The Culture of Encounter Project - Georgetown University

Affan Cheema is the director of international programs at Islamic Relief Worldwide, one of the largest Muslim faith agencies in the world. He is an experienced leader with 27 years of working in the international aid sector on poverty eradication in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. He has worked in fast-onset emergencies, protracted crises, and development environments. Cheema completed his bachelor’s degree in economics and geography from the University of London (School of Oriental and African Studies) and his MSc in development administration and planning from the University of Bristol. He is PRINCE2 qualified, is a keen sportsman, and recently co-edited a book entitled Islam and International Development: Insights for working with Muslim Communities (Practical Action Publishing, 2020). Cheema is a member of the Working Group on Displaced Persons and Hospitality to the Stranger, part of the Culture of Encounter Project.