Takween’s mission focuses on innovative and concrete solutions that have been researched, tested and implemented to meet the needs of communities and their specific built environments to achieve inclusive urban spaces that will thrive for generations to come. With this mission, Takween aims to improve the quality for inhabitants living in cities across Egypt and the Middle East.
ABOUT
TAKWEEN is a company registered under the Ministry of Trade & Industry, Department of Commercial Registration, Cairo Governorate. It is a shareholding company that falls under law 159 from the year 1981, with three board members and four associates. The company is registered on 28/07/2009 for a period of 25 years ending in 27/07/2034
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WHO WE ARE
TAKWEEN, an urban development company, established in 2009 in EGYPT in response to a foreseen growing demand for innovative urban solutions in a world where it is predicted that by 2030, 80% of the world’s inhabitants will be living in urban centres. Takween’s Team specializes in the development of integrated packages and solutions that on the one hand complement the efforts of tackling urban challenges while at the same time preserving the urban fabric that makes cities unique.
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WHAT WE DO
We provide our services to clients with a mission to ensure that environmentally, culturally and socially responsive architectural and urban design solutions lead to inclusive cities. The disciplinary services we offer range from carrying out research & documentation to implementation, programme development and capacity building/training development.
The projects we are keen to participate in fall under urban planning, rehabilitation, urban development & upgrading, and heritage conservation & management.
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Throughout all our work, TAKWEEN embraces a participatory approach, which is interpreted over activities, like workshops, focus groups, discussion sessions and meetings that we do with stakeholders and community. We always aspire, through these activities, to explore different viewpoints and underlying potentials. There are tools, among many we adopt in TAKWEEN, to be acquainted with community needs and to share alternatives and come up with decisions.
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WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT...
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Change is about a ‘Process’ not a ‘Product’
A ‘Process’ that is incremental, dynamic, reversible and catering for human inventiveness.
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No Zero in development
Capitalising on community assets, community participation and capacity building.
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No ‘Sustainability’ without ‘Institutional Change’
Social, economic and environmental sustainability can only be achieved through institutional change and good governance.
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WHOM WE WORK WITH
We work with local and international entities. That includes ministries, local government entities, NGOs, CSOs, donors, CSR, private sector, universities, or any other active bodies in the field of urban development or integrated community development.
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TAKWEEN has worked over the past years with prominent international organizations, including UNESCO - World Heritage Centre, UNDP, UNCHR, UN-Women, UN-Habitat, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), GIZ, Norwegian Peacebuilding Resource Centre (NOREF), LAVUE-Laboratoire Architecture Ville Urbanisme-CNRS, European Investment Bank, British Museum, Swiss Embassy, Relief International, American University (Washington D.C.) and USAID.
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OUR TEAM
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PARTNERS
Kareem Ibrahim
CEO / Partner
Sherine Zaghow
Operations Director / Partner
Nevine Akl
Architect / Design Manager / Partner
Kareem Ibrahim is one of the four founding partners and CEO of Takween Integrated Community Development, a Company now celebrating over 10 years in business. Headquartered in Cairo, Egypt, Takween has grown and developed the reputation as “experts” in participatory urban design, upgrading and development; heritage conservation and management; and urban policy research. Currently, Takween has a staff of over 50 architects, urban planners, researchers, and
conservation experts.
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Kareem Ibrahim is an Egyptian architect and urban researcher who graduated from Cairo University in 1995. In 1997, he worked on UNDP’s Historic Cairo Rehabilitation Project. He then worked for Aga Khan Cultural Services-Egypt as the Built Environment Coordinator (1997-2010) of the Darb al‑Ahmar Project, one of Cairo’s most ambitious urban revitalization programs. Between 2010 and 2017, he worked as Senior Development Manager for Al-Futtaim Group Real Estate - one of Cairo's largest real estate development projects.
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Kareem Ibrahim is one of the four founding partners and CEO of Takween Integrated Community Development, a Company now celebrating over 10 years in business. Headquartered in Cairo, Egypt, Takween has grown and developed the reputation as “experts” in participatory urban design, upgrading and development; heritage conservation and management; and urban policy research. Currently, Takween has a staff of over 50 architects, urban planners, researchers, and
conservation experts.
