Dayana El Baba

Dayana El Baba is a prominent Lebanese activist dedicated to advancing democracy, human rights, and inclusive governance. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections (LADE), where she oversees the monitoring operations for municipal, parliamentary, syndicate, and university student council elections. Under her leadership, LADE has played a vital role in ensuring transparency and accountability in Lebanon's electoral processes.

Dayana is renowned as one of the leading focus group facilitators and qualitative researchers in the Middle East. Over her career, she has moderated more than 2,000 focus groups and supervised over 400 others, addressing a wide array of socio-political issues. Her expertise extends to training over 40 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Lebanon and the Arab world, teaching them how to conduct qualitative research through focus groups and one-on-one interviews.

She is also a prolific contributor to research and publications. Among her notable contributions are the 2018 Elections Monitoring Report, the 2022 Elections Monitoring Report, and the 2022 Elections Monitoring Report: From a Gender Perspective, all of which underscore her commitment to evidence-based advocacy for democratic reforms. Additionally, Dayana authored the 2012 Step-by-Step Guide to Focus Group Research for Non-Governmental Organizations, providing a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners in the field.

As a freelance consultant, Dayana collaborates with leading international agencies such as USAID, the European Union, and UNICEF, as well as esteemed local research centers like the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies (LCPS) and Point Consultancies. Her work has been instrumental in designing and executing impactful research and policy initiatives.

Previously, Dayana worked as a lead moderator and analyst at LCPS’s Focus Groups Research Center (FGRC), contributing to nearly 300 focus group sessions centered on socio-political qualitative research. Her commitment to transitional justice was evident in her role as a moderator for workshops and roundtables during the Beirut Film Festival in 2007 and her training sessions on conflict resolution and problem-solving skills in 2009.

Dayana El Baba’s contributions to democracy, human rights, and research have made her a respected leader in her field, inspiring transformative change and empowering communities across Lebanon and the Arab world.