Director of Research, Arab Barometer
Areas of Expertise: Mixed-method research design, survey methodology, public opinion, political behavior, civil society, democratization, migration.
Available for Interviews in: English, Arabic
Salma Al-Shami is the director of research at Arab Barometer. In conjunction with regional partners and stakeholders, she is responsible for questionnaire development, sampling and experimental design, oversight of fieldwork, and analysis of findings. She has more than 10 years of experience conducting mixed-method academic research and leading needs assessments and monitoring and evaluation efforts on topics such as education, inequality, migration and displacement, social cohesion and integration, knowledge-based economies, and civil society development throughout the Middle East and North Africa. Prior to joining the Arab Barometer in 2019, she served as the chief data analyst on a study of Iraqi IDPs, a collaborative project between the International Organization for Migration and Georgetown University’s Center for Contemporary Arab Studies. She also serves as an adjunct lecturer in Georgetown University’s Global Human Development Program and as a consultant for the World Bank.
Key Findings: ▶Water is the biggest perceived environmental challenge facing countries in MENA, followed by waste management. ▶ Citizens hold each other and their governments equally responsible for lack of action on climate. ▶ There is broad support among citizens for more government actions in response to climate change. ▶ Despite recognizing that environmental challenges exist, more immediate issues take…
Join Dr. Sahar Khamis and her two guests, Dr. Abdul-Wahab Kayyali and Ms. Salma Al-Shami, in her program “The Bridge” this Friday, June 25th, from 8 to 9 a.m. (EST), LIVE on “U.S. Arab Radio” and Facebook simultaneously, as they discuss a very timely and important topic, namely: the shifts in the political, economic, social and media landscapes in the MENA region (Middle East…
Key Findings: Citizens in surveyed MENA countries are judging COVID-19 responses of governments based on the ability to manage the healthcare crisis and the economic fallout of the pandemic. Performance rating is highest where citizens rate both health, economic response well (Morocco). Performance rating is lowest where citizens rate both health, economic response poorly (Lebanon, Tunisia). Performance rating is mixed…
Key Findings: Youth economic frustration across MENA is increasing. Youth have little trust in governments, which are widely viewed as being corrupt, leading to a potential crisis of legitimacy in the region. However, views of youth differ relatively little from older generations in this regard. Youth are more likely to want to emigrate and to participate in informal politics. Arab…
Key Findings: Opinions regarding women’s rights and their roles in society are progressing unevenly in MENA. While citizens of Arab countries are more approving of women’s right to education, work and holding political office, there is far from universal agreement that women should have equal rights in all areas. Moreover, there is little agreement that women should have equal roles…
