Ali Jarbawi (born January 30, 1954, in Jenin) is a Palestinian lecturer and former government minister.
Jarbawi was born in Jenin, in the northern West Bank, in 1954.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Birzeit University, master’s degrees in public administration and political science, and a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Cincinnati.
Dr. Jarbawi joined the faculty of political science at Birzeit University in 1981.
He served as a special advisor to Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and oversaw the preparation of the Palestinian Reform and Development Plan (2008–2010). He served as the Director-General of the Palestinian Independent Commission for Citizens’ Rights from 1997 to 2000, and as Secretary-General and Executive Director of the Central Elections Commission from 2002 to 2004.
He held the position of Minister of Planning and Administrative Development in the thirteenth Palestinian government, and Minister of Higher Education in the fourteenth Palestinian government.