Samer Elchahabi

Samer Elchahabi is currently the Deputy Country Director for the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) in Tunisia, where he also leads the country office’s media programming initiatives. With nearly two decades of experience in the fields of democracy and governance, Elchahabi has held positions in Washington, D.C., and Tunis, and has been involved in programming across more than 20 countries, predominantly in the Middle East and Africa. His expertise centers on supporting election management bodies, media development, and enhancing citizen participation through innovative civic programming and partnerships with civil society.

Elchahabi has designed and implemented programs focusing on democracy, governance, civic engagement, media development, elections, humanitarian assistance, donor relationship building, and both headquarters and field management. His work includes strengthening the information integrity skills of over 150 Tunisian journalists and launching a civic education curriculum that reached more than 6,500 schools in Tunisia.

He has successfully led initiatives funded by USAID, the US Department of State, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), and other major donors. His efforts are dedicated to creating inclusive governance systems that amplify underrepresented voices, strengthen institutional capacities, and build equitable frameworks for sustainable development. Elchahabi is committed to embedding innovation, resilience, and sustainability into every project, ensuring transformative outcomes that drive meaningful and lasting change in global communities.

Elchahabi holds a master’s degree in international relations and a bachelor’s degree in economics. He is fluent in English, Arabic, and French, with a working knowledge of Spanish.