Our Team

Our Leadership Team

Dr. Elkheir Suliman

Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Elkheir Suliman, PhD, CEO of Takoma International Consultancy Group, brings twenty years of experience in the fields of political science and strategic planning to the work of the Takoma International Consultancy Group. His experience includes teaching and mentoring at universities and providing expert research, analysis and consultation to research centers and consultancy firms. Dr. Suliman has distinguished himself as a leader in working with other organizations on complex projects. Dr. Suliman has extensive experience as an advisor to governments, nonprofit organizations, and firms in the Middle East on issues related to the Middle East and global security studies. His work as a security consultant and researcher was critically important to Dr. Suliman’s efforts leading the partnership between The Center for Strategic Studies in Doha, Qatar, and the Geneva Center for Security Policy in Switzerland. Dr. Suliman served as an advisor to the ministry of defense in Doha, Qatar in 2013. He held the post of a visiting scholar at West Georgia University, Department of Political Science and Planning, in the fall of 2014. Between June 2018 and June 2021, he established the Washington Institute for the Horn of Africa and Arabian Peninsula Studies in Washington D.C., and he has served as the CEO of the institute.

Meg Rittman

Chief Strategist
Meg Rittman, B.S., M.A., has worked as a consultant to the federal government for strategic and long-range planning on national initiatives. In her extensive research projects, she has designed, conducted, and evaluated programs related to assistive technology (AT), AT financing, and legal assistance for individuals needing access to AT. Ms. Rittman has authored chapters and publications on medicine, social science, and state government programs. Notably, she oversaw the creation and publication of a comprehensive national report on elder abuse in minority populations in the United States, contributing a research chapter to the publication. As a research editor and analyst with a bipartisan national agency, Ms. Rittman represented state and local agencies in the health and human services field. She has also edited numerous publications on various subjects, including the demographics of children in foster and adoptive care in the U.S. Additionally, Ms. Rittman has directed habilitation services for an innovative state program, successfully mainstreaming adult clients with developmental disabilities into least restrictive living environments.

Professor George Kieh

Senior Strategic Advisor

George Klay Kieh, Jr. is a distinguished scholar, educator, and leader in international affairs. With a strong academic foundation, including an M.A. and Ph.D. in Political Science from Northwestern University, Dr. Kieh has established himself as a renowned expert in his field. Dr. Kieh’s impressive career spans multiple institutions, including Texas Southern University, where he serves as Dean of the Barbara Jordan and Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs and Professor of Political Science. Previously, he held key positions at the University of West Georgia, Grand Valley State University, and Morehouse College. A prolific scholar, Dr. Kieh has authored, co-authored, and edited numerous books, monographs, and journal articles. His recent publications include “Peacebuilding in Africa,” “Democratization and Military Coups in Africa,” and “Civil Wars in Africa,” all co-edited with Kelechi Kalu. Dr. Kieh’s leadership extends beyond academia, with notable roles in professional organizations, such as President of the African Studies and Research Forum. He also serves on the editorial boards of several esteemed journals: Africanus, Bandung, and the Peace Studies Journal.”

Kadjolo Coulibaly

Business Development Advisor
As a seasoned professional with expertise in finance, real estate, and strategic planning, Kadjolo drives business growth and develops strategic partnerships. With a proven track record of identifying new opportunities and expanding client bases, he is dedicated to delivering results-driven solutions. With experience in investment advisory, real estate brokerage, and entrepreneurship, Kadjolo possesses a deep understanding of business development complexities. His consultative approach, combined with emotional intelligence and strategic thinking, enables him to build strong relationships and drive sustainable value. Kadjolo is passionate about delivering exceptional service and generating impactful outcomes, making him an asset to any organization.

Professor Pita Agbese

Senior Strategic Advisor

Dr. Pita Ogaba Agbese is a leading authority on African security dynamics, with a career spanning decade of academic research and practical consultancy. Holding a Ph.D. from Northwestern University, his expertise encompasses civil-military relations, conflict resolution, and governance in the African context, all crucial elements of national security strategy. As a Professor of Political Science at the University of Northern Iowa (1998-2024), he directed the Center for International Peace and Security Studies, demonstrating his commitment to understanding and addressing complex security challenges. Dr. Agbese's field experience includes significant consultancy roles with Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI), where he specialized in security and civil-military relations within the Trans-Saharan region. His work has directly informed strategic thinking on mitigating threats and fostering stability in volatile areas. His extensive publications, including edited volumes on the African state and its security implications, provide critical insights for policymakers and practitioners concerned with national security in Africa

Afeefa Abdur-Rahman

Capacity Strengthening and Social Impact Advisor
Afeefa Abdur-Rahman is a seasoned international development expert and strategic leader with over 20 years of experience driving impactful global programs that foster equity, empowerment and wellbeing. She has proven success in designing and managing high-impact programs, strengthening individual and organizational capacity, and providing strategic guidance to enhance quality improvement, client outcomes and respectful, supportive environments that meet diverse needs. She also specializes in integrating inclusive practices and behavior change strategies across complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives. Her collaborative approach and ability to build strong relationships make her a trusted advisor, trainer and thought leader in her field. Afeefa's experience working with USAID, global donors, and international organizations has equipped her with a deep understanding of complex development challenges. As a Capacity Strengthening and Social Impact Advisor, she designs and delivers impactful training programs, strengthens capacity, promotes transformative change and supports groups and organizations with achieving results-oriented goals.

Elata E.A

IT Programs Director
Mr. Elata dedicated 27 years of his life to information technology. He brought his expertise, knowledge, and skills into a gigantic project in different places around the world, such as the USA, United Arab Emirates, and Africa, for governments and private sector clients. Alata Led the implementation of systems for USA federal government agencies (Customs, Postal services, and Census Bureau). Continuing his successful journey, Alata directed the automation of a Revenue Control management system for NEAP. Nigeria. The project was sponsored by the World Bank. Out of all the 18 participant international consortiums’ areas, his system was chosen as the best system and to be adopted by NEPA for the whole country. Likewise, he led the implementation of an ERP system to automate entire telecom operators in Sudan, Senegal, Mauritania, and Ghana. More recently, he served as a program director and masterminded the end-to-end implementation of Sudan Tax Authority automation, which included infrastructure (Data centers, WAN, LAN, other hardware) tax core system, invoice systems, plus structural re-organization and process and functional re-engineering. Mr. Alata got his Master of Science in computer science in 1994 from Howard University, Washington DC, USA.

Dr. Abdelfattah Abaker

Civil Engineering Strategist

Dr. Abdelfattah Abaker earned his PhD in civil engineering from The University of Warwick, Coventry–UK. He is a member of fourteen professional associations on top of them the Association of Professional Engineers, Geoscientists of Alberta, Canada (APEGA), the Association of Professional Engineers, Geoscientists of BC (APEGBC) and the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE). Dr. Abdelfattah has brought to the Takoma International Consultancy Group a wealth of experience and expertise that exceeded three decades in the UK, Denmark, and Canada. His expertise covers a wide range of areas such as sustainability and energy-efficient in designing structures, construction management, use of Fiber Reinforced Polymer Materials, reinforced concrete, structural steel, wood, and masonry in structures, analysis of an instability of thin-walled profile members, non-linear analysis of framed and truss structures, and software development. Dr. Abdelfattah is known as a motivated professional with excellent technical aptitude and outstanding problem-solving skills, experienced in analyzing project needs and identifying innovative solutions to streamline complex project challenges.

 

 
 
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