Sammy Kayed Email & Phone Number

Paris, Île-de-France, France

Provide expert guidance on the nexus between climate change, conflict, and environment in North Africa and West Asia for Robert Bosch Stiftung and the Arab Reform Initiative through analytical position papers and expert opinion prepared with fellow academics and practitioners

Beirut, Beirut Governorate, Lebanon

Continuing to support the strategic development of Environment Academy and 11 community based solutions to environmental breakdown on a voluntary basis

Cofounded a first of its kind televised program supporting 21 communities at the frontlines of environmental breakdown as they co-create just and transformative solutions with 1.5 years of mentoring from 25+ expertsLed 6 staff, over 100 community members, and 50 experts in meeting goals for sustainable transformation with 80% of communities reporting.

Beirut, Lebanon

Collaborated with faculty to innovate, design, and strategize on project development related to climate change, biodiversity loss, & environmental justice. Led groundwork building and fundraising for 17 transdisciplinary sustainability projects (see below) in Lebanon and the region valued at $6MMCo-led the growth of the Center’s yearly budget by 125%.

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

At the MedWaves Center under UNEP's Mediterranean Action Plan and EU funded programs, analyze national production and consumption patterns for plastic, research the distribution of micro-plastics in the environment, and form adaptable phase out actions for single use plastics that can be undertaken by the private sector Targeted over 700 private sector.

Capital Governorate, Bahrain

Co-authored the Biodiversity Chapter for the first State of the Environment Report for the Arabian Peninsula in cooperation with government ministries under all member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and premier regional experts on environmentCompiled an extensive database and literature review and synthesized all evidence into drivers.

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

At the MedWaves Center under UNEP's Mediterranean Action Plan and EU funded programs, develop a full study on the current solid waste management and actor relations in LebanonAnalyze national production, consumption, and phase out practices behind 8 types of single use plastics utilized in F&B in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, World Bank.

Under the EU Funded Water and Environment Support Program, identifying the suitability and prerequisites for instituting Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes in the south Mediterranean with a focus on Lebanon and support to PalestineHold consultations with key stakeholder groups to understand their bottlenecks and desired incentivizes to enable.

Under the EU Funded Water and Environment Support Program, identified model approaches for plastic collection and recycling in the South Mediterranean Region with a focus on Lebanon and support to PalestineAnalyzed key features of model approaches for plastic collection and recycling for scaling and replication in the South Mediterranean Region

Under the EU Funded Water and Environment Support Program, conducted a national mapping on ongoing stakeholder activities to reduce plastic pollution for a regional competition providing EU, UNEP, and RAED recognition of champions addressing plastic pollutionSupported in developing criteria and selecting organizational champions of reducing plastic pollution

London, England, United Kingdom

Led a team of 5 carbon and plastic experts, in collaboration with the Asfari Foundation, to design a program and a digital platform for ethical growth of the ecosystem of plastic collectors & recyclers increasing territorial plastic processing capacities by 30% and improve the livelihoods of 8,000 informal workers over 3 years.

Beirut, Beirut Governorate, Lebanon

Led a team of 6 sustainability specialists in evaluating the sustainability of the textile industry and formulating a nationwide program for collecting and recycling textile waste into multiple high demand products with lessons drawn from Jordan & Egypt.Developed first of their kind statistics on textile waste and quantified end-of-life waste management.

Supported studies on the status of gray and black wastewater systems and private sector wastewater discharge practices in over 150 municipal communities across the country and the contextual suitability of the Omni-Processor technology for Lebanon

Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands

Developed strategies and projects for piloting and scaling climate resilient and community based land restoration models in various ambient conditions and land stewardship scenarios commonly found in the Middle East region with a focus on Lebanon

Berlin, Germany

Ensured scientific merit for a 5 part video series covering the main impacts and drivers of Lebanon’s water crisisIdentified sites symbolizing various aspects of the water crisis and co-developed compelling content on water related environmental justice issues

United States

Collaborated with twelve international university teams of researchers and practitioners in the Global South to understand the role of openness and collaboration in science as a transformative tool for development thinking and practice Co-produced a book chapter and framework for how researchers can interact with communities to build deeper trust and undo.

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

At the MedWaves Center under UNEP's Mediterranean Action Plan and EU funded programs, develop unprecedented national statistics on plastic consumption and production and align national plans with UN conventionsCooperated with ministries, municipalities, enterprises, plastic industry, and citizens to create an adaptable model to incentivize a collective.

Middle East And North Africa Region

Under the first social impact accelerator created in cooperation with any UN agency, defined the MENA regional context for 7 sustainable development issues & developed training material to stimulate innovation in each issue area. Supported the training of 45 participating impact startups.

Berkeley, USA

Worked under the PAYA project on gathering and sense-making archival & geomorphological data to delineate irrigation ditches, approximate water use, & uncover the water story of the Bishop Paiute Tribe which were used in legal efforts to regain appropriative water rightsProduced archival and qualitative research to help curate an exhibit at UC Berkeley.

Berkeley, USA

Led a team of 4 environmentalists in creating a media archive centralizing and organizing international news on water quality and access Supported interns conducting research on water and mediaCampaigned to bring out the vote to successfully stop desalination in Santa Cruz and Marin County, CA

San Jose, California, United States

Assisted the Board Chair in designing a course for the water district titled Costs & Benefits, Bay Delta Conservation Plan as a training program for staff

San Francisco, USA

Joined the U.S. EPA Marine Debris Research Team to help advise on the ecological impacts of plastic pollution in the Pacific, research technology and policy remediation pathways, & draft program status reports. Supported in gathering evidence for the creation of the Marine Debris Act Amendments of 2012 under the Obama administration.

B.S., Conservation Resource Studies Focused In Environmental Hydrology, Magma Cum Laude

Activities and Societies: University Honors Program and PhD coursework in Hydrology for Planners, River Restoration, and Freshwater Ecology

B.S., Society & Environment With A Focus In Policy And Management, Magna Cum Laude

Activities and Societies: University Honors Program and PhD coursework in Water and Development

Training Program, Citizen Engagement Technology In Water Management

Honors Thesis, Ecohydrology, A+

Activities and Societies: Completed a two year original research study on the ecohydrologic implications of increasing vapor pressure.

Training Program, Climate Change And Problems Of Scale

Associate Degree, Environmental Science