Introducing the 2024-2026 Expert Advisory Group

The Moving Minds Alliance Expert Advisory Group (EAG) has been established to incorporate diverse perspectives from crisis-affected regions, particularly the Global South. This group consists of five members who bring lived experience from various contexts impacted by emergencies and displacement. Their expertise and firsthand knowledge will be invaluable in guiding MMA’s efforts to support young children and caregivers affected by crises.

The primary role of these EAG members will be to provide advice on two crucial aspects of MMA’s work. First, they will offer insights on how to effectively amplify the voices of children and caregivers who have experienced displacement, ensuring their needs and perspectives are central to MMA’s advocacy efforts. Second, the experts will contribute to enhancing coordination and advocacy initiatives that are led by refugees and local communities. This approach aims to empower those directly affected by crises to play a leading role in shaping the support and interventions they receive.

The EAG members will serve a two-year term from 2024 to 2026, after which a new group of experts will be appointed to continue the work of the advisory group.

Dulguun Batmunkh (Refugee Expert, Mongolia)

Dulguun is an international development professional from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, with over a decade of experience in education program design, project management, policy analysis, and impact evaluation. She has a proven track record of collaborating with governments, NGOs, businesses, and international organisations to drive social impact. Funded by the Robert Bosch Foundation, Dulguun’s journey in early childhood development began in 2010 when she led a soft-skills development program for children in an orphanage on the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar, where many of the country’s internal migrants reside.

Currently, Dulguun serves as the Global Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning Coordinator at OneSky, where she facilitates impact evaluations of early childhood development projects in Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Mongolia, ensuring underserved young children have access to quality care and education.

Dulguun holds a Master of Arts in International Policy from Stanford University, where she was a Knight-Hennessy Scholar, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Finance and Economics in Mongolia.

Cheng Laban Ndoh (Refugee Expert, Nigeria)

Cheng is a refugee from Southern Cameroon and a dedicated humanitarian and policy change advocate with 7+ years of experience in community development and public engagements. He is the founder of Great Step Initiative, a non-profit organisation providing psychosocial counseling and rehabilitation, preventive healthcare sensitisation, GBV awareness and child protection service to refugees and the host communities in Taraba and Cross River states in Nigeria.

His work has been recognised by various organisations including UNHCR and Cohere earning him the UNHCR 2020 Innovation Award for their novel and creative solution in response to COVID-19. He also received another UNHCR Award in 2023 for his steadfast support and unrelenting commitment to the cause of refugees, asylum seekers, IDPs, returnees and other affected populations in Nigeria.

Cheng holds a diploma in Peace and Humanitarian services from Pan African Institute for Development West Africa, a diploma in Human Resource Development from ICM London and a BSC in Education and Theology from Pan African Bible Seminary Nigeria.

Kasi J. Bisimwa (Refugee Expert, Kenya)

Kasi is a dedicated community worker with over a decade of experience focusing on early childhood education, mental health, and developmental disorders in displacement settings. A refugee leader based in Kakuma since 2011, Kasi has been instrumental in training parents, teachers, and community members in social-emotional learning and mental health support. After completing his high school education, He obtained various certificates in emergency pedagogy, mental health, and cognitive behavioral therapy, among others.

Kasi’s work includes supporting Community Based and Refugee-Led Organisations to strengthen community agency in refugee education as well as advocating for parental involvement to foster quality early childhood education in the displacement context, where he has served with organisations such as Cohere, Waldorf Kakuma Project, and Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS).

His expertise has led to his recent appointment to the Moving Minds Alliance Expert Advisory Group, to contribute to global efforts in early childhood development for refugee and displaced children. Fluent in English, Kasi excels in community-based advocacy, mental health support, and creating sustainable educational support systems.

Ihab M. Abu Ward (Local Expert, Palestine)

Ihab holds a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Education Development, and brings a wealth of experience in emergency response, project management, capacity building, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), and humanitarian work. His core expertise lies in education, early childhood development, and Education in Emergencies (EiE), particularly within Gaza Strip refugee communities and UNRWA operational areas.

His leadership in supporting vulnerable and marginalised communities in Gaza, especially during volatile conditions, has been instrumental in delivering essential services. Ihab’s tenure with Islamic Relief International provided him with a comprehensive perspective on the early childhood sector, enhancing his ability to design strategic interventions. As a former School Principal, he gained a thorough understanding of the education system to ensure children’s access to quality education, particularly in crisis situations.

In addition, Ihab has served as Head of Monitoring and Evaluation for education projects at the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and has collaborated with prominent international organisations, including USAID, the World Bank, QIF, Caritas, ACF, Creative Associates International, and UNRWA. As an active member of INEE and TiCC, Ihab is currently Area Manager at ACF and remains deeply committed to advancing education and providing humanitarian support in conflict-affected regions.

Jamila Razzaq (Local Expert, Pakistan)

Jamila is an established international development professional with extensive experience in both development and humanitarian sectors. She has managed programs in various countries, including Pakistan, the United Kingdom, Germany, Lebanon, and the USA, and has supported numerous country teams in Africa and Asia through her role at UNESCO.

Jamila has led education programs for refugee children with the Norwegian Refugee Council in Lebanon and ECD and early learning programs for the Aga Khan Foundation in Pakistan. She has also designed and managed research projects at Oxford Policy Management, the University of Glasgow, and The Brookings Institution in Washington, DC. Additionally, she has planned and initiated programs and networks with the Obama Foundation and USAID. Jamila is a founding member of a collaborative of experts from 22 countries on ‘Learning and Action for Girls’ Agency’ with the Brookings Institution Center for Universal Education (CUE).

Key areas of her expertise include strategic planning, partnership development across diverse global contexts, program management, and research program management.