Emad Shanab is an architect, civil activist, and the founder and Chairperson of the Dialogue & Debate Association (DDA) since March 2014, where he has been elected multiple times to hold this position.
Throughout his work with the DDA, Emad has led the organization’s vision related to comprehensive national reconciliation in Libya. He has been able to create platforms and channels of communication between youth, tribal leaders, decision-makers, and businesspeople in Libya. Emad has actively engaged various conflicting parties and stakeholders, including representatives from the previous regime, youth fighters, and revolutionaries. During his tenure, Emad worked on the reconciliation between Misrata and Tawergha, successfully bringing together efforts to formulate and sign the reconciliation charter, and overseeing its implementation.
In the realm of civil work, Emad also serves as the President of the Youth Dialogue Forum, which includes more than 5,000 members from all the different regions and electoral districts in Libya. He chairs the General Assembly of the National Election Monitoring Network and presided over the National Youth Conference in 2021, which gathered approximately 2,000 young men and women in the Libyan capital, Tripoli. Emad was one of the founders of the first General Union of Students at Misrata University in 2011 and established and chaired the Youth Reconstruction Association of Libya during his time at the university.
In the political sphere, Emad works as an advisor to the President of the Presidential Council. Additionally, he previously served as an advisor for media and communication affairs to the former Minister of Interior during the years 2019-2020-2021. In this role, Emad designed and led the communication and public diplomacy strategy for the minister and the ministry. He also worked as a youth and peacebuilding advisor for several international entities operating in Libya, including the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Libya.
In 2021, Emad Shanab was selected for the “40 Under 40” award in recognition of his activity and impact in Libya.
