Dr Mohamed Kamel joined the IPPF as Regional Director, Arab World Region (AWR) after more than 21 years in the management of international health, Reproductive Health and family planning programmes, including 11 years in USAID, WHO, EU and UNFPA funded programmes in the capacity of Senior Manager, Chief of Party or Regional Director in the Near East/North Africa Regions.
He is currently responsible for ensuring support towards achieving efficient programmed implementation and management in 13 affiliate Member Associations in the Arab World region as well as the efficient functioning of the regional volunteer policy-making structure. This involves managing IPPF-funded programmes with an annual budget totalling $14 million in the region (core grant and special funds). Under Dr. Kamel’s supervision, IPPF/AWRO is the executing agency for projects funded by other donors including the Government of the Netherlands, other European donors, and UNFPA. As Regional Director Dr. Kamel is a member of the IPPF senior management team (SMT) and the Director General’s Representative in the region.
Immediately before joining IPPF Dr. Kamel was the Regional Advisor for Reproductive Health with the World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO), seconded to UNFPA Country Support Team (CST) in Amman. In this position he provided technical assistance to countries in project formulation in the thematic area of reproductive health including MCH/FP and sexual health, and providing technical support for the implementation, monitoring and evaluation, as well as establishing training programmers at country and regional levels. Prior to joining UNFPA, Dr Kamel was Regional Director for the Family Health Training Project (PAC IIB) at Pathfinder International, based in Istanbul. One of his major achievements in this position was the design and launch of a national family planning programmed in Oman.
Dr. Kamel has extensive practical experience working with key government officials and NGO counterparts in the development of national strategies and the formulation of policies, development and management of community and clinic-based family planning and health services, as well as in co-coordinating international assistance to local agencies, extensive professional experience with USAID, the UN system and other multi-lateral agencies. He has worked throughout the Arab region as well as in Turkey, Mexico, Dominican Republic and Azerbaijan. He is currently an adjunct assistant professor of International Health at the School of Medicine, Boston University.
After graduating as Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from Cairo University School of Medicine, Dr. Kamel went on to complete his graduate studies at Boston University where he obtained Master of Public Health degree from the School of Public Health, and Master of Education degree from the School of Education, and subsequently completed Doctor of Science studies in Epidemiology and Biostatistics (abd). Dr. Kamel also holds a graduate certificate in Health Care in Developing Countries.
Dr. Kamel received honours and merit awards from: the Government of Yemen, Ministry of Health, May 1989; Sultanate of Oman, Ministry of Health, MCH/FP Directorate, October 1994; and the Government of Turkey, Ministry of Health, March 1995. Additionally, he has received letters of appreciation from UNFPA Syria, UNDP Lebanon, and UNFPA Jordan for his contribution to women’s health and RH programmes in these countries. He also holds honorary membership of several professional and academic associations and societies.