Ilaha Eli Omar

Ilaha Eli Omar is an Afghan-American grassroots mobilizer and humanitarian aid expert with 25 years of experience in humanitarian relief and development aid. Her work spans her country of birth, Afghanistan, as well as Haiti and Kenya, and focuses on the ultra-poor, children living with disabilities, women, and minority communities.

In 2003, Ilaha co-founded a technology consulting company, which she successfully sold 15 years later. Her commitment to women's rights has led her to support and champion various self-sufficiency programs, notably Project Artemis, where she worked with Afghan women entrepreneurs to build, manage, and expand their businesses in the private sector.

Ilaha serves on the board and advisory council of several non-profit organizations, including the Children of War Foundation, Enabled Children Initiative, World Orphan Foundation, and Mahtabe. She also is a member of the US-Afghan Women’s Council. In these roles, she advocates for causes close to her heart.

In response to the humanitarian and economic crises following the fall of the Afghan Republic in August 2021, Ilaha co-founded the Uplift Afghanistan Fund, which connects impact-driven donors with grassroots and community-led organizations. As Executive Director, Ilaha focuses on empowering local communities to drive their development through projects and initiatives that uphold the values of self-determination, dignity, and equity.

Ilaha holds a Global MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management and resides in Southern California. In September 2022, she welcomed her daughter, Rumi.

Uplift Afghanistan Fund: www.upliftafghanistan.org

Twitter: https://x.com/ilahaeliomar

Areas of Expertise:
• Afghanistan • Afghan Women
• International Development
• Humanitarian Aid
• Grassroots Mobilization
• Community-Led Initiatives
• Philanthropy & Grantmaking
• Nonprofit Leadership
• Afghan Culture & Heritage Preservation
• Women’s Empowerment & Self-Sufficiency
• Financial Inclusion & Digital Payments
• Crisis Response & Post-Conflict Recovery
• Private Sector Engagement & Entrepreneurship
• Donor Engagement & Fundraising
• Economic Resilience & Equity
• Human Rights & Advocacy