Our People
NIMD thrives because of the passion, knowledge, and expertise of the people we work with. We are proud of our extensive global network of offices and partners, all working towards the vital goal of establishing responsive democratic systems.
Our organization is made up of around 140 passionate people, working in offices all over the world. Our 15 Country Offices, led by NIMD Country Directors and Representatives, are located across Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, the Dutch Caribbean, and Central and Southeast Asia.
In addition, an international team of around 40 staff supports our global programmes from The Hague, the political capital of the Netherlands. Our office in The Hague is organized into four teams: Programmes & Knowledge, Grants Management, Positioning, and Finance, Control & Support.
Country Office Directors
Our Country Office Directors oversee the operations of their respective offices, ensuring that activities and results align with NIMD’s mission and goals. Together with their teams, the Directors develop and implement strategies tailored to their country or region’s specific political and social context. Their expertise and networks ensure their programmes contribute to a more peaceful, just and inclusive democracy, adapting and responding to the demands and needs of their country.
Ángela Rodríguez
Country Director, NIMD Colombia
Célia D’Almeida
Country Director, NIMD Mali
Cheickna Yaranangoré
Country Director, NIMD Burkina Faso
Anneliza Tobar
(Interim) Country Director, NIMD Guatemala
Dieudonné Ntanago
Country Director, NIMD Burundi
Juan Meléndez
Country Director, NIMD El Salvador
Yinebeb Nigatu
Country Director, NIMD Ethiopia
Ibrahima Ba
Country Director, NIMD Niger
Primus Bahiigi
Country Director, NIMD Uganda
Bashar Al- Khatib
Country Director, NIMD Jordan
Abdijalil Tahir
Director, NIMD Somalia
Ronnie Ojwang
Country Director, NIMD Kenya
Htet Oo Wai
Country Director, NIMD Myanmar
Oscar Bloh
Country Director, NIMD Liberia
Management Team
The Management Team in The Hague sets NIMD’s strategic goals and oversees operations. The team carries out all Executive Board functions. This includes ensuring programmes align with NIMD global strategy; fostering strong relationships with our funding partners; providing institutional knowledge and support to the Country Offices; and ensuring smooth day-to-day running of our work.
Tijmen Rooseboom
Executive Director
Tijmen Rooseboom joined NIMD as the organization’s new Executive Director (ED) as of 1 November 2024.
Rooseboom brings a wealth of experience in politics and public diplomacy to the table. He was the Special Envoy for the Sahel Region, also leading the West Africa and Great Lakes units at the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Before talking on that role, Rooseboom was the Ambassador-at-Large for Youth, Education and Work at the Ministry, and developed and worked on the realization of the Youth at Heart strategy.
LinkedIn
Wouter Dol
Head of Programmes & Knowledge
As Head of Programmes & Knowledge, Wouter Dol is responsible for all global programming and knowledge support within NIMD’s network of partners and offices.
Wouter has worked in the field of international development and democratic governance for the past 18 years. Before taking up his current role, he served in different capacities at NIMD including in strategic relations and programme management. Prior to joining NIMD, Wouter worked for the UNDP in Bangladesh and the OSCE in Kosovo. He holds a double Master’s degree in International Relations and Communications from the University of Amsterdam.
LinkedIn
Gilbert Chandrasekaran
Head of Finance, Control and Support
As Head of Finance, Control & Support, Gilbert Chandrasekaran is responsible for financial operations and quality control.
Gilbert is a Chartered Accountant by profession and has over 18 years of experience in both commercial and non-profit organizations. Before taking up his current role, Gilbert worked in various capacities in the finance department for the Tata group in South Africa and also served as Head of Finance for the African Leadership University group, based out of Mauritius and Rwanda.
LinkedIn
Heleen Schrooyen
Head of Positioning
As Head of Positioning, Heleen Schrooyen is responsible for NIMD’s strategic relations, fundraising and institutional communications.
Heleen has 20 years of experience in the field of democracy, human rights, and rule of law. Prior to joining NIMD in 2003, she worked for the United Nations in Central America and Switzerland. Within NIMD, Heleen has developed profound expertise in democratization processes, including political party legal frameworks, democracy education and facilitating multiparty and multi stakeholder dialogue processes. Her focus areas include the participation of women in politics, and gender sensitive law and policymaking.
LinkedInProgrammes & Knowledge Team
The Programmes & Knowledge Team supports all ongoing NIMD programmes and projects. The team provides advice and knowledge in line with the NIMD approach, thematic priorities, and overall strategic goals. In addition, the team facilitates mutual learning within our network of offices and partners. And it enhances NIMD’s knowledge base by developing tools and piloting innovative approaches. It is the Programmes & Knowledge Team’s responsibility to monitor progress, adapt our programming and capture results.
The Programmes & Knowledge Team is headed by Wouter Dol, and coordinated by Reem Judeh, Senior Programmes & Knowledge Advisor.
Reem Judeh
Senior Programme & Knowledge Advisor
Rutger Groothuis
Programme & Knowledge Advisor
Femke Brouwer
Programme & Knowledge Advisor
Salima Ahmadou
Programme & Knowledge Advisor West Africa
Tayuh Ngenge
Programme & Knowledge Advisor
Daniela Montero
Programme & Knowledge Advisor
Violet Benneker
Learning & Innovation Advisor
Arlinda Rrustemi
Learning & Innovation Advisor
Roxanne van der Bliek
Programme Support and Knowledge Officer
Floortje Klijn
Programme & Knowledge Advisor
Grants Management Team
The Grants Management Team is responsible for coordinating the implementation of all NIMD programme commitments, as laid out in our grant agreements. The team is charged with grant coordination, donor liaison, reporting, and supporting NIMD consortium partners to deliver intended outcomes. The team also acts as the secretariat for the different consortia that NIMD leads.
The Grant Management Team is headed by Wouter Dol and coordinated by Antoine Brasset, Senior Grants Coordinator.
Antoine Brasset
Senior Grants Coordinator
Jimena Durán
Grants Coordinator
Hans Christiaanse
Grants Coordinator (Benin and Burundi)
Kristina Miletic
Grants Coordinator
Joelle Reid
Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation Officer
Jos Winters
Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation Coordinator
Oliva Greene
Finance and Contracts Specialist
Zineb Lamriki
Finance and Contracts Specialist
Stefany Vizcarra
Grant Support Officer
Claudia Pena
Finance and Contract Specialist
Positioning Team
The Positioning Team is responsible for NIMD’s institutional communications, external positioning and organization-wide fundraising. The team is also responsible for communicating our results, which includes releasing publications, creating online content, organizing events and coordinating media outreach.
The Positioning Team is headed by Heleen Schrooyen.
Finance, Control & Support Team
The Finance, Control & Support Team ensures internal control, risk management, and quality processes, and is responsible for the financial accountability of NIMD. The team also provides Human Resources and Office Facility Management.
The Finance, Control & Support Team is headed by Gilbert Chandrasekaran.
Juriaan Brouwer
Financial Controller
Monique Ronza
Office Manager and HR Assistant
Vanessa Smit
Executive Assistant
Bhavna Matharu
Human Resources Advisor
Ana Mojica
Finance & Administration officer
Angelique van Egmond
Financial Administrator
Marina Popova
Finance and Administration Officer