Biography

Dr. Asma El Kasmi is an international expert in the fields of water, environment and sustainable development. With over 20 years of professional experience, her areas of expertise include integrated water resources management, human and institutional capacity building, leadership and change management, international cooperation, and R&D and innovation.

Dr. El Kasmi is the Director of Cooperation and Communication at the National Office for Electricity and Potable Water (ONEE)–Water Branch in Morocco since 2014. She was elected as the Vice President of the World Water Council in December 2018.

From 2009 to 2012, she held the position of Director General of the Arab Water Academy (AWA) based in Abu Dhabi. Under her leadership, the AWA was successful in planning, designing and implementing innovative capacity development programs that targeted key topics to advance strategies and policies for integrated water resources management. These programs covered water diplomacy, water governance, demand management, institutional reforms, private sector participation, climate change and water-energy nexus.

Prior to joining the Arab Water Academy, Dr. El Kasmi was in charge of International Cooperation at the National Office for Potable Water in Morocco (ONEP-now ONEE) from 2004 to 2009. She worked closely with water operators and development agencies worldwide to support ONEP’s strategic orientations and programs for water supply and sanitation in urban and rural areas. She also developed and implemented triangular cooperation programs for capacity development in the water and sanitation sectors for sub-Saharan Africa countries and Arab states.

Dr. El Kasmi is the UNESCO Chair Holder for Water, Women and Decision Making established at Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco since 2006. In this capacity, she has been fostering creative initiatives for strengthening women’s capacity in integrated water resources management with the overall objective of sustainable development.

From 1992 to 2004, Prof. El Kasmi served as Professor and Scientific Researcher in several leading universities in the United States of America, Europe and Morocco.

Dr. El Kasmi holds a PhD in Electrochemistry (1991) from University Denis Diderot in Paris and a PhD in Bio-Electrochemistry and Analytical Chemistry (2002), obtained on a Fulbright program at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, USA and University Mohammed V in Rabat.

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