MAJDA BNE SAAD PhD and MSc Agriculture Science (University College Dublin) BSc. Agri. Sc, Baghdad University, HDip Agri. Econ, Sofia Institute of Agriculture. Lecturer, UCD Centre for Development Studies/SPIRe. She lectures on food security and development management in the MSc, MA programmes of SPIRe. She has carried out research on rural poverty and vulnurability, food security, agricultural policies of developing countries and ICT for Development. She was the Director of the Centre for development Studies from 2002 to 2006, executive member of the European Association of Development Research and Training (EADI) 2002-2005. She has been an expert evaluator to the EU PF 5 and 6. At National level she was member of two Irish Aid Task Forces on Information Communication Technology for Development and Irish Aid role in promoting Agricultural development in their Programme countries. Member of Irish Aid/ Development Education, Research Advisory group on Linking North-South Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs), 2006.