CURRUCULLUM VITAE

Husam Al-Najar - Ph.D

PERSONAL DATA:
Contacts: Jabalia 6-136, Gaza Strip , MARITAL STATUS: Married
Mobile: +97 0599 336745 Nationality: Palestinian
E-Mail najar.husam@gmail.com DATE OF BIRTH: 1968

KEY QUALIFICATIONS:

I have a Bachelor, a master and a PhD in Environmental Sanitation. I have worked several years
for local as well as international consultancy firms and gained a wide experience in the field of
water and environmental sanitation. Moreover, I have worked as a consultant with several
consultant firms and NGO's in the Gaza Strip funded by World Bank, KFW, EU, Islamic
development bank and USAID concerning water and wastewater treatment, wastewater reuse,
hydraulics engineering, stormwater collection, environmental impact assessments. Currently, I
am working as a lecturer at Gaza university teaching sanitary Engineering, Water quality, Public
Health, irrigation and drainage, wastewater treatment and reuse courses.

EDUCATION:
2002: Ph.D. in Environmental sanitation from Hohenheim University (Stuttgart, Germany).
1996: Master of Science in Sanitary Engineering (International Institute for Infrastructure,
Hydraulic and Environmental Sanitation (IHE-Delft, the Netherlands)
1995: Diploma in Sanitary Engineering (IHE- Delft)
1994: Diploma in Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation (IHE-Delft)
1994: B.Sc. in Civil Engineering, Birzeit University (BirZeit, Palestine)

Awards:
The Federation of Arab Scientific Research Council Award in the field of Environment.2015
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Award for Environmental Management, Environmental
management that focus on environmental issues in the Arab region. 2012
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for Ph.D research. 1998
The Netherlands Fellowship program (NFP) for M.Sc study. 1994
___________________________________________________________________
EMPLOYMENT RECORD:
Sept. 2009: lecturer at the Islamic University of Gaza (IUG) in Environmental Engineering
department.

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Dr. Husam Al-Najar Water and Sanitation Expert

December, 1996- June, 2007: Water and Sanitation planning expert at the Ministry of Planning
in contract basis within the framework of physical planning and institutional building project.
Funded by NORAD- Norway.
Tasks:
 Preparation of the water and sanitation regional plan including:
- Proposed strategic plan for the main facilities in regard to water supply,
sewerage, storm water drainage, solid waste and energy
- Cost estimate
- Technical, environmental and economic evaluation
 Participation in the activities for the National Policy for Spatial Planning (NPSP)
including the preparation of assumptions and scenarios regarding water resources and
sanitation
 Follow-up Khan-Younis sewerage development project with JICA including:
- Preparation of the sewerage master plan for Khan Younis Governorate
- Preparation of the Feasibility Study for Khan Younis town and an EIA study
for the proposed treatment plant
- Coordination with Palestinian relevant institutions namely Municipality of
Khan Younis, Water Authority, Local government, Ministry of Agriculture,
Ministry of Health and Ministry of Housing
- Preparation of policy papers in relation to Water and sanitation improvement
 Follow-up Rafah Sewerage project with EU. Coordination with EU, Rafah
municipality and the ministry of housing regarding the planning aspect of the project
 Participation in Harvard Middle East water project
- Development of countrified macroeconomic based model for the effective
management of water resources in Palestine
- Organizing workshops with other relevant Palestinian institutions (i.e. Water
Authority and Ministry of Agriculture)
- Preparation of reports about the Palestinian Water supply and demand
 Management of three waste water studies in Gaza Strip:
- Master plan for sewerage and storm water drainage in the Gaza Governorates
- A feasibility study of the construction of the proposed new waste water
treatment plant for Gaza Agglomeration
- A feasibility study of the reuse of the treated waste water for the entire Gaza
Agglomeration
 Coordination with the UNRWA regarding the sewerage and drainage projects in the
Middle Area of Gaza Governorates and the coastal defence project in the Beach Camp
 Coordination with the Ministry of Industry and USAID in regard to infrastructure
development for the industrial estate (Al-Muntar)
 Participation in the preparation of Palestinian Development Plan (PDP 1998 - 2000) in
regard to the infrastructure programs/projects
 Coordination with Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) regarding the storm water
project in the North Governorate in Gaza
 Provide assistance and advice for different Palestinian entities upon their request.

