal. As the UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator in Somalia, he established the first UNICEF offices in Nairobi and Djibouti and oversaw UNICEF’s programme of assistance to victims of the civil war in Somalia. He also coordinated a number of UN Agencies, including UNHCR, WFP, UNICEF, UNDP, WHO and FAO and major international agencies and NGOs including ICRC, IFRC, Save the Children Fund, CARE, MSF and World Vision to deliver humanitarian assistance under a challenging war situations.

As the Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of Emergency Programmes (EMOPS), Dr. Bassiouni initiated the development of several major UNICEF humanitarian policies including IDPs, sanctions, land mines and Unaccompanied Children. He also led the development of the joint UNICEF/UNHCR/ICRC statement on Unaccompanied Children based on the Rwanda crisis and jointly developed programme for tracing, reuniting, rehabilitating and reintegrating unaccompanied children.

During his role as the Chief of the Interagency Support Branch, Dr. Bassiouni headed Department of Humanitarian Affairs (DHA) to give administrative and programmatic support and policy guidance to Humanitarian Coordinators in 18 offices in complex emergency countries. This enabled to UN to strengthen agency coordination and ensure the effective and rapid delivery of assistance to victims of humanitarian crises. During his leadership of the DHA, Dr. Bassiouni also managed and oversaw the preparation of U.N. Consolidated Appeals Process (CAPs) totaling over $1.6b in support of humanitarian assistance in emergency countries globally.

As the Chief of the Interagency Support Committee, Dr. Bassiouni coordinated and organized effective working relationship and consultation among the sixteen IASC members resulting in significant inter-agency collaboration and achievements in synchronize response to global humanitarian crises in several countries including Somalia, DRC, Sierra Leone, DPRK, Burundi, Sudan, FRY and Kosovo, etc. He also coordinated and organized the work and meetings of ECHA in facilitating effective consultation amongst its 11 members (OCHA, DPKO, DPA, WFP, UNICEF, UNOHCHR, UNHCR, WHO, FAO, UNRWA, SRSF-CAC) resulting in reaching major policy decisions within the United Nations context. This included the continuing development and humanitarian assistance in DPRK, negotiating rules of engagement and access in DRC, achieving humanitarian cease-fires in the Sudan, negotiating concessions with the Taliban in Afghanistan and developing policies on staff safety and security.

As the Deputy Director of the Office of Emergency Programmes, Dr. Bassiouni promoted closer collaboration between donors and UNICEF Representatives from emergency countries through periodic briefings and dissemination of donor updates and ensuring stronger response to the UNICEF component of the Consolidated Appeal. He also oversaw the effective management of the Stand-by Arrangements with the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and the Netherlands whereby staff are annually provided gratis within 72 hours to deploy in the field to support UNICEF programmes in emergency countries.

As Rapporteur to the Humanitarian Response Review (HRR) commissioned by the Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (USG/ERC), Dr. Bassiouni assessed the global humanitarian response capacity of the UN, NGOs, Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement and other key humanitarian actors including the International Organization for Migration. After determining the gaps in these capacities, he created defined benchmarks to be used by the different groups – organizations (UN, NGOs, Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement and other key humanitarian actors including IOM), donors and beneficiaries – to measure the expected performance of the international response system in terms of scale, speed, intensity and impact, giving due weight to the quantity and quality of humanitarian assistance. He also undertook an inventory of current capacities (at HQ and Field Levels) in the key response sectors (such as shelter, food, water and sanitation, health, protection, education) of the UN, NGOs, Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement and other key humanitarian actors including IOM to respond to complex and major emergencies and assess performance of the system against benchmarks.

