Munir Safieldin, IIC Director

Dr. M. Munir A. Safieldin is a public policy analyst, economist, and strategist with over 40 years of experience in the United Nations and with NGOs. He has served as UNICEF Representative to Uganda, to the Maldives, to the Islamic Republic of Iran, and as UN Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, overseeing and facilitating the international humanitarian response to over 5 million civilians affected by the violence triggered by Boko Haram.

Within the UN system, he also served in Sudan, Yemen, Oman, Pakistan, Jordan, Tanzania, and Turkey (for Syria cross-border operations). In Jordan, Munir served as Regional Chief of Program and Planning for the Middle East and North Africa, where he provided technical support and guidance to 20 country offices in the areas of program design, monitoring, and social policy analysis.

Before joining UNICEF, Munir served as the Deputy Representative for Oxfam (UK & Ireland) and the Executive Director of Sabah for the Assistance and Rehabilitation of Street Children and Youth, a leading non-governmental organization (NGO) in Sudan.

Munir holds a doctorate in public policy analysis from Walden University (USA), a master’s in business administration from the University of Hull (UK), and a bachelor’s degree in economics and social studies from the University of Khartoum. He was awarded a fellowship in Public Administration at the Woodrow Wilson School of International Affairs at Princeton University (USA).

Marjan Montazemi, Consultant

Marjan Montazemi has worked with the United Nations, NGOs, and foundations in the fields of humanitarian aid, development, and peace for more than 20 years. The geography of her work and consultancies covers Canada, Iran, the Western Balkans region, West and Central Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East and North Africa region. During her 14 years of service with UNICEF, from 2008 to 2022, she worked in planning, monitoring, and evaluation functions, as well as in senior management positions, including Deputy Representative and Representative.

Marjan holds an MA in political sciences and international relations from York University, Toronto (1994), and an MA in International Peace Studies (2024) from the University for Peace (UN-mandated). She conducted her thesis field research on the practice of emancipatory peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Since 2024, she has conducted strategic planning and peacebuilding consultancy services. Marjan is multilingual, with Farsi as her native language, and is fluent in French and English, as well as possessing a working knowledge of Spanish. She is committed to diversity, appreciative enquiry, fostering a collaborative environment that is open to innovation and transformative approaches to development and peace.

Nagi Messiha, Consultant

Nagi Messiha brings over 35 years of extensive experience in Business Operations, Strategic Planning, Financial Management, Human Resources, Administrative Services, Program Management, and supply and logistics.

He most recently served as the Deputy Director at Education Cannot Wait (ECW), where he led the team on accountability, financing, and governance processes. Before this, he was the Regional Chief of Operations for UNICEF’s Europe and Central Asia Region (ECAR), providing effective, equitable, and efficient oversight, quality assurance, and technical support across 24 countries, with an annual financial throughput of approximately USD 300 million — all in pursuit of programmatic excellence and impact.

Previously, Nagi held the position of Chief of Payroll at UNICEF Headquarters in New York, where he was responsible for planning and managing global payroll and entitlements for all UNICEF staff, overseeing an annual throughput of approximately USD 1 billion. His career also includes leadership roles in Operations and Common Services at UNICEF’s East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO), the Thailand Country Office, the UNICEF Supply Division, and the Sudan Country Office, as well as assignments in Afghanistan and Pakistan. He has consistently provided strategic guidance and oversight on internal efficiency reviews, organizational risk assessments, and the development of fit-for-purpose structures across UNICEF’s global offices.

Nagi holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Lansbridge University in Canada and an Executive Certificate in Dynamic Leadership from Harvard University in the USA.

Jessica Oyugi, Consultant

Dr. Jessica Oyugi is a physician and global health leader who has spent over twenty years living and working in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. Her institutional portfolio includes UNICEF, WHO, Gavi, the World Bank, USAID, the US-CDC, various NGOs, private sector management consulting, and philanthropy.

Dr. Jessica adds exceptional expertise in health systems strengthening, community and digital health innovations, maternal and child health, and infectious disease management. Her comprehensive experience spans the full spectrum of health programming from strategic design and implementation to capacity building and policy development alongside host government Ministries of Health. Attuned to the social determinants of health, Jessica is an integrator who naturally leverages cross-sectoral partnerships to deliver impactful and sustainable solutions.

Dr. Jessica completed her Internal Medicine residency and General Medicine fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco. She obtained her MD degree at Tufts University School of Medicine and her Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Sciences from Johns Hopkins University.

Sarah Ahmad Mirza, Consultant

Sarah Ahmad Mirza is an accomplished development practitioner with over 33 years of experience across various sectors within the United Nations. Throughout her career, she has specialized in strategic planning, program design and implementation, monitoring & evaluation (M&E), and gender. She has served in key roles at both national and regional levels across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, including as Chief of PM&E in two countries.

Sarah brings a wealth of expertise in aligning development strategies with local needs while meeting the standards of international donors. Her work has consistently focused on advancing equitable development, with a lifelong commitment to supporting women and children in need—a cause that has been the core motivation behind her professional journey.

Mervat Nessiem Gawargyous, Consultant

Dr. Mervat Nessiem Gawargyous is a medical doctor and global health advisor with over 25 years of international experience leading public health, education, and nutrition initiatives across WHO, UNICEF, and global NGOs. Her core focus lies in advancing school health and adolescent well-being through multisectoral strategies that integrate policy, systems development, and community engagement. Currently, she is leading the development of Libya’s National School Health and Nutrition Strategy with UNICEF, following her recent role in Timor-Leste, where she designed the country’s first comprehensive National School Safety Framework (HAMAHAN). She has also served at the WHO headquarters, contributing to the development of the Global Standards for Health-Promoting Schools and supporting countries in their implementation, evaluation, and capacity building.

With a career spanning the MENA region, Asia, Africa, and beyond, Dr. Mervat brings deep expertise in strategy design, curriculum development, behavior change communication, and health literacy. She is passionate about systems thinking, stakeholder coordination, and designing inclusive, child/youth-centered approaches that promote equity, safety, and sustainable development in schools and communities. She speaks English (fluent) and Arabic (native), and has an MA in Health Management from the University of Leeds. Her core values are multisectoral collaboration, equity, and impact-driven development.

Our Partners

Samdani Consulting

Insightful Impact Consultants Ltd. is pleased to collaborate with Samdani Consulting, a Singapore-based advisory firm supporting development and humanitarian initiatives. Samdani Consulting offers specialized services in strategic planning, organizational change, and solution design. Their expertise spans the development of strategic frameworks, theories of change, and impact measurement systems, underpinned by rigorous situational analysis and stakeholder engagement. Their approach emphasizes the efficient use of resources to achieve sustainable and contextually relevant outcomes.

This partnership is grounded in a mutual commitment to integrity, local ownership, and transformative impact. Their emphasis on adaptive learning, coalition building, and facilitation of complex dialogue aligns closely with IIC’s values and strategic priorities. Together, we aim to develop and implement ethical, inclusive, and evidence-informed solutions that address evolving challenges in the development and humanitarian sectors.

The firm is led by Zarak Saleem Jan, a seasoned development and humanitarian professional with over 26 years of experience in leading macro-level UN initiatives across complex political environments. His expertise in strategic planning, institutional development, and Triple Nexus programming brings exceptional depth and vision to Samdani’s work and to our shared endeavors.