Omar Ahmed Abenza
Dr. Omar Ahmed Abenza is the Director of Programs at the Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC), where he oversees the organization’s global programmatic portfolio across Africa, the Middle East, and Eurasia. He has 20 years of experience working in conflict-affected environments, leading humanitarian, protection of civilians, humanitarian diplomacy, and peacebuilding initiatives with international NGOs, governments, and multilateral organizations.
Prior to joining CIVIC, Omar served as Head of Africa at Geneva Call, having previously managed its Middle East, North Africa, and Latin America programs. Earlier in his career, he spent a decade with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in a range of operational and leadership roles, and later served on the organization’s Board of Directors. He has also worked with the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as with several international organizations and UN agencies, including IOM and UNDP.
Dr. Abenza holds a PhD from the University of Valencia, where his research focused on humanitarian diplomacy in Islamic contexts. He also holds a BA in Economics from the University of Valencia and the University of Nantes, and an MA in Global Diplomacy from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London.
His areas of expertise include the Protection of Civilians, International Humanitarian Law, humanitarian diplomacy, civilian harm mitigation, engagement with armed actors, and the evolving impact of conflict on civilian populations.