As UNICEF’s Special Representative in Ethiopia, Dr. Bassiouni launched the “Out-of-Addis Drive” succeeded to mobilize staff to spend for the first time, at least 40% time in the field implementing and monitoring programmes for children and women especially in the drought affected areas, winning staff appreciate and respect from donors. He also established five sub- offices strategically located in the regions to facilitate the effective delivery of programmes on the ground for all populations in need. The “Out of Addis Drive” coupled with the functional, zonal offices gave UNICEF the ability to establish a strong field presence resulting in a viable outreach programme reaching a larger number of children and women especially in the drought affected area with critical services reducing mortality. Dr. Bassiouni also launched an effective programme of humanitarian assistance (health, nutrition, water and sanitation and education) that addressed the pressing needs of children and women in the drought affected regions of Ethiopia.

As UNICEF’s Special Representative in the Palestinian Territories, Dr. Bassiouni strengthened the management of the Country Office by quadrupling the annual budget from about USD$4m to $18m;by increasing the staff strength from 32 to 72 and by introducing many processes and procedures to guarantee an efficient and effective office to support programmes for Palestinian children and women. He created a strong infrastructure for effective programme delivery by establishing six zonal offices (Gaza, Rafah, Tulkarem, Nablus, Jenin and Hebron) throughout the Palestinian Territories. He also established a strong working relationship between the President, the Palestinian Authority and its government, the Palestinian Legislative Council and Civil Society to ensure greater commitment and support for UNICEF-assisted programmes.

As the UNICEF Representative in Egypt, Dr. Bassiouni secured greater commitment from Government of Egypt (GOE) to make Egypt Polio-free by 2005, including the agreement to re- establish and reactivate the moribund Supreme Council for Polio Eradication. He re-established and strengthened working relationship with the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood (NCCM), UNICEF’s key partner in the GOE through which major UNICEF-assisted programme via the National Plan of Action for Children (NPA); Street Children, Child Labour and Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting (FGM/C) are implemented.

Prior to his career in the UN, Dr. Bassiouni served in senior government positions, including Regional Minister of Agriculture, in the Sudan. His experience includes Humanitarian Aid/Assistance, Complex Emergencies, Conflict/Crisis Resolution, Post-Conflict Reconstruction, Change Management, Sustainable Development, Agricultural & Natural Resources Management, and Veterinary Science/Medicine. Dr. Bassiouni is a graduate of Veterinary Medicine School at Khartoum University, Sudan, and he holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government as well as a Parvin Fellowship from Princeton University.

President

Mr. David Solomon Bassiouni specializes in Global Business, Sustainable Development/Sustainability, International Development and Global/Political Affairs.

As the President of The Bassiouni Group (TBG), Mr. Bassiouni helps companies/institutions to navigate the global economy and build sustainable, performance-focused solutions for long-term growth and socioeconomic impact. He has managed international teams/projects across more than 60 countries. As the co-founder and President of CSR Leaders (LinkedIn), Mr. Bassiouni enables CSR/Sustainability practitioners all over the world to connect, share insights and develop best practices.

Mr. Bassiouni sets TBG’s strategic and business development plan, manages the day- to-day operations of each division (Consulting, Investment, Trade), and oversees the company’s Global Consultancy Network which consists of over 1000 experts in 150+ countries.

Over the course of his career, Mr. Bassiouni has developed solutions to help organizations tackle challenges, resolve complex institutional issues and maximize performance. He has worked on a variety of projects ranging from advisory services for governments and comprehensive evaluations for UN agencies to Sustainable Trade and Investment initiatives in the Agribusiness, Renewable Energy and Infrastructure Development sectors. As a C-suite counselor, Mr. Bassiouni has directly advised CEOs, industry leaders and dignitaries on complex, and often sensitive, global events ranging from management/labor issues and corporate transition to financial restructuring and shareholder disputes.

As the Group Manager at Weber Shandwick’s Corporate Issues Group (New York), Mr. Bassiouni was part of a frontline team that counseled numerous Fortune 500 clients on corporate strategies relating to reputation management, corporate positioning, CEO communications, high-profile litigation, financial restructuring, crisis management, labor relations, corporate reorganizations, M&A transactions, hostile takeovers, financial restructuring, regulatory enforcement, product liability and management transitions. His client list ranged from major financial institutions and pharmaceutical firms to hotel chains/tourist destinations, multi-sector manufacturers and energy companies.

