Hanadi Abu Taqa is a Palestinian Humanitarian worker who has served for more than 19 years for UN agencies (UNDP, UNICEF, UNRWA) and INGOs (PUI, Save the children). Since 2018 she performs the role of Chief of Area Office for the North area of West Bank, being the first female staff appointed for this position in UNRWA history. Born in Nablus in northwest Bank she studied in Jordanian University with BA in School Counselling and mental health in 1994 and MSc in Political planning and development from Al-Najah University in Nablus in 2009.Hanadi has a long experience working with adolescents and women. She focuses on Gender perspective, making sure that gender needs are considered in emergency response plans and interventions during emergencies. Advocating for the women and children rights by highlighting issues related to their needs and making sure their voices are heard at a national and international level. Her current role involves coordinating and leading the assessments in any emergency situations in WB in the aftermath of military operations, to ensure identifications of needs for vulnerable and affected communities and work with relevant parties to respond and fill in the gaps.

Hanadi has strong interest in women empowerment and has managed women empowerment projects in the north to support the most vulnerable women and increase awareness around their rights and resources. Hanadi coordinates the running of UNRWA operations in the North of WB, an extremely tense area due to the frequent actions of the army and settlers, which endanger the refugee population. Hanadi has demonstrated a great ability to respond to humanitarian crisis, engaging the affected refugee communities and coordinating with humanitarian and civilian actors in the area. Hanadi has extensive experience in the humanitarian field of peace building, previous experience in GBV and child protection in humanitarian context. Hanadi has outstanding communication, coordination, and teamwork skills

Participant in: March 2023 Fellowship: Climate Change, Gender, and Conflict