Kholoud Hilaneh

Kholoud Hilaneh joined the GEF Secretariat in April 2025 as Country Relations Officer for Europe and Central Asia (ECA), and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

Ms. Hilaneh brings extensive experience working with international and local organizations across multiple regions. She has held roles at the World Bank’s Energy Sector Division, the Climate Investment Funds, the UN World Food Programme, the UN Office for Project Services, and within the private sector.

Her expertise includes stakeholder engagement, climate finance, governance, operations, and international procurement and contract management.

In her current role at the Global Environment Facility Secretariat's Programming Division, Ms. Hilaneh leads engagement with countries in the ECA and MENA regions. She supports the implementation of the GEF Country Engagement Strategy, advises on GEF policies and governance, facilitates access to GEF resources, and strengthens coordination with national focal points and partners.

Her academic qualifications include a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University, a Diploma in Supply Chain from CIPS, and an MBA from Birzeit University in Palestine.