Ruby Assad is a senior expert with more than 25 years of experience in community engagement, gender integration, project designing, implementation of revolving funds with local societies, supervising small income generating projects with beneficiary Community-Based Organizations CBOs, and coordinating vocational training programs. In her community development programmes she uses different modes of delivery, like participatory approach, building dialogues modes, combining workshops and focus group sessions – allowing community to discuss their ideas in an open environment, and future search “visioning” approach.

After her studies of Agriculture Engineering with special emphasis of „Rural Development“ and Extension Services with special emphasis on „Development Cooperation“ at the University of Jordan, she worked as scientific researcher at the „National Centre for Agriculture and Technology Transfer“ and the University of  Jordan. In these positions she was responsible for several research studies in farmers’ extension and for the development of participatory rural appraisals of farmers’ development.

Since 1990, Expert Ruby Assad has successfully completed various assignments in multiple projects in community development and women empowerment, mainly in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Water & Irrigation, and Ministry of Planning and International Corporation. She has significant experience in working with international lending agencies and donor institutions such as GIZ, EU, IUCN, DFID, CARE, UNICEF, and USIAD fulfilling their reporting and follow-up requirements and guidelines. Practical experience in over 95 short-term assignments in developing, and under-developing countries, including Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, Tunisia, and Jordan.

Experience in analysing and mainstreaming gender goes back to 1998, for example she has been working with the USAID / AED on marketing, the participation of community-based organizations, and water policy reform. In 2007, as Deputy-Team Leader of the GIZ-funded project “Institutional Development of the Water Sector in Yemen”. In 2010, she worked as Senior Gender Advisor of the Water Wise Women Initiative. In 2015, she worked with the EBRD on mainstreaming gender in an upcoming water investment in Jordan which also promoted a plan for supporting equal opportunities in the workplace. In 2019 she worked with the USAID on Community Cohesion and Engagement in light of the Decentralization and Good Governance in 33 municipalities in Jordan. Most recently, she worked with the GIZ on municipal service digitalization in capital municipalities in three governorates.

From 2011, Expert Ruby Assad was key expert within various international funded projects in water and environment protection / nature conservation projects „GIZ Water Sector in Tunisia“ and responsible for assessing women participation in domestic water conservation in Kairouan. She also helped Oxfam in Jordan to developing the “Water Ambassadors” concept among housewives and raise their awareness on water conservation techniques on household level in two locations in Jordan.

With her experience of over 25 years in both project management and the delivery of gender integration programme, as well as her current function as Deputy Team-Leader of the Community Cohesion and Engagement of USAID CITIES Program, she was able to build strong communication skills and solid ability to effectively transfer her knowledge.

Expert Ruby Assad is fluent in Persian and English, as well as Arabic, which is the mother tongue