Meet the team
Elva is built by a team from all corners of the globe. Interested in helping us grow Elva's impact worldwide? Please get in touch.-
Sabah Al Nakouzi
Junior Research and Program AnalystSabah identifies as a human rights advocate and works on investing her academic knowledge in psychology, and her volunteering and humanitarian experiences, to help vulnerable communities overcome emerging challenges in Lebanon and other developing countries. Sabah holds a BA in Psychology with a minor in Human Rights and Transitional Justice from the American University of Beirut.
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Amit Arkhipov-Goyal
Program LeadAmit manages programs for Elva's clients and helps apply Elva's expertise in new ways. He previously focused on analysing the impact of emerging technologies in conflict, security and defence. Amit holds an MSc in Crisis and Security Management from Leiden University.
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Aaron Atimpe
Ghana Program LeadAaron has worked on various thematic areas with experience in program management and research, monitoring, evaluation, and learning (RMEL) across both the public sector and civil society. He has expertise in P/CVE and is experienced in leading community-driven conflict resolution and transformation, as well as community-security relations. Aaron is a graduate of the London School of Economics and Political Science.
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Rodrigo Behague
Benin Research and Program ManagerRodrigo is a community engagement, regional security and environmental conservation expert. He has experience in research, wildlife management, conservation, counter-poaching and project management in the Central African Republic, Burkina Faso, Niger and Benin.
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Aneliese Bernard
Director of Research and ProgramsAneliese is a practitioner and consultant with over eight years of experience in U.S. government, NGOs and academia. She most recently worked for the U.S. State Department as a stabilization advisor in Niger, covering the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin. She has significant experience in DDR, SSR, stabilization and CVE in the Sahel. She has a Masters Degree from Tufts University's Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.
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Lassina Diarra
Côte d'Ivoire Principal ConsultantLassina Diarra is an expert on transnational terrorism and P/CVE in West Africa. He has worked on CVE strategies, implemented CVE projects and programs, and conducted trainings, including at the AILCT in Jacqueville, Côte d'Ivoire. He is an expert-consultant for Policy Center for the New South (PCNS), and a researcher associate of the Timbuktu Institute.
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Mark van Embden Andres
DirectorMark is the director of Elva. He has extensive experience in research and field work within conflict transformation and humanitarian action efforts in Sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe and the Caucasus. Mark is a graduate of the London School of Economics.
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Aboubacar Garba Mai Birni
Burkina Faso & Niger Research LeadAboubacar has over 20 years of experience in leading safe and secure field data collection, analysis and M&E activities in Niger, Chad and Burkina Faso. He is skilled in designing, undertaking and supervising large-scale, tailored qualitative and quantitative data collection, conflict analysis, project design, implementation and evaluation.
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Dr. Aziz Mossi
Benin Program LeadAziz Mossi holds a PhD in Social Anthropology and Ethnology. He is a teacher-researcher at the University of Parakou in Benin, and Researcher at the Laboratory for Studies and Research on Social Dynamics and Local Development (LASDEL). He is also the co-founder of SOAFRICA Cabinet. His research focuses on security governance, dynamics around national parks and biosphere reserves and the prevention of violent extremism.
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Lasha Tavartkiladze
Lead DeveloperLasha is a minimalism fanatic. A designer who loves programming and a programmer who loves design. He's an active open source contributor and drinks insurmountable amount of Americano.