Najat Abdulkarim
Research Fellow
Communications & Research Associate
Asya Pelkes is a Communications and Research Associate at the MEA Institute, where she works across teams to support research, analysis, and strategic communications. She holds a background in law and transnational governance. Her previous research focused on migration governance and human rights, with a particular emphasis on the externalisation of EU borders and the role of non-state actors in Libya. Asya has previously worked at the Policy Center for the New South (PCNS) on EU–Africa relations and African development, and has experience in both legal practice and academic project coordination. She has also co-organised academic and policy events bringing together researchers, practitioners, and youth voices on issues such as peace-building, labour trends in Africa, and global governance. Her broader interests include migration, EU–Africa partnerships, women’s and children’s rights, grassroots sustainability initiatives, and community-driven approaches to equitable development and just transitions.