Rifat Rustom

Dr. Rustom has M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Drexel University in the U.S.A. in 1993 and B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from Bir-Zeit University in the West Bank in 1985.

Currently, serves as Dean of Planning and Development at IUG and he is former Chairman of Resources Development Center, Dean of Community Service and Continuing Education and former Dean of Technical College of Applied Science and Technology at the Islamic University of Gaza.

Dr. Rustom has research interests in Construction Management, Institutional Management and Development, Geosynthetics, and Concrete Technology.

Dr. Rustom has a wide experience in public institutions operations and capacity building. He also has wide experience in analyzing and assessing performance measures of institutions. His professional work at the Municipality of Gaza, the Ministry of Housing, and the Islamic University of Gaza gives him the necessary institutional background, insight and leadership. Dr. Rustom also worked as an advisor to the Municipality of Gaza (Technical Advisory and Follow Up Unit, TAFU) where he was involved directly with the Mayor in drawing development schemes at different institutional, managerial, and technical levels at the Municipality. He was also the Coordinator of the Technical Consulting Unit (TCU) at the Municipality of Khan Younis. He was directly involved with the Mayor in services evaluation, capacity building programs, and organizational development issues.

Dr. Rustom was recently involved as project manager in preparing a Three-Year Development and Investment Plan for the Municipality of Rafah, funded by the World Bank. The study included assessment of the municipal services and prioritization, review current organizational structure and prepare new one, capacity building programs, and the preparation of 3-year investment plan.

Dr. Rustom was also involved, as a project manager, in another similar study, Organizational Analysis and Capacity Building Needs of the Middle Area Municipalities. The study focused on assessing the services provided, assessment of organizational structure and management and the preparation of new organizational management structure for the four municipalities of the Middle Area. The study was Funded by SMDM project, DANIDA in June 2002. 
Also, Dr. Rustom was a principal consultant in several assessment and evaluation studies for projects supported by Save the Children Federation.  
As a consultant for several World Bank studies, Dr. Rustom worked on community development projects, damage assessment, and Local Governments finance.

Dr. Rustom was involved in a Technical Study/Consultation to Promote Organizational Development in The Directorate of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture. Funded by GFP/DANIDA. 2001.

Dr. Rustom’s experience gained at the Engineering & Management Consulting Center in Gaza as a Member of the Board adds to his technical capacity in many engineering and management disciplines.

rustom@mail.iugaza.edu