Prior to joining Weber Shandwick, Mr. Bassiouni was an Associate Director at Gavin Anderson & Company, a leading financial & corporate communications firm. There, he was part of the team that provided strategic counsel to the United Nations, supporting the Office of the Secretary General during the launch of the Independent Inquiry Committee and the subsequent introduction of Secretary Annan’s landmark reform program. He also spearheaded and assisted on corporate communications programs for Caremark Rx, Inc., PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Sovereign Asset Management, United

Kingdom Trade & Investment and other leading organizations.

Mr. Bassiouni has also worked at Shandwick International (Weber Shandwick Worldwide), Kratz & Jensen (Euro RSCG), The Halo Group and Winstar Communications (IDT Corp.). As the Media Relations Manager at Winstar, he oversaw the company’s media relations and marketing initiatives throughout the United States, Western Europe, Asia and South America. In addition to the Technology, Energy, Financial, Telecommunications and Consumer sectors, Mr. Bassiouni is also experienced in Government, International Affairs, Healthcare and Higher Education.

Educated in Britain (Scottish boarding schools) and raised in eight different countries across Europe and Africa, Mr. Bassiouni takes a uniquely multicultural approach to his work. He graduated with honors from McGill University, Canada, and is conversant in basic French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Arabic.

Mr. Bassiouni has been featured on CNBC/CNBC Europe and in The Washington Post, and he also spoken on a variety of international development/business issues at numerous venues including The Harvard Club, Columbia University, and City University New York.

Mr. Bassiouni is a member of the Highland Carbon Advisory Board and a member of the Board of Associates at The Ronald McDonald House (New York). He is also the Associate Director of The Mary N. Bassiouni Foundation, which is dedicated to empowerment and advancement of South Sudanese women and youth. Additionally, Mr. Bassiouni is a Special Advisor to Project Education South Sudan, which increases access to primary and secondary education with a special focus on girls.

Mr. Yukihiro Shiroishi — Mr. Shiroishi has over 30 years of professional experience in approximately 50 countries worldwide, as a staff member of UNICEF, PAHO/WHO, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in public health and nutrition. As the first Senior Regional Advisor (HIV/AIDS) of UNICEF’s Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (LACRO), he provided technical and managerial support to 24 UNICEF country offices that serve 35 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), including supporting situation analyses, strategy development, over-sighting, and capacity development. Notably, Mr. Shiroishi conducted an evaluation at the national level for the Community Nutrition Programme for the Government of Bangladesh and UNICEF; provided field support for UNICEF; and, led the evaluation and training for the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) in all 20 states of Nigeria as part of an outbreak investigation.

Mr. Salvano Briceno – Mr. Sálvano Briceño is an experienced Disaster Reduction expert who served as the first Director of the Secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) 2001-2011. His career spans over several decades and has focused on the management of environmental and sustainable development programmes at the United Nations, the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and the Government of Venezuela. Mr. Briceño has a Doctorate in Administrative Law from the University of Paris II (Panthéon-Sorbonne) and a Master's in Public Administration from Harvard University in 1984. A Venezuelan and French national, his languages are Spanish, French and English.

Dr. Isiye Ndombi — Dr. Ndombi is an internationally recognized health development and social policy expert and leader who has worked in over 20 countries in the past 25 years contributing to policy analysis, strategic planning, management, training for and evaluation of development programmes. He is committed to evidence-informed advocacy and building performing teams to deliver impact at scale. Isiye retired from UNICEF at the end of 2015 and is now consulting in public policy, leadership, human rights and health development with his base in Nairobi, Kenya.He was based in Bangkok, Thailand, as UNICEF Deputy Regional Director from June 2013 to December 2015 where he was part of UNICEF's leadership in supporting partnership and operations to ensure progress towards realization of child rights for all children in 27 countries of the East Asia and the Pacific region.