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Kareem Ibrahim is an Egyptian architect and urban researcher who graduated from Cairo University in 1995. In 1997, he worked on UNDP’s Historic Cairo Rehabilitation Project. He then worked for Aga Khan Cultural Services-Egypt as the Built Environment Coordinator (1997-2010) of the Darb al‑Ahmar Project, one of Cairo’s most ambitious urban revitalization programs. Between 2010 and 2017, he worked as Senior Development Manager for Al-Futtaim Group Real Estate - one of Cairo's largest real estate development projects.
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He also worked as a senior expert with a range of international development agencies, including UNESCO, UNHCR, UN Women, AFD, EIB, GIZ, World Bank, USAID, and the British Museum to develop and implement various projects in areas of urban conservation and revitalization, participatory urban development, upgrading of informal areas, gender-sensitive urban design, placemaking, and development of urban policies.
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In 2018, he received the Egyptian State Award for architecture (design and building for local communities in informal areas.) He was also selected as a member of the Master Jury of the 2019 cycle of the prestigious Aga Khan Award for Architecture.
Sherine Zaghow is the Operation’s Director for Takween for Integrated Development and is also one of the four founding partners of the company. Sherine is responsible for the oversight and management of Logistics, Procurement, and HR to ensure the successful implementation and completion of all Projects.
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​With over 20 years’ experience working in both development and humanitarian filed prior to her current role, she held many senior management positions with a number different international NGO’s working both in Egypt and outside Egypt (Kosovo, Afghanistan, Colombia, Iraq, Yemen, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and the United Kingdom), with the most recent position of Regional Director for Relief International for the Middle East from 2016-2019. Sherine is a graduate of the American University in Cairo and holds a Master’s degree from the University in Amsterdam in Anthropology.
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Sherine Zaghow is the Operation’s Director for Takween for Integrated Development and is also one of the four founding partners of the company. Sherine is responsible for the oversight and management of Logistics, Procurement, and HR to ensure the successful implementation and completion of all Projects.
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With over 20 years’ experience working in both development and humanitarian filed prior to her current role, she held many senior management positions with a number different international NGO’s working both in Egypt and outside Egypt (Kosovo, Afghanistan, Colombia, Iraq, Yemen, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and the United Kingdom), with the most recent position of Regional Director for Relief International for the Middle East from 2016-2019. Sherine is a graduate of the American University in Cairo and holds a Master’s degree from the University in Amsterdam in Anthropology.
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Driven by commitment to deliver the highest quality outcomes across all areas that enable Takween to deliver smooth programs and services, Sherine extensive experience lies in creating systems and enabling people to achieve the maximum potential. Sherine reputation as a person who completes tasks and is efficient is an asset that allows her to solve problems and not dwell on the issues. These skills are applied to all areas of the practice, from business development, to people leadership and management, as well as the strategic and logistical issues needed to advance programs and projects.
Nevine Akl is an Architect and a Planning & Design Unit Manager at Takween and is one of the four founding partner's of Takween Integrated Community Development. Nevine is a licensed architect that has 20 years of experience working on historic areas projects. She holds a Master of urban development degree from Cairo University, Faculty of Engineering.
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​Nevine has worked for international development organizations and architectural firms. She has proven a track record working with governmental agencies and NGOs in development and implementation over a range of different aspects including planning, architecture, low-cost housing, public works and infrastructure, urban and public spaces design, cultural tourism and community and socio-economic development. Nevine’s career has covered a wide range of architecture packages and urban studies production for different historic areas as Al-Darb Al-Ahmar, Bab Al-Azab and surrounding neighborhood - The Citadel, Bulaq Abo-El-Ela and other historic Cairo areas in Cairo. Outside Cairo, she has worked on the Hassan Fathy -New Gourna Village, Esna City in Luxor Governorate and the Shutb Village in Asyut Governorate. In addition, she has worked on monuments and registered buildings like Wekalet El-Jiddawi in Esna City.
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Nevine Akl is an Architect and a Planning & Design Unit Manager at Takween and is one of the four founding partner's of Takween Integrated Community Development. Nevine is a licensed architect that has 20 years of experience working on historic areas projects. She holds a Master of urban development degree from Cairo University, Faculty of Engineering.
