Thought Leadership
LEADERSHIP AND ECOSYSTEM BUILDING
Through our strategic partnerships and leadership efforts, we are on a mission to build innovation-driven entrepreneurial ecosystems; break knowledge silos to combat climate change; promote inclusion at the intersection of identity, policies, and prosperity; and amplify women’s leadership as drivers of sustainable growth.
Foundry Fellow, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Supported by: Center for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
The Foundry Fellowship aims to advance entrepreneurship- and innovation-led ecosystems across Africa. The fellowship offers a transformative experience and community for accomplished entrepreneurs who are at an inflection point in their careers – transitioning into catalytic roles as an entrepreneurial leader catalyzing ecosystems change and inclusive economic growth across the continent. An alumnus of the inaugural cohort, Delila is helped to co-facilitate the adaptive leadership sessions and ecosystem tours for the 2022/23 cohort in Dakar, Senegal, and completed a Training of Trainers program taught by HKS professor Hugh O’Doherty and co-hosted by the Center.
Safer End of Engineered Life Champion, Engineering X, Royal Academy of Engineering
Supported by: Royal Academy of Engineering
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Women of Waste Task Force, International Solid Waste Association
Organization: International Solid Waste Association (ISWA)
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Founding Board Member, Center for Security Race and Rights
Organization: Center for Security, Race, and Rights at Rutgers
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SPEAKING AND CAPACITY STRENGTHENING
Known for her insightful and dynamic delivery, Delila connects the human experience with evidence-based insights, compelling her audiences to take action to affect positive change.
Select Conference Presentations
International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) World Congress (Muscat, Oman · 2023)
Session Title: The Women-Waste-Climate Nexus: Unlocking the role of women entrepreneurs
National Centre for Social Research (London, UK · 2023)
Conference Title: Combatting the gendered impacts of climate change in the MENA region: opportunities, challenges and trade-offs.
United Nations (UN) World Urban Forum (Abu Dhabi, UAE · 2020)
Conference Title: Cities of Opportunities
Session Title: Achieving Cities for All: Planning for and with Women and Girls
ISWA World Congress (Bilbao, Spain · 2019)
Session Title: Women’s Economic Empowerment in Waste Management and Recycling
Middle East Institute 73rd Annual Conference (Washington, DC, US · 2019)
Conference Title: The Middle East in 2020: What are the Pathways to Stability?
Session Title: What are the Key Economic Challenges Facing the Middle East in 2020?
Select Speaking, Teaching & Training Engagements
Panelist — MIT Kuo Sharper Center for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Boston, USA · 2025)
Title: Beyond Technical Fixes: Adaptive Leadership for Thriving Entrepreneurship
Panelist — be Waste Wise (Virtual)
Title: Burning Questions: Gender, Health, and Open Waste Burning – From Households to Communities
Moderator — USAID Women’s Economic Empowerment Community of Practice (Virtual)
Session Title: Women in the Waste Economy
Panelist — World Bank, Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative: Knowledge Series (Virtual)
Title: Women Entrepreneurs to Catalyze Climate Action
Facilitator, Panelist and Presenter — MIT Center for Prosperity and ImpaXus (Virtual)
Title: The Women-Waste-Climate Nexus: unlocking the potential of women entrepreneurs to tackle the global waste crisis and accelerate the race to net zero
Guest Lecturer — MIT Sloan School of Management (Boston, USA · 2023)
Session Title: Scaling entrepreneurship and innovation-led ecosystems in Africa
Trainer — USAID Recycling in Jordan Activity (Virtual)
Description: Gender mainstreaming (staff training)
Trainer — USAID Washington / Global (Virtual)
Description: Gender and Ocean Plastic Pollution (global staff training)
Lecturer/Urban Development Specialist — Creative Learning (Washington, DC · 2017)
Description: Improving Municipal Governance for the Delivery of Basic Services (training for municipal and executive government officials from the Philippines)
RESOURCES AND PUBLICATIONS
Selected publications exploring entrepreneurship, economic empowerment, climate action, and social inclusion—translating research into policy recommendations and actionable development strategies.
Why We Need a Gendered Approach to End Open Burning (Waste Management World)
Waste Management World (2024)
This article reframes open waste burning as a gender, health, and climate issue, showing how gender roles shape exposure, impacts, and policy entry points—and why gender-responsive approaches are essential for effective municipal and climate action.
The Gendered Dimensions of Open Waste Burning (USAID)
USAID and ImpaXus (2024)
A pioneering case study combining primary research from USAID’s Clean Cities, Blue Ocean program in the Dominican Republic with global evidence to document the gendered health, livelihood, and climate impacts of open waste burning and identify actionable strategies for systems change.
The Women–Waste–Climate Nexus in the Middle East and North Africa (MIT and IDRC)
MIT, International Development Research Center, and ImpaXus (2024)
A regional analysis examining how gender dynamics influence waste systems and climate outcomes across MENA, highlighting women entrepreneurs as under-leveraged actors in circular economy and climate mitigation efforts.
The Women–Waste–Climate Nexus: Unlocking the potential of women entrepreneurs (MIT)
MIT and ImpaXus (2023)
Foundational research establishing the women–waste–climate nexus and demonstrating how women-led enterprises can drive waste reduction, climate action, and inclusive economic growth.
A Seat at the Table: The role of the informal recycling sector in plastic pollution reduction (GRID-Arendal)
GRID-Arendal (2022)
A policy paper synthesizing evidence on the critical role of informal recyclers in plastic pollution reduction and outlining policy reforms to support their inclusion in the Global Plastics Treaty.
Uganda Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Analysis (USAID)
USAID (2021)
A country-level analysis commissioned by USAID to inform its five-year Country Development and Cooperation Strategy, examining gender and social inclusion across economic growth, governance, health, and education.
Report available upon request. Contact us.
Recycling in Jordan: Gender Analysis (USAID)
USAID (2021)
An evidence-driven gender analysis identifying gaps in participation, data, and economic opportunity within Jordan’s recycling sector, with practical recommendations for more equitable and effective sector development.
Want to boost global economic growth? Unleash the power of women entrepreneurs (MIT)
MIT Center for Development and Entrepreneurship (2020)
A policy-oriented essay linking women’s entrepreneurship to productivity, innovation, and inclusive economic growth, making the case for targeted investment and reform.
Municipal Waste Management and Recycling Gender Analysis (USAID)
USAID (2019)
A first-of-its-kind global gender analysis of municipal waste and recycling systems, uncovering structural inequalities and innovative opportunities to inform USAID’s worldwide efforts to combat ocean plastic pollution.