Mr. Fouad Kronfol – A seasoned former UNICEF official, Mr. Kronfol maintains extensive senior level experience in management both in the field and at headquarters. During over 35 years of service with UNICEF, Mr. Kronfol held numerous positions including UNICEF Director of Division of Human Resources, Regional Director and Representative. Notably, Mr. Kronfol served as the UNICEF Representative directing the post-war programme of reconstruction and rehabilitation in Hanoi, Viet Nam, and revamping it towards long-term development.

Dr. Peter Tingwa – Dr. Tingwa, a South Sudanese, is a renowned expert with over 30 years of experience in the fields of Agriculture (education, research, planning and implementation), Peace Operations (economic recovery, reconciliation, and the restoration of governance and state authorities) and Higher Education (teaching, research planning and the management of universities).He served as the Dean College of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, and Associate Professor at Khartoum University. He is also an expert on peace operations and the restoration of governance and state authority in post-conflict settings. He has a proven track record working with UN agencies, including UNDP, UN missions (UNMISS, UNMIL, UNAMSIL, UNOMIL, UNOSOM), government agencies, public sector institutions and NGOs.

Mr. Stephen Otieno — Mr. Otieno is a Project Manager, Evaluation expert and Development Management Practitioner with 15 years’ experience in research and development programs implemented by local and international NGOs as well as government and UN agencies. He has hands-on working experience with various International NGOs including; World Vision International, Africa Capacity Alliance (ACA), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Agency for Cooperation and Research in Development (ACORD), HelpAge International – Africa Regional Development Centre (ARDC), Mildmay International, and Amref Health.

Mr. Filinto Omar Martins Salla, M.Sc – Mr. Salla is a Project Manager and Public Management expert with over 10 years’ experience, including leading multidisciplinary teams and managing development projects. His ability to adapt and tackle challenging projects is based on his experience working in a multicultural environment. Trained as an engineer and mathematician, he certified by Bridgewater State and Peking universities and speaks multiple languages, namely Crioulo, English, French, Portuguese and Spanish.

Dr. Boaventura Rodrigues Vaz Horta Santy – Dr. Vaz Horta Santy, an Environmental Engineering and Socieconomic Development expert, specializes in Sociology with an emphasis on Sociology of Disasters. He holds a PhD in Environmental Engineering Sciences as Disaster Sociology from the University of São Paulo (USP) and Master in Sociology and Bachelor in Social Sciences from the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar). He has also been a Researcher at the National Institute of Studies and Research of Guinea-Bissau and the Center for Social Studies and Research in Disasters (NEPED/UFSCar).

Dr. Joel Kakitsha — Dr. Kakitsha has fifteen of years programmatic and technical expert with major development organizations including the Red Cross/Red Crescent, CARE, International Medical Corps, International Rescue Committee, and World Vision International in program design, budgeting, financial management, program support, implementation, coordination, human resources' development, team motivation, and M&E.

TBG’s Project Management and Technical Team (PMTT) is mobilized to support every project through project management, dedicated research and analysis as well as quality control including the processing and editing of all reports. As a partner to all project teams throughout the duration of every project, the PMTT ensures adherence to the mission and objective, sensitivity and adaptability to diverse cultural, gender, religious, national and age-wise contexts.

Project Management

—The PMTT with the consultancy team to ensure all deliverables are submitted in the designated timeframes as well as in accordance with client standards and expectations; and,

—Ensures all Team members work in a collaborative manner to meet the same end goal.

—Liaises with all the client regarding all arrangements from travel to budget to reporting, etc.

Technical Services

—The PMTT assists the core team with qualitative and quantitative research, analysis and triangulation.

—Developing outlines, writing and editing of all reports and supporting materials; and

—Ensures all project criteria in regard to data collection and analysis has been met.

Administrative Support

—The PMTT assists with the dissemination of reports.

—Ensures all payments are disbursed in a timely fashion.

—Assists in the development of timelines.

—Works closely with the consultancy team and clients to ensure all activities are streamlined;

—Provides all other support necessary to the core team, senior advisors, and the client.