Summary

I hold a master's degree in Social Anthropology and have 24 years of experience in both the development and government sectors. My qualification as a social anthropologist equips me with expertise in understanding the cultural, political, and social dynamics of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Ex-FATA, enabling effective connection with beneficiaries. My specialization lies in thoughtfully tailoring engagement strategies to effectively mitigate programmatic risks. I have a well-established track record in Project Management, Stakeholder Engagement, Fundraising, Grant