Andrea Dekrout (Austria – Climate Change, Environment & Natural Resources): Ms. Dekrout has over 15 years of experience working on issues of environment, climate, peace and security in humanitarian and development settings. Ms. Dekrout worked with NGOs in the Pacific supporting post-conflict communities through peace-positive climate change adaptation in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. In 2015 she joined UNHCR, developing climate adaptation and environmental interventions in Africa and Asia to promote peaceful co-existence in forced displacement settings.

ISSAKA SOUARÉ (Guinea – Process Design) has, in the past four years, served as an independent senior governance and mediation advisor. He worked on the operationalisation of the Africa Facility to Support Inclusive Transitions (AFSIT), and advised, from mid-2022 to early 2023, the Trilateral Mechanism composed of the UN, AU and IGAD in their facilitation efforts of dialogue between Sudanese actors in Khartoum.

CHRISTINA SHAHEEN (USA – Gender & Inclusion) has extensive experience in mediation and negotiation, with a focus on Women, Peace and Security and ensuring women’s meaningful participation in Track I processes. She has advised on mediation and dialogue processes related to Afghanistan, Israel/Palestine, Sudan and Syria, and has broader experience in supporting multi-track engagement of youth and civil society in the MENA region.

Mr. Garang served as the Head of IGAD Political Affairs and Peacebuilding (PAP) in 2024, IGAD Ambassador and Head of Mission to the Republic of South Sudan from 2020 to 2023, as well as the Director of the IGAD Mediation Support Unit since 2013. Mr. Garang has extensive experience in preventive diplomacy and mediation. He supported IGAD-led mediation processes in South Sudan from 2014 to 2018 and provided technical assistance to the South Sudan-led mediation on the conflict in Sudan from 2018 to 2020. From 2002 to 2013, Mr.