The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) is pleased to announce the appointment of a new member to its Africa Board.

Dr Dalia Ghanem PhD, a Senior researcher/analyst at the European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS), and former senior resident scholar at the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut, is an expert on North Africa region, who brings policy research and analysis skills acquired from working with a number of organizations, from think tanks to consultancy firms, and a proven ability to deliver analysis and manage projects.

Her work examines political and extremist violence, radicalization, Islamism, smuggling, borders, jihadism and gender, with an emphasis on Algeria. Dr Ghanem is the author of numerous publications, including most recently ‘Above the state: The general’s republic in Algeria’ (2021); ‘Algeria’s Achilles’ Heel? Resource regionalism in Ouargla’ (2021); ‘The last emir?: AQIM’s decline in the Sahel’ (2020); ‘The smuggler wore a veil: Women in Algeria’s illicit border trade’ (2020); and ‘Algeria’s borderlands: A country unto themselves’ (2020). Dr. Ghanem will be publishing a book on the resilience of the Algerian regime scheduled to be published in 2022 by Palgrave Macmillan

The GI-TOC Africa Board is crucial to the management and running of the organization’s programmes in Africa and plays a key role in providing direction as our work has expanded thematically and geographically.

The GI-TOC has always championed the role of academia as a key pillar of civil society, in that it plays a central role in shining the spotlight on organized crime and corruption networks worldwide. We have partnered with numerous members of the academic world and believe that a strong research approach is necessary to design informed and holistic responses. Dalia’s academic experience in Africa aligns with these organizational goals and mindset.

On accepting her appointment, Ghanem said: ‘I have long admired the Global Initiative’s work, and serving on the Africa board is a true honour. I’m looking forward to learning from my colleagues and contributing to a forward-thinking GI-TOC, which is exactly what the region requires. I am looking forward to rich brainstormings, fruitful discussions and interesting agendas on dealing with transnational organized crime.’

Peter Gastrow, Chair of the GI-TOC Africa Board, said: ‘With Algeria as her home country, and as a scholar with a strong academic record, including publications covering a wide range of issues in North Africa and the Sahel, Dalia joins our Board with a sound knowledge and understanding of illicit markets in that region. She is a valuable addition to the Board.’

Said Mark Shaw, Director of the GI-TOC: ‘At the Global Initiative, we are delighted to welcome Dalia to our Africa Board. Her experience draws from key regions and areas of expertise, and I am more than confident that she will support our cross-regional and cross-thematic engagement to leverage the mission of the Global Initiative.’

About the GI-TOC

The GI-TOC is a global network with over 500 Network Experts around the world. The GI-TOC provides a platform to promote greater debate and innovative approaches as the building blocks to an inclusive global strategy against organized crime.

The GI-TOC Board provides strategic oversight and management of the organization, steering advisory functions and ensuring fiduciary control. The board, which currently numbers 11 members, has been appointed in stages as the work of the GI-TOC has grown since 2013, when the organization was founded.