Ms. Rwodah Ibrahim AlNaimi is the Head of the Digital Innovation Enablement Section at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in Qatar. In this capacity, she spearheads initiatives designed to incubate and support entrepreneurs and startups, ensuring they have access to critical resources, expert guidance, and comprehensive mentorship. Her focus on fostering growth in the local market includes facilitating access to venture capital, providing specialized training programs, and creating high-impact networking opportunities. Through these initiatives, she helps entrepreneurs refine their business models, develop cutting-edge technological solutions, and navigate market entry challenges with confidence. Ms. AlNaimi’s leadership plays a pivotal role in cultivating a vibrant innovation ecosystem, which drives technological advancement and contributes to economic development across Qatar’s rapidly evolving digital landscape.

 

Previously, Ms. AlNaimi served as the Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), where she was instrumental in shaping the organization’s global strategy, overseeing its operations, and leading partnerships and funding programs across developing nations. Her work centered on international cooperation, sustainable development, policy formulation, and applying economic and investment principles to drive impactful development programs. In this role, she managed QFFD’s strategic relationships with governments, international NGOs, and UN agencies across Sub-Saharan Africa, the MENA region, and other global contexts. Under her leadership, QFFD successfully implemented numerous sustainable development initiatives aimed at addressing critical challenges such as poverty, healthcare access, and education in low- and middle-income countries.

 

Ms. AlNaimi’s influence extends beyond her national roles through her service on numerous prestigious international bodies. She has been a member of the UNRWA Advisory Commission, the UNDP Accelerator Labs Core Investors Group, and the Multilateral Organisation Performance Assessment Network (MOPAN) Strategy Group. In these capacities, she has contributed to shaping global policies and initiatives that focus on international development, humanitarian assistance, and capacity building. Notably, she played a key role in the convening of the Doha Global South Health Policy Initiative in February 2024, a collaborative event co-hosted by the Middle East Council on Global Affairs and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, with the support of Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This initiative sought to address stagnating health indicators in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) by fostering collaboration between public health officials, international experts, and local stakeholders to improve access to primary healthcare.

 

With over six years of specialized experience, Ms. AlNaimi is recognized for her expertise in strategy development, innovation management, and risk assessment. She holds a Master of Public Administration in Development Practice from Columbia University, where her academic research focused on grassroots energy solutions and sustainable development in underserved

 

regions. Her contributions to the United Nations and other global initiatives underscore her commitment to addressing pressing global challenges.

 

Ms. AlNaimi also holds a Bachelor of International Affairs, with a concentration in International Security and Diplomacy, from Qatar University. Her diverse experiences and deep knowledge of both the public and private sectors position her as a key player in the advancement of sustainable development and technological innovation on both national and international stages.