Nadia Yahya Hussein Al-Kawkabani
Academic, Writer, and Human Rights and Political Activist.
Biography:
Nadia Yahya Hussein Al-Kokbani is a Yemeni academic, novelist, and human rights and political activist. She was born on the 20th of October 1968 in Taiz. She has been actively involved in various political meetings, activities, and civil rights training courses, focusing on issues including politics, human rights, gender, women’s rights, and community peace.
Political Activism:
Al-Kokbani’s political activism gained momentum in 2011, culminating in her participation in the National Comprehensive Dialogue Conference as a member of the Independent Women’s Component. She chaired the “Media Team,” one of the working groups of the “Independence of Bodies” team, and was subsequently selected as a woman representative to the National Dialogue Outcomes Guarantees Drafting Committee.
In 2014, Al-Kokbani participated in political dialogues as a member of the “Consultative Group” of Yemeni political components from various parties under the “National Dialogue Support Program” sponsored by the Political Development Forum in partnership with Berghof Foundation, Germany. This group later transformed into the “Strategic Support Group” which deals with critical and sensitive political issues during Yemen’s transitional phase. During the war in Yemen in March 2015, she became a facilitator for the discussions of the Consultative Group, the only one in the political field that stood against the erosion of the political process during the war.
From 2016 to 2018, Al-Kokbani participated in several political consultative meetings outside Yemen (Dead Sea-Jordan, Beirut-Lebanon, Berlin-Germany, Cairo-Egypt) among prominent Yemeni political figures to discuss political developments in Yemen. She also attended the experts’ meeting on the constitutional process and peacebuilding in Yemen.
Peacebuilding and National Security Consulting:
Between August and December 2016 and again from November 2017 to December 2018, Al-Kokbani served as a National Consultant for Peacebuilding and National Security at the UN Women Yemen Country Office. She managed and facilitated consultative meetings for Yemeni women’s consensus for security and peace in Sana’a, Yemen, and Amman, Jordan, focusing on the political track and military-security de-escalation. She also prepared and facilitated meetings of the “Community Peace and Security” group in Sana’a.
Political Dialogue Support Program:
From 2015 to April 2018, Al-Kokbani held the position of Advisor in the “Political Dialogue Support Program” at the Political Development Forum in partnership with the Berghof Foundation, Germany. She coordinated and facilitated political dialogues between Yemeni political components.
Current Position:
Since 2018, Al-Kokbani has served as Deputy Executive President and Program Director at the Political Development Forum, the local partner in Yemen of the Berghof Foundation, Germany. She continues her academic work and literary activities alongside her leadership role.
Academic Qualifications:
Associate Professor of Architecture, Sana’a University, College of Engineering
Doctor of Philosophy in Architecture, Cairo University, 2008
Master of Science in Architecture, Sana’a University, 2000
Bachelor of Science in Architecture, 1993
Professional Qualifications:
Deputy Executive Director and Program Director, Political Development Forum, Yemen
Advisor, Political Dialogue Support Program, Facilitator and Coordinator of Political Dialogues between Political Components (2015-2018)
National Consultant, UN Women Yemen Country Office, 2016-2018
Associate Professor of Architecture, Sana’a University – College of Engineering – Department of Architecture
Consultant, Sana’a Capital Municipality, for the March 21st Park Project, 2013
Consultant since 2008, Social Development Fund
Consultant since 2009, Public Works Project/Sana’a
Awards:
Second prize in the second literary forum of Sana’a University, 1999.
Second place in the Suad Al Sabah Award for Intellectual and Literary Creativity, short story, 2000.
President’s Award for Youth in Short Story Writing for the year 2001.
Publications:
Publication of her short stories in many newspapers and magazines in Yemen and abroad and some of her texts have been translated into English, German, French, and Italian.
“Zefrat Yasmin” (A Jasmine Sigh), short story collection, General Book Authority, Sana’a, 2001.
“Dahrajat” (Wheels), short story collection, Laqaa Foundation, Sana’a, 2002.
“Taqashar Ghim” (Peeling Clouds), short story collection, Union of Yemeni Writers, and Bookmen, 2004.
“Nusf Anf…Shafa Wahida” (Half a Nose…One Lip), the previous three collections of short stories, with critical readings on them, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Sana’a Capital of Arab Culture, 2004.
“Hubb Layisa Illa” (Love Nothing More), novel, Merit Publishing House, Cairo, 2006 (first edition) and Dar Hawar-Latakia (second edition 2010) and Dar Abbadi for Studies and Publishing (third edition 2012)
“Aqilat” (The Wise Women), novel, Dar Abbadi Publishing, Sana’a 2009 (first edition) and Dar Hawar-Latakia (second edition 2011) and Dar Abbadi for Studies and Publishing (third edition (2012).
“Aadat List Sereya” (A Habit that is Not a Secret), a collection of short stories, Dar Abbadi for Studies and Publishing 2012.
“Sana’ai” (My Own Sana’a), novel, Dar Abbadi for Studies and Publishing, Sana’a 2013 ed1, Dar Al-Hawar Latakia ed 2, 2015.
“Souq Ali Muhsin” (Ali Muhsin Market), novel. Dar Al Hilal, Arab Republic of Egypt 2016.
“Al-Asfar Layis SpongeBob” (Yellow is Not SpongeBob), a collection of short stories, Dar Arwiqa, Cairo. 2023.
By/ Hatem Al-Shamea A New Home – Nabila Al-Sheikh – trans. Hatem Al-Shamea
