The fourth Sharaka Fellowship for researchers in the field of humanities and social sciences has been awarded to Cinzia Bianco who will spend three months at the Global Connections Center (TAWASUL) in Muscat, Oman. During her fellowship, Cinzia will carry out a research focused on the impact of economic relations on the strategic partnership between the European Union and the Gulf countries, with a special attention to the case of Oman.

Cinzia holds a Master’s degree in Middle East and Mediterranean Studies from King’s College, London, and a Bachelor’s degree in Foreign Languages and Cultures from La Sapienza University of Rome. Her MA dissertation focused on EU-GCC cooperation in socio-economic development, investigating primarily the fields of education, energy sustainability and job creation.

Involved in youth diplomacy and passionate about policy-making, she represented Italy at the 2011 G8 Youth Summit in the Foreign Affairs Panel, which discussed the G8 countries’ role in supporting the political transitions in Tunisia and Egypt, and at the 2012 G20 Youth Summit  (Youth 20) in the International Trade Commission. She is the co-founder and the former Deputy Director of the NGO “Young Ambassadors Society”, which aims to involve the youth in the international dialogue about global issues.