Nevine has worked for international development organizations and architectural firms. She has proven a track record working with governmental agencies and NGOs in development and implementation over a range of different aspects including planning, architecture, low-cost housing, public works and infrastructure, urban and public spaces design, cultural tourism and community and socio-economic development. Nevine’s career has covered a wide range of architecture packages and urban studies production for different historic areas as Al-Darb Al-Ahmar, Bab Al-Azab and surrounding neighborhood - The Citadel, Bulaq Abo-El-Ela and other historic Cairo areas in Cairo. Outside Cairo, she has worked on the Hassan Fathy -New Gourna Village, Esna City in Luxor Governorate and the Shutb Village in Asyut Governorate. In addition, she has worked on monuments and registered buildings like Wekalet El-Jiddawi in Esna City.
In 2018, she received the Egyptian State Award for architecture (design and building for local communities in informal areas.)
SENIOR MANAGEMENT
Heba Shoaib
Project Manager
Heba Shoaib is a Project Manager at Takween ICD. She is an architect/urban designer and academic. She earned her M.Sc. in Landscape Design and Environmental Planning from Scuola Superiore Di Catania in Italy in 2007, and her Ph.D. in Urban Design and Community Development from Cairo University in 2015.
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​Heba has over 15 years of experience in the field of architecture and urban design, working as an architect/urban designer in a number of architectural firms, including CDC (Community Design Collaborative) Abdelhalim I., Zoheir Fayez Partners, and A2G2 Architects. She has led multiple urban upgrading projects at Takween with a range of international agencies, including UNHCR, UN-Women, UNDP, and GIZ, in the areas of public space design, development of natural heritage sites, and upgrading of informal settlements.
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Heba Shoaib is a Project Manager at Takween ICD. She is an architect/urban designer and academic. She earned her M.Sc. in Landscape Design and Environmental Planning from Scuola Superiore Di Catania in Italy in 2007, and her Ph.D. in Urban Design and Community Development from Cairo University in 2015.
Heba has over 15 years of experience in the field of architecture and urban design, working as an architect/urban designer in a number of architectural firms, including CDC (Community Design Collaborative) Abdelhalim I., Zoheir Fayez Partners, and A2G2 Architects. She has led multiple urban upgrading projects at Takween with a range of international agencies, including UNHCR, UN-Women, UNDP, and GIZ, in the areas of public space design, development of natural heritage sites, and upgrading of informal settlements.
Heba has over 10 years of experience as an academic, teaching under-graduate and post-graduate courses in multiple universities in Cairo, including Cairo University, American University in Cairo, and the Arab Academy for Science and Technology. As an academic with hands-on experience, she currently teaches, on a part-time basis, architectural design with a contextual approach, site planning and housing, and participation in urban development.
Ingy Halim is the Acting Finance Director for Takween for Integrated Development since Jan 2021 and prior to this was the Finance Manager for Takween’s biggest USAID funding project. In her positions Ingy is managing the financial actions of the company/projects to ensure that the financial reports are accurate and completed in a timely manner. Ingy holds a Certificate of Management Accountant (CMA) from the Institution of Management Accountants (IMA).
With over 15 years’ experience working in diverse financial positions in both corporate and development fields prior to her current role, she managed several projects funded from various donors (USAID, EU & GIZ) in addition to her role in managing corporates related financial aspects, financial planning as well as analyzing the corporate's financial strengths and weaknesses and proposing corrective actions.
Ingy Halim
Finance Director
Sara Abd Rabo is an Operations Manager at Takween for Integrated Development since June 2020. Sara has worked in the Operations field for the past 19 years; she holds Bachelor of Commerce from Alexandria University and she holds Certification In Procurement and Supply operations (CIPS 2)
Sara has worked for a number of entities from the United Nations, International NGO’s as well as in other International private sector companies. Sara has experience in Logistics, Supply Chain, Procurement and Administration and 2013 she was part of a large program that worked during the Syrian emergency, where she was managing the procurement for the Refugees in Egypt.
Sara Abd Rabo
Operations Manager