Noufal Abboud is the Founder & CEO of the Nordic Center for Conflict Transformation. A native of Morocco as well as a Swedish national, With more than 15 years’ experience in teamwork with diverse staff, and in multi-programme management,
Mr. Abboud has expert professional experience in conflict transformation, transitional justice, democracy processes and human rights through innovative and transformational programs in the Middle East and North Africa, the Sahel region and Southeast Asia. He Managed a portfolio of over US$160 million. He has special professional expertise in security processes with a particular focus on terrorism, violent extremism and rehabilitation of detainees and returnee fighters. His work is anchored on achieving a more global understanding of the drivers of violence through innovative and context-specific programs. He directed work in conflict transformation in prisons in Morocco, Mali and Niger, the design, monitoring, and evaluation of peacebuilding programs on decreasing violence and increasing women’s empowerment and community resilience. He also supervised research on violent extremism and terrorism in Mali, Morocco, Niger and Yemen, as well as social media campaigns that reached millions of citizens. He is communication strategist and public speaker with pertinent diplomatic skills and fluency in written and spoken English, French and Arabic.
Mr. Abboud holds a Master of Laws (LLM) in international law from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London, and an International Master of Arts (MA) in Human Rights from Mahidol University in Thailand.