Ahmed Abu Shaban | EUC | York University

Professor

Visiting Professor, Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change (July 1st 2024 to June 30th 2025)

Associate Professor & Dean, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine at Al Azhar University Gaza

Credentials

Post Doctorate in Environmental Sociology, University of Wisconsin – Madison , USA

Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics, Magna cum laude, University of Hohenheim Stuttgart, Germany

MSc in Agricultural Sciences, George-August University Göttingen, Germany

BSc in Agricultural Science, Al-Azhar University Gaza, Palestine

Research Keywords

Market system analyses; consumer preference research; socioeconomic analyses of natural resources management; poverty assessment and outreach; economics of green circular economy and climate change.

Contact Information

HNES 285, 4700 Keele Street
Toronto, ON M3J 1P3

416 736 2100 x 31049

shabanab@yorku.ca

Research Interests

Dr. Ahmed Abu Shaban focuses on food systems, climate resilience, and market development, particularly in communities affected by conflict. He examines how informal food networks, traditional agricultural practices, and gender-inclusive policies contribute to food security and economic stability. His research also explores sustainable farming methods, circular economies, and climate adaptation strategies, integrating data-driven analysis and policy research to strengthen food systems.

He is currently working on projects that assess the resilience of Gaza’s food system, explore the role of indigenous farming knowledge in climate adaptation, and develop crisis-resilient policies for food production and distribution. He also conducts market system analyses to create economic strategies that support food sovereignty and long-term sustainability.

Research Projects

2025 - Coping with Food Insecurity in Gaza: The Role of Community-Based Initiatives

The role of informal food networks in mitigating food insecurity during the war in Gaza is being investigated in collaboration with the London School of Economics (LSE).

2024-2025 (Submission in Progress) - Indigenous Heritage Knowledge as a Bridge to Climate Resilience in Palestinian Occupied Territories

A chapter is being prepared for submission to Springer-Nature’s Informed Decision-Making for Sustainability series, focusing on the role of traditional Palestinian agricultural practices in climate adaptation and resilience.

2024-2031 (Pending Approval) - Planting the Seed: Food Literacy for an Equitable and Climate-Resilient Food System

A proposal has been submitted for the SSHRC Partnership Grant in collaboration with Simon Fraser University and Aga Khan University, aiming to enhance food literacy and equity in climate-resilient food systems.

2024 - Locally Produced Food Value Chain in Gaza

The impact of conflict on local food production is being assessed, along with the development of sustainable food system recovery strategies, in collaboration with DanChurchAid (DCA) & MAAN Development Center.

2024 - Developing a Gender-Responsive, Crisis-Resilient Policy Framework for Gaza’s Food System

Policy recommendations are being developed to integrate gender-responsive frameworks into urban food systems, in collaboration with Gaza Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Platform (GUPAP).

Canadian Government (Global Affairs Canada): Gaza Programs Monitor Consultant, Gaza, Palestine. Conducting MEAL work and assess proposal of all Canadian funded programs in Gaza including all types of humanitarian, livelihood and development programs in all sectors. September 2015 - present.

WFP, Palestine: Gaza climate change and food security assessment, conducting situation analyses and developing Concept Note and Full proposal for Green Climate Fund; involved in designing Food Security assessment in Gaza. July 2020-June 2024.

The Access to Knowledge for Development Center (A2K4D) at the American University in Cairo (AUC): “Optimizing Food Security in Gaza: AI Opportunities, Barriers, and Recommendations for Sustainable Enhancement” as part of the regional project titled “Governing Responsible Artificial Intelligence and Data in the Middle East and North Africa.”, August 2023 – February 2024.

UNDP: Business development expert, Assessing the feasibility of private sector investment in solid waste management in Gaza strip. October 2022 – January 2024.

OXFAM: Team leader, Market system analyses of prioritized economic sectors to enhance economic engagement and employability of women and youth in the West Bank and Palestine. July – December 2021.

Belgian Development Agency “Enable”: Team leader, Exploring gaps and potentialities of transformation of economic sectors into green economy modalities in the West Bank and Gaza. August 2021 - April 2022.

Al Azhar University – Gaza SIF funded program: Project designer and manager, Promotion of market based safe agricultural products in Gaza supporting small scale producers, April 2017-June 2024.

