Profile Summary
Dr. Salwa Tobbala is a governance, environmental policy, and institutional development expert with more than two decades of experience leading strategic reform initiatives, public sector modernization programs, and international development partnerships across the Middle East and North Africa region.
She most recently served as Senior Advisor to the Executive Director at the Centre for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE), where she provided strategic and technical guidance on organizational policies, program development, stakeholder engagement, and institutional partnerships. In that role, she supported executive leadership in strengthening regional cooperation and advancing sustainable development initiatives across the Arab region and Europe.
Before joining CEDARE, Dr. Tobbala spent more than 18 years with the United States Agency for International Development in Egypt, most recently as Senior Governance and Democracy Advisor. She managed and directed a governance portfolio of more than USD 65 million, covering economic governance, anti-corruption, decentralization, civil service reform, and citizen-centered public services.
Her work contributed to Egypt Vision 2030, the executive regulations of the Civil Service Law, and the National Anti-Corruption Strategy 2023 to 2030. She also represented USAID/Egypt in international climate and policy dialogues, including COP27 and COP28, supporting diplomatic coordination and cooperation on climate and development priorities.
Earlier in her career, she served as a Project Management Specialist at USAID, managing civil society grant mechanisms and programs addressing violence against women and children. She also worked with the World Health Organization as a Budget Officer, overseeing financial management for regional country programs and ensuring compliance with donor regulations.
Dr. Tobbala holds a PhD and MA in Euro-Mediterranean Studies from Cairo University, with research focused on environmental policy and public participation. She also earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Management Systems from Cairo University and a Bachelor of Arts in English Language from Ain Shams University.
Key Areas of Expertise
- Governance Reform and Institutional Development
- Environmental Policy and Public Participation
- Public Sector Modernization and Civil Service Reform
- Anti-Corruption and Decentralization Programs
- Stakeholder Engagement and Regional Partnerships
- Climate and Sustainable Development Diplomacy