Our Team

Ayat is a political researcher, policy analyst and development practitioner with ten years of experience in social and political research and analysis, policy advice, and management and coordination of development projects. Between 2010 and 2015, she worked as a political researcher at the Information and Decision Support Centre, the Egyptian Cabinet, where she was conducting research and writing different research and policy documents on national security issues in Egypt. Ayat holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Public Administration from the Faculty of Economics and Political Science, Cairo University. In 2013, she earned a post-graduate diploma in African Studies from the Institute of African Research and Studies, Cairo University. She also holds a Master's degree in International Development with a special emphasis on Governance and State‐building in Africa from the International Development Department, University of Birmingham. Currently, Ayat is a PhD student at the Faculty of African Research and Studies, Cairo University, where she works on women’s inclusion in different peace processes. Her research interests are focused on the study of radicalization and violent extremism especially among women; security governance; different post-conflict reconstruction and development activities and the role of women in it; the interplay between organized crime and terrorism, and finally women, peace and security agenda.