Saman Nizami

Saman Nizami, MPA, vice president of Americares Asia, Eurasia, Middle East and Africa programs, is responsible for designing, implementing and directing innovative health programs that strengthen health systems and expand access to care for people affected by poverty or disaster in Asia, Eurasia, the Middle East and Africa. She also leads initiatives that grow health programs in regions grappling with complex challenges, including infectious disease outbreaks, conflict and extreme weather, furthering Americares mission to ensure people and communities have access to health care in times of disaster and every day.

Nizami has been with Americares since 2020. She previously served as Americares senior director of Africa and Middle East programs, where she oversaw the design and implementation of innovative health initiatives that improved access to care and addressed critical health needs across the region. She brings to Americares more than 15 years of experience in global health across Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Prior to joining Americares, she held various leadership roles at the International Rescue Committee (IRC), including managing a multi-million-dollar humanitarian programs portfolio focused on critical health issues such as cholera and severe acute malnutrition in Nigeria and Kenya and sexual and reproductive health in Ethiopia and Uganda. She also deployed as a health manager, leading a 30-member team to implement primary health care programs in Libya. Prior to her work with the IRC, Nizami worked for the Clinton Health Access Initiative’s HIV Access Program, supporting efforts to expand access to high-quality, affordable HIV treatment in low- and middle-income countries. She has also worked with BRAC in Bangladesh and Chemonics International on USAID-funded programs in South Asia.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and history from the University of California, San Diego and a Master of Public Administration degree in economic and political development, with a specialization in advanced policy and economic analysis, from Columbia University. She is fluent in English, Hindi and Urdu.