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Ilaha Eli Omar
Ilaha Eli Omar is an Afghan-American grassroots mobilizer and development expert with over two decades of experience in crisis response and community-driven development. Born during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, she and her family fled the country when she was just 40 days old, an experience that profoundly shaped her lifelong commitment to service.
Her career has spanned Afghanistan, Haiti, Kenya, and most recently Gaza, where she has worked to advance the rights of underserved and marginalized communities. She also serves on numerous boards and advisory councils dedicated to women’s economic agency, disability rights, emergency response, equitable access to health and education, and poverty alleviation.
In response to the humanitarian and economic crises that followed the fall of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in August 2021, Ilaha co-founded the Uplift Afghanistan Fund to connect impact-driven donors with grassroots, community-led organizations. She believes that lasting change is rooted in local leadership and culturally grounded solutions. As Executive Director, and as a member of the Afghan diaspora, she stands alongside communities as they define and drive their own development—anchored in self-determination, dignity, and equity.
Sessions
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Innovative finance & diaspora-led solutions - How can the diaspora amplify community-led solutions, moving beyond traditional aid models for sustainable impact?22-Oct-2025Innovative Finance Pavilion and Conference
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