Rouba Mhaissen is an economist, activist and development practitioner, who works on development issues in the MENA region, particularly forced migration and the Syrian refugee crisis. She is the founder and director of Sawa Foundation (UK), and Sawa for Development and Aid (Lebanon), both Civil Society Organisations working with Syrian refugees on an integrated approach to development. She holds a PhD in Gender and Economic Development from SOAS, and a masters in International Development from LSE, University of London. She has researched and consulted on a range of issues pertaining to education, violence, conflict, gender, household economics, forced migration,activism, among other.