Dr. Cairo Arafat serves as the Senior Advisor on Early Childhood Development and Child Protection at the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA), where she leads efforts to establish comprehensive child development and protection systems through strategic partnerships and service protocols.

Previously, as Managing Director of Bidaya, she spearheaded Arabic children’s educational content development, producing 190 award-winning episodes of Iftah Ya Simsim and building regional talent capacity. Her extensive experience includes serving as Executive Director of the Secretariat for the National Plan of Action for Palestinian Children, where she implemented nationwide systems for child protection, educational counseling, and family support services.

Dr. Arafat held the position of Children’s Commissioner at the Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights (2009-2018) and leadership roles at Save the Children and UNICEF, where she served as Program Development Director and Early Childhood and Children in Difficult Circumstances Director/Acting Deputy, respectively.

Her academic credentials include a Ph.D. in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Developmental Neuroscience from Ohio State University, where she also taught as an instructor. Throughout her career, she has contributed significant research in child protection, children in conflict, mental health, and adverse childhood experiences with multiple published papers in these fields.

Dr. Arafat’s work consistently demonstrates her commitment to advancing child welfare through evidence-based programs, policy development, and strategic partnerships across the Middle East region.