CONSULTANCY EXPERIENCE:

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Dr. Husam Al-Najar Water and Sanitation Expert

 May 2016- July 2016: The Enhance Resilience and Maintain Livelihoods of Palestinian
Food Insecure Households Affected by The Conflicts. Greywater and Wastewater
Treatment on Household Level In The Gaza Strip: Extension and Potential Reuse.
Client: ACF, Action Against Hunger
Position: Wastewater and Greywater expert
 Feb. 2016 up to now: Gaza Sustainable Water Supply Program. Implementation
Consultant for Associated Works to Gaza Desalination Plant by LOTTI ingegneria in
collaboration with local consultant TECC.
Client: Palestinian water Authority
Position: Environmental and Social impact assessment expert
 August. 2013 -2015: Wastewater treatment Engineer at TECC local consult with
DORSCH international consult. Redesign of Gaza and middle Governorate central
wastewater treatment plant.
Client: Palestinian Coastal Management Water Utility- (CMWU Gaza)
Position: Wastewater treatment Engineer.
 March. 2013 –August 2013: Infrastructure Engineer at CEP. Municipal development
Program "Quality assurance for the preparation of Strategic Development and
Investment Plans (SDIPs) in selected municipalities."
Client: Municipal Development and Lending Fund (MDLF)
Position: Infrastructure Engineer.
 June. 2004 -2013: Senior Sanitary engineer at Dorsch Consult Wasser und Umwelt
(Dorsch consultant for water and Environment). Hansastr. 20, D-80686 Munich,
Germany.
Client: Palestinian Coastal Management Water Utility- (CMWU Gaza)
Position: Wastewater and reuse Engineer.
 Engineering and Management Consulting Centre (EMCC)
Position: Sanitary Engineer
Services: Evaluation of Beit Lahya wastewater treatment plant- EIA for the infiltration
basins. Environmental Assessment study: North Gaza Emergency sewage treatment plant
project.
 Environmental Protection and Research Institute (EPRI)
Position: researcher
Services: Conducting compost land application experiments.
 Municipality of Gaza City
Position: Trainer.
Services: Training of solid waste department staff concerning capacity and institutional
building thorough AgroVission project funded by EU.
 Job creation program (PECDAR)
Position: Trainer.
Services: Training of Municipal and agricultural engineers concerning the impact of
wastewater reuse, sludge application. Environmental project evaluation.
 Palestinian Agricultural relief committee (PARC)
Position: Sanitary Engineer.
Services:
Training of trainee for water and irrigation systems operation and maintenance, waste
water treatment and reuse and sludge management.

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Dr. Husam Al-Najar Water and Sanitation Expert

Preparation of Safety Guidelines and Preventative Measures for Reuse of Treated

Wastewater in Agriculture

SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES:

 International Conference on smart cities solutions, IUGaza. 30-31 August 2016. The
Islamic University of Gaza. Gaza Strip
 The fifth International Conference on Engineering and Sustainability (ICES5). 10-11
December 2014. The Islamic University of Gaza. Gaza Strip.
 The Second Arab Water Week. New prospects and challenges for the water sector in the
Arab region. January 27 - 31, 2013. Amman, Jordan
 The Fourth International Engineering Conference "Towards the engineering of 21 st
century" 15-16 October 2012. The Islamic university of Gaza. Gaza, Palestine
 The Second International Conference for Engineering and Development. (3-4, Sept 2007).
Islamic University of Gaza. Gaza
 The Seventh Sharjah Urban Planning Symposium (SUPS7). Cites in the Post-modern
Age: Co-ordination, Networking and Regional Development. (4-6 April 2004. Sharjah,
UAE).
 Workshop on rural sewage service provision. Organised by Palestinian Hydrology Group.
(28-30 September 2003, Gaza, Palestine)
 International Conference on Engineering and City Development. (22-23 Sept. 2003). The
Islamic university of Gaza. Gaza, Palestine
 The 3rd European meeting on environmental chemistry (12-15 December, 2002 Geneva,
Switzerland)
 The 1st Euro League: Role and management of the rhizosphere in environmental
technology and sustainable production of food and renewable resources (5-15 August,
2002 Vienna, Austria)
 The 2nd European meeting on environmental chemistry (12-15 December, 2001 Dijon,
France)
 Master course: Plant nutrition in the tropic and subtropics (15 Oct.-7. November, 2001,
Stuttgart, Germany)
 The 12th Wissenschaftliche Arbeitstagung: Ökophysiologie des Wurzelraumes (24-25
Sept. 2001 Schmerwitz, Germany)
 International Plant Nutrition Colloquium: Food security and sustainability of agro-
ecosystems through basic and applied research (27 July to 3 August, 2001 University of
Hanover, Germany).
 Congress No.112 of Association of German Agriculture Research Institutions (Verband
Deutscher Landwirtschaftlicher Untersuchungs und Forschungsanstalten, VDLUFA 18-
22 Sept. 2000, Stuttgart- Germany)
 German Society of Plant Nutrition (3-6 September 2000, Giessen-Germany)
 World Engineers` Convention (19-21 June 2000, Hanover-Germany)

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Dr. Husam Al-Najar Water and Sanitation Expert

 The first conference for organisation working in environmental health held by Save the
children federation (Gaza, December 1997)
 Training course in File manager and AutoCAD12.0 (The Islamic University of Gaza,
August 4th - Sept 15th. 1997)
 Workshop in Water Allocation System in the Middle East (Harvard University, July 1997
The Netherlands)
 Moderator of METAPLAN Workshop (EU solid waste project in Gaza city, September
1996)
 Operation and Maintenance of Waste Water Treatment Plants (Wageningen Agricultural
University, The Netherlands, 1995)

PUBILCATIONS:
Al-Najar, H., 2017. Sustainable household water model: Abasan Al-Kabera as a case study.
Journal of Engineering Research and Technology JERT: Vol. 4: Issue 2 pp 67-72.
Mohd S. Abu Jabal, Ismail Abustan, Mohd Remy Rozaimy and Hussam El Najar. 2017.
Groundwater beneath the urban area of Khan Younis City, southern Gaza Strip (Palestine):
assessment for multi-domestic purposes. Arab J Geosci 10: 257 pp 1-15. doi:10.1007/s12517-
017-3036-7
Al-Najar H., Dohle D., Kurz H., Breuer J., Müller T., and R. Schulz. 2016. Sequential
Extraction of Cu and Zn from soil amended with bio-compost for 12 years: Risk of leaching. Int.
J. Environment and Waste Management, Vol. 18, No. 4, 317–334.
doi.org/10.1504/IJEWM.2016.081834
Al- Najar, H. Alrayes N., Dokhan Al., Saqer A., Silmi R., S. Al-Kurdi. 2015 Assessing Heavy
Metals Pollution in the Agricultural Lands of Gaza Strip that Has Undergone Three Successive
Wars. American Journal of Environmental Protection. Vol. 3: (4):151-158. doi: 10.12691/env-3-
4-6
Sadallah H., and H. Al-Najar. 2015. Disinfection of Intermitted Water Supply System and Its
Health Impact: Um Al Nasser Village as a Case Study. World Journal of Environmental
Engineering, Vol. 3(2): 32-39. doi: 10.12691/wjee-3-2-2
Mohd S. Abu Jabal, Abustan, I., Rozaimy, M.R., and H. El Najar. 2014. Groundwater beneath
the urban area of Khan Younis City, southern Gaza Strip (Palestine): hydrochemistry and water
quality. Arabian Journal of Geosciences. Vol. 8 (4): 2203-2215. doi:10.1007/s12517-014-1346-
6
Al-Najar, H., Al-Dalou, F., Snounu, I. and J. Al-Dadah. 2014. Framework Analysis of Socio-
Economic and Health Aspects of Nitrate Pollution from Urban Agricultural Practices: The Gaza
Strip as a case Study. Journal of agriculture and environmental sciences. Vol.3 (2): 355-370.
ISSN: 2334-2404 (Print), 2334-2412 (Online)
Mohd S. Abu Jabal, Abustan, I., Rozaimy, M.R., and H. Al Najar. 2014. Fluoride enrichment in
groundwater of semi-arid urban area: Khan Younis City, Southern Gaza Strip (Palestine).
Journal of African Earth Sciences. 100: 259–266. doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2014.07.002
El-Nahhal, I.Y., Al-Najar, H. and El-Nahhal, Y. 2014. Cations and Anions in Sewage Sludge
from Gaza Waste Water Treatment Plant. American Journal of Analytical Chemistry, 5, 655-
665. DOI: 10.4236/ajac.2014.510073
El-Nahhal I, Al-Najar H and Y. El-Nahhal. 2014. Physicochemical properties of sewage sludge
from Gaza. International Journal of Geosciences. 5, 586-594. DOI: 10.4236/ijg.2014.56053

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Dr. Husam Al-Najar Water and Sanitation Expert

Mahdy S. Jarboo and H. Al-Najar. 2014. Climate change and its impact on domestic water
consumption in Sub-urban regions in the Gaza Strip. International Journal of Climate Change
Strategies and Management. Vol. 7 issue 1: 3-16. doi/abs/10.1108/IJCCSM-07-2013-0092
Al-Najar H., Muhammad A. Marai and F. Rabah. 2013. Water Consumption behaviour in semi-
rural areas in the Gaza Strip: Beit Lahya town as a case study. IUG Journal of natural and
engineering studies. 21 (3): 67-79
Al-Najar H. and E. Ashour 2013. The impact of climate change and soil salinity in irrigation
water demand on the Gaza Strip. Journal of water and climate change. 4 (2): 118- 130.
DOI: 10.2166/wcc.2013.142
Al-Najar H. 2011. The integration of FAO-CropWat model and GIS techniques for estimating
irrigation water requirement and its application in the Gaza Strip. Natural Resources. 2011, 2,
146- 154. DOI: 10.4236/nr.2011.23020
Shatat M and Al-Najar H. 2011. The impacts of temperature variation on wastewater treatment
in the Gaza Strip: Gaza wastewater treatment plant as case study. Conference of Water and
Climate Change in the MENA-Region: Adaptation, Mitigation, and Best Practices. 28th April,
2011. Berlin Germany.
Muhammed Al-Khatib and H. Al-Najar 2011. Hydro-geo-chemical characteristics of
groundwater beneath the Gaza Strip. Journal of Water Resources and Protection. 3 (5): 341-348.
DOI: 10.4236/jwarp.2011.35043
Mohammed Al-Safady and H. Al-Najar 2011. Disinfection Process of Water Supply System in
the Gaza Strip Between Real Practice and WHO Limitations. Research Journal of
Environmental Sciences. 5 (5): 414-423. DOI: 10.3923/rjes.2011.414.423
Ahmed Hilles and H. Al-Najar 2011. Brackish Water Desalination Is the Merely Potable Water
Potential in the Gaza Strip: Prospective and Limitations. Journal of Environmental Science and
Technololgy. 4 (2) 158-171. DOI: 10.3923/jest.2011.158.171
Nassar A., H.Al-Najar, M. Smith and M. Ghannam. 2010. Gaza Wastewater treatment plant as
a model for low cost wastewater treatment technology in semi-arid environment. Research
Journal of environmental sciences. Vol 4(2) 149-157.
Abdelmajid R. Nassar, H. Al-Najar and Jamal Y. Al-Dadah. 2009. Socio-Economic Aspects
of Wastewater Reuse in the Gaza Strip. J. Environ. Sci. Techno 2(4) 170-178.
DOI: 10.3923/jest.2009.170.178
H. Al-Najar. 2007. Urban agriculture and Eco-sanitation: The strategic potential toward poverty
alleviation in the Gaza Strip. RICS Research 7(7): 9-22
Yassin M.; S. Abu Amr; and H. Al-Najar. 2006. Assessment of microbiological water quality
and its relation to human health in Gaza Governorate. J. Public Health 120: 1177-1187.
doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2006.07.026
Khalaf A.; H. Al-Najar; and J. Hamad. 2006. Assessment of rainwater run off due to the
proposed regional plan for Gaza Governorates. J. Applied Sci., 6(13): 2693-2704.
DOI: 10.3923/jas.2006.2693.2704
El-Hawi M. and H. Al-Najar 2005. Planning Challenges of Solid Waste Landfill Disposal
Facilities: The Gaza Strip Case. In The 8th Sharjah Urban Planning Symposium (SUPS8) UAE.
Al-Najar H., A.J. Adeloye 2005. The effect of urban expansion on groundwater as a renewable
resource in the Gaza Strip. RICS Research 5(8): 7-21
Al-Najar H., R. Schulz, J. Breuer und V. Roemheld 2005. Effect of different cropping systems
and time function on the mobility and uptake of heavy metals. Environ. Chem. Lett. 3(1), 13-17.

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Dr. Husam Al-Najar Water and Sanitation Expert

Al-Najar, H., R. Schulz and V. Roemheld 2005. Phytoremediation of thallium contaminated

soils by Brassicaceae. In: Environmental Chemistry. Green Chemistry and Pollutants in
Ecosystems. E. Lichtfouse, J. Schwarzbauer, D. Robert (Eds.). Springer (ISBN 3-540-22860-8).
Chap. 17, 187-196.
Al-Najar H.; R. Schulz; Kaschl A. and V. Roemheld 2005. The effect of thallium fractions in
the soil and pollution origin on Tl uptake by hyperaccumulator plants: A key factor for
assessment of phytoextraction. International Journal of Phytoremediation, 7(1): 55-67.
Al-Najar H.; R. Schulz; J. Breuer; and V. Roemheld. 2003. Effect of bio-compost application on
soil structure, crop yield and possible food chain contamination by heavy metals. P.
1750-1756/III in L. Shenyang et al. (Eds.) Proceeding of the 12th World Fertilizer Congress
Beijing, China.
Al-Najar H.; R. Schulz and V. Roemheld 2003. Plant availability of thallium in the rhizosphere
of hyperaccumulator plants: a key factor for assessment of phytoextraction. Plant and Soil 249:
97-105.
Al-Najar H. 2002 Phytoextraction of thallium-contaminated soils by Brassicaceae genotypes:
Role of chemical and spatial availability of thallium in soils and uptake capacity of roots. PhD
thesis, Grauer publisher (ISBN 3-86186-421-5).
Al-Najar H.; R. Schulz; J. Breuer; and V. Roemheld. 2002. Mobility and uptake of heavy metals
in different land use systems after long-term sewage sludge application. P. 1726 In. The 17th
World Congress of Soil Science (17thWCSS) proceeding, Bangkok, Thailand
Al-Najar H., Aiyen, R. Schulz and V. Roemheld 2002. Changes in the binding forms of heavy
metals in the rhizosphere of hyperaccumulator plants as a key factor for assessment of
phytoremediation. P. 27-28 In: Cost Action 837 4th WG2 Workshop “Risk assessment and
sustainable land management using plants in trace element-contaminated soils” Proceeding,
Bordeaux, France
Al-Najar H.; R. Schulz; and V. Roemheld 2002. Heavy metals in municipal organic wastes:
Limits and prospects. In. Sino German recycling workshop Proceeding. Beijing, China.
Al-Najar H.; R. Schulz; V. Roemheld. 2002. Effect of different cultivation techniques of
Brassicaceae on Tl phytoextraction and Tl binding forms in the soil. P. 142- 147. In W. Merbach
et al. (Eds.) Durchwurzelung, Rhizodeposition und Pflanzenverfügbarkeit von Nährstoffen und
Schwermetallen. B.G. Teubner Publisher (ISBN 3-519-00377-5)
Al-Najar H.; R. Schulz; V. Roemheld. 2001. Binding forms of thallium in the rhizosphere of the
hyperaccumulators kale and candytuft Brassicaceae. p. 391. In Proceeding 6th International
Conference on the Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements; Guelph Canada
Schulz R.; Al-Najar H.; J. Breuer; V. Roemheld. 2001. The effect of bio-compost application on
crop yield and nitrogen dynamic in the soil. p. 986-987. In W. J. Horst et al. (Eds.) Plant
nutrition-Food security and sustainability of agro-ecosystems. Kluwer Academic Publishers,
Dordrecht.
Al-Najar H. and P. Van Duijl 1996. Reuse of”Saline” Waste Water in Gaza City. Master of
science thesis, IHE, The Netherlands

LANGUAGES: Arabic, English German and Hebrew.

CONTACT INDIVIDUALS:

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Dr. Husam Al-Najar Water and Sanitation Expert

1. Dr. Arno Kaschl, Technical Desk LIFE-Unit. European Commission .DG

Environment D.1 Office: BU-9 2/91, B-1049 Brussels, Mobile +3226609611-
Fax: +32 2 2969556 arno.kaschl@ec.europa.eu
2. Mr. Keith Brook. DORSCH International consultant. keith.r.brooke@gmail.com,
keith.brooke@dorscheg.com.
3. Mr. Rebhi El-Shaikh, Deputy Chairman, Palestinian Water Authority (PWA -Gaza).
Mobile: +972 (0) 59 9267103. Office tel: +972 (0) 8 2827520
4. Mrs. Wiltrud Roesch-Metzler. German Pax Christi. Phone: + 49 (0)711 2626720.
Fax: + 49 (0)711 2626730. E.Mail: roem@roeschmetzler.de
More references are available upon request.

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