Francesca Ciriaci-Sawalha

Francesca Ciriaci-Sawalha

Country Director for Middle East and Northern Africa
Middle East & North Africa, Jordan, Civil Society, Gender Equality & Inclusion, Youth

Francesca is the country director of IREX’s Jordan office.  Concurrent with this position which she has held since 2014, she is program director, providing technical leadership and oversight to a broad portfolio of programs in Jordan and across the region. Francesca oversees initiatives developing youth skills to engage critically with information and build individuals and communities’ resilience to misinformation, strengthen civil society and community-based organizations, empower women, develop leaders, and foster networks.

Prior to holding this position, Francesca was Chief of Party of IREX’s Jordan Media Strengthening Program, funded by USAID. She started her professional life as a journalist, and it was on assignment that she moved from Florence, Italy, to Amman. She also worked for the EU Delegation to Jordan and headed the international media department at the Office of King Abdullah II of Jordan.