Rima Kawas is the Director of Governance and Collaborative Learning at the International Republican Institute (IRI) focused on creating innovative program interventions, piloting new approaches, and leveraging and building thematic expertise such as in anti-corruption and preventing violent extremism.

In this capacity, Rima leads a team overseeing IRI’s Communities of Practices, Innovation Lab, and the global Democratic Governance Practice focused on working with governments to implement transparent and accountable governing practices while promoting citizen-centered government decision-making.