Belgian Development Agency “Enable” SAWA program: Team leader, Conducting Mapping Study of Green and Circular Economy Challenges and Opportunities within the Industrial Sector in The Gaza Strip. August,2020 – October 2020.

MAAN development center: Team leader, Assessing marketing potentials of water ionizer device among farming population in Gaza strip. (September 2020-January 2021).

DanChurchAid: Team leader, “Assessment for Economic Vulnerabilities and Capacities in the Gaza Strip” to support livelihood program design serving most vulnerable groups. November 2020 – March 2021.

UAWC SDC program, Feasibility and marketing study to establish milk collection unit in Northern Gaza strip serving small scale producers. March 2020 – July 2020.

Research Output

Hasan, A.R., Alimari, A., Jafar, H.A., Hussein, A.I.A., Abu Shaban, A. (2022). The Effect of Temperature and Rainfall Changes on Biophysical and Socio-Economic Status of People in Northern Jordan Valley Drylands, Palestine. In: Poshiwa, X., Ravindra Chary, G. (eds) Climate Change Adaptations in Dryland Agriculture in Semi-Arid Areas. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-7861-5_4.

Abu Shaban A. (2015) Factors Influencing Farmers’ Decision to Shift to Organic Farming: The Case of Gaza Strip. British Journal of Economics, Management & Trade. (5) 1: 78-87.

Abu Shaban, A. (2014) Socioeconomic Assessment of Sheep Farming Systems in Gaza Strip. Journal of Agriculture Economics and Rural Development. 2(3):102-109.

Abu Shaban, A. (2014) Economic performance of organic vs conventional vegetables production in Gaza strip. Palestine Technical University Research Journal.

Abu Shaban A. (2014) Evaluation of farmed tilapia marketing in Gaza Strip. International Research Journal of Marketing. 2(4): 68-76.

Abu Shaban, A. (2008) Socio-economic assessment of using treated wastewater in irrigated Agriculture, Conceptual framework – Evidence from Northern Gaza. Chapter in: Economics of Resources Use and Farming Systems Development in The Middle East and East Africa. Magraf Verlag, Weikersheim.

Abu Shaban, A. (2007) Socio-Economic Assessment of Treated Wastewater in Irrigated Agriculture, The Case of Northern Gaza. In: W. Dopppler, S. Bauer (eds.): Farming and Rural Systems Economics. Vol.88. Magraf Verlag, Weikersheim.

Abu Shaban, A. and Doppler, W Wolff, H.P. (2006). Determinants of Farmers' Acceptance of Treated Wastewater in Irrigated Agriculture in the Northern Gaza Strip. In: Asch, F.; Becker, M. (ed.) Tropentag: Prosperity & Poverty in a globalized world: Challenges for Agricultural Research, University of Bonn, Oct. 11-13, 2006, Book of Abstracts. p. 74 (presentation), full paper online at http://www.tropentag.de/abstracts/full/254.pdf.

Abu Shaban, A. and Doppler, W. Wolff, H.P. (2005) Consumers' Attitude and Farmers' Situation with Regard to Agricultural Production with Treated Wastewater in the Northern Gaza Strip. Deutscher Tropentag, The Global Food & Product Chain - Dynamics, Innovations, Conflicts, Strategies, University of Hohenheim, Oct. 11-13, 2005, Book of Abstracts, p. 257 and http://www.tropentag.de/2005/proceedings/node253.html, poster as [PDF].

Abu Shaban, A. and Doppler, W. Wolff, H.P. (2005) Trade-Offs of Using Treated Wastewater in Irrigated Agriculture - The Case of Gaza Strip. Deutscher Tropentag, The Global Food & Product Chain - Dynamics, Innovations, Conflicts, Strategies, University of Hohenheim, Oct. 11-13, 2005, Book of Abstracts, p. 261 and http://www.tropentag.de/2005/proceedings/node256.html#5025, poster as [PDF].

Abu Shaban, A. (2001) Rural poverty and poverty outreach of social safety net programs in Central Sulawesi - Indonesia. M.Sc. Thesis, Institute of Rural Development, University of Göttingen, With Zeller, M., Wollni, M.: Evaluating the poverty outreach of development programs. Empirical Evidence from Indonesia and Mexico. In: Journal of International Agriculture, Band Vol. 42 (3), Heft, 2003, S. 371-383.