Nicole Rowsell

Nicole Rowsell is NDI's resident director in Tunisia, where she oversaw establishment of the Institute’s office in 2011 during the country’s political transition, including programs to support political party strengthening and citizen oversight of elections for the National Constituent Assembly. Ms. Rowsell has overseen and analyzed results of public opinion research, working with the leadership of partner parties including elected officials, to integrate the results of this research into policies and messages. Under Ms. Rowsell’s leadership, NDI-Tunisia has trained thousands of political party activists, organized seminars for first-time parliamentarians on constituent outreach, supported citizen interest groups to organize and advocate for constitutional provisions, and led leadership institutes for Tunisian women and youth.

Ms. Rowsell has also served in the Institute’s offices in Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq and Washington, D.C., managing programs to support civic education and advocacy, domestic election observation, organizational capacity of political parties and enhancing political participation of women and youth. She co-edited Civic Participation Terminology: A Guide to Frequently Used Terms and Phrases, and authored numerous public opinion research findings reports.

Before joining the Institute in 2006, Ms. Rowsell held positions with Partners for Democratic Change and World Learning, contributing to community organizing and advocacy efforts throughout the Middle East and Central Asia.  Ms. Rowsell earned a bachelor’s degree in international relations and a master’s degree in conflict analysis and resolution.