Dr Aala El-Khani develops and researches innovative ways to reach families that are living through challenging contexts with parenting support and training. She has conducted field research with families in refugee contexts and conflict zones, exploring their parenting challenges and the positive impact parenting support can provide. Her work has significantly contributed to an agenda of producing materials, which together form psychological first aid for families affected by conflict and displacement.

Aala is a Humanitarian Psychologist and works as a consultant for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime as well as an honorary Research Associate at the University of Manchester at the Division of Psychology and Mental Health. Her current work collaborates the efforts of the UNODC and The University of Manchester in developing and evaluating family skills programmes in countries such as Afghanistan, Palestine, Serbia, Uzbekistan and Lebanon.

Aala is passionate about highlighting the significant role that caregivers play in protecting their children during conflict and displacement. She has trained NGO workers, school teachers and affected families globally on family skills and research methods.  Her two TEDx talks have been viewed over 1.4 million times.