My consultancy focuses on policy and operational research.For a list of my services, visit www.karamshaar.com/servicesClients and donors: The World Bank, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, European Endowment for Democracy, Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, German Federal Foreign Office, and the Atlantic Council.Published studies and op-eds with The Middle… Show more My consultancy focuses on policy and operational research.For a list of my services, visit www.karamshaar.com/servicesClients and donors: The World Bank, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, European Endowment for Democracy, Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, German Federal Foreign Office, and the Atlantic Council.Published studies and op-eds with The Middle East Institute, The Guardian, Foreign Policy, Carnegie Center, The Brookings Institution, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), and The Atlantic Council.Media Contributions: The Washington Post, The New York Times, CNN, The Sunday Times, Foreign Policy, Financial Times, The Guardian, Deutsche Welle, CNBC, PRI, BBC, Le Monde, the United Nations, Aljazeera, Al-Arabiya, Anadolu Agency, Rudaw, Syria Direct, and Syria TV. Show less

At the New Lines Institute, my work focuses on illicit narcotic flows and their nexus with security and political systems in the Middle East, particularly in Lebanon and Syria.My work and bio can be found here: https://newlinesinstitute.org/people/dr-karam-shaar/

The Observatory of Political and Economic Networks (OPEN) connects the dots and maps the stakeholders in regime-held Syria. By following the money and who-knows-who networks, we promote transparency and accountability with data. OPEN is the flagship product of Obsalytics — a not-for-profit enterprise that harnesses the power of data, analytics, data visualization, and open-source intelligence capabilities to help decision-makers and civil society organizations make better decisions on… Show more The Observatory of Political and Economic Networks (OPEN) connects the dots and maps the stakeholders in regime-held Syria. By following the money and who-knows-who networks, we promote transparency and accountability with data. OPEN is the flagship product of Obsalytics — a not-for-profit enterprise that harnesses the power of data, analytics, data visualization, and open-source intelligence capabilities to help decision-makers and civil society organizations make better decisions on Syria.At the Observatory, I've managed a team of Syrian researchers on projects funded by the European Endowment for Democracy, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, and the Atlantic Council, and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.The work we've done on sanctions evasion and aid diversion has been presented at Chatham House, the University of Oxford, and the Middle East Institute, and published or referenced in The Guardian, the Associated Press, The Washington Post, among others.https://www.opensyr.com/en Show less

For my engagements and publications with the Middle East Institute, visit www.mei.edu/experts/karam-shaar

Operations and Policy Center (OPC) is an independent think tank and service provider. Established in 2014, OPC conducts original research and provides consulting services to enhance policymaking, development programs, and humanitarian response projects. Syrian-led and owned, OPC combines local knowledge with technological and scientific expertise, utilizing in-house statisticians and graphic designers to create original and intuitive final products.My role at OPC involved leading the… Show more Operations and Policy Center (OPC) is an independent think tank and service provider. Established in 2014, OPC conducts original research and provides consulting services to enhance policymaking, development programs, and humanitarian response projects. Syrian-led and owned, OPC combines local knowledge with technological and scientific expertise, utilizing in-house statisticians and graphic designers to create original and intuitive final products.My role at OPC involved leading the research portfolio, supervizing projects, staff management, and quality assurance. My team's output can be found here www.opc.center/publications/Consulting clients include the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Search for Common Ground, Expertise France, Space of Hope, Christian Aid, The Day After, and Norwegian People's Aid. Show less

Teaching a course on the Arab-Israeli conflict

Led the Treasury’s tax forecasting development project, supervised short-term analytical projects, and contributed to the Economic and Fiscal Updates.● Oversaw team interactions with stakeholders and developed personnel analytical capabilities● Spearheaded Treasury’s efforts to introduce new tax forecasting and monitoring models● Served as the Acting Team Leader for 6 weeks, mentored and led team members, and approved key forecasting products for sign-off

Coordinated economic forecasting and operated the Treasury's core economic forecasting model.● Supervised multiple analytical projects on the neutral unemployment rate, exchange rate valuation, and neutral rate of interest● Wrote the Risks and Scenario chapter of the 2018 Budget Update and various Monthly Economic Indicators and Weekly Economic Updates● Coordinated forecasts and operated the core forecasting model for the 2019 Budget Update

Conducted research relating to housing and macroprudential policy in New Zealand using household-level data.● Published 2 papers using novel empirical approaches● Actively engaged/collaborated with the Motu Research Institute, Victoria University, and the Treasury● Informed Loan-to-Value ratio speed limits by analyzing data via the Integrated Data Infrastructure● Work was on a full-time basis only during a doctoral internship

I worked as a part-time researcher for the Aleppo Project at the School of Public Policy, the Central European University. The project gathers as much as possible about “the past of the city, document the horrors that have befallen it and think about what sort of future might lie ahead”. www.thealeppoproject.com. With The Aleppo Project, I authored a paper titled "Impact of the Civil War on Aleppo’s Job Market."

Taught English, fundraised, campaigned, rehabilitated education centers

Part-time tutor for postgraduate students in University Putra Malaysia. I taught Statistics, Econometrics, and English.