User Profile

Country Director, West Bank and Gaza, Global Communities

Ms. Lana Abu-Hijleh Hadi is an accomplished development expert with over 38 years’ experience working with international development agencies in the Middle East. She has an in-depth knowledge of the region’s socio-economic issues and opportunities, related development needs and is considered key resource for donors, investors and national entities focused on the region. Lana has established working relationships with an extensive network of regional and international development professionals and agencies, civil society and the private sector. She has demonstrated success in leveraging this network to ensure development and investment programs’ strategies are responsive to the region’s priorities, enhancing the design and implementation of investment programs in and garnering strong support from local, national and international stakeholders. As Global Communities (Formerly Known as CHF International) Country Director in Palestine since 2003, Ms. Abu-Hijleh Hadi has led the successful development and implementation of complex programs in infrastructure development and reconstruction, governance and municipal development, emergency response and humanitarian assistance, civic engagement, youth and women empowerment, finance and economic revitalization, and institution building. She provides strategic guidance and oversight to the design and implementation of all Global Communities’ development and humanitarian assistance programs ensuing responsiveness, full accountability and high positive impact. Prior to Global Communities, over seventeen years, Ms. Abu-Hijleh fulfilled a series of roles with progressively increasing responsibility with the United Nations Development Program/Program of Assistance to the Palestinian People (UNDP/PAPP) culminating with over 7 years as the Deputy Special Representative. Ms. Abu-Hijleh Hadi is the first woman to join the Boards of Directors of the Bank of Palestine and the Palestine Investment Fund (PIF) focusing on building cooperation bridges between the private sector and civil society, promoting impact and sustainable investment, gender equality, women economic development, youth entrepreneurship and effective engagement in the private sector. She is also the Chairwoman of Amaar Group, the leading investment arm of the PIF in Green and Sustainable Investments, Digital Economy, Trade Infrastructure and Tourism. Lana is also an active member of the Businesswomen Forum and the Palestine Business and Professional Women Network. Ms. Abu-Hijleh Hadi is a fellow of the Aspen Institute Global Leadership Network and won the prestigious John P. McNulty Prize for 2017 for founding the Palestinian Youth Development Organization- SHIAM-Youth Make the Future that focuses on preparing the future good governing leaders of Arab and Palestinian Youth. In 2015, the BBC named Lana as one of the 100 most inspirational women in the world for the positive example and hope she provides for young women around the globe. Lana has been an active member of the global Young Presidents Organization (YPO/WPO) working for the past 15 years on promoting investments in Palestine. She helped launch the Palestine Celebration of Innovation initiative and is a founding member of Intersect Innovation Hub, a Bank of Palestine social impact organization that aims to support the Palestinian innovation ecosystem with special focus on financial technology. Ms. Abu Hijleh Hadi holds a B.S, Civil and Environmental Engineering from University Of Iowa, Iowa, USA and an MBA in Leadership and Sustainability from Cumbria University, UK. Ms. Abu Hijleh Hadi is married to Mr. Victor Hadi, a leading Palestinian Businessman, owner and managing partner of Tourism Development Company (TDC) with multiple investments in Boutique Hotels including Al Yasmeen Hotel and Farah Locanda in Palestine and owner of the Zeit ou Za’atar Restaurants Chain. Lana and Victor have three daughters: Zeina 33 Years, Yasmeen 28 Years and Nadia 26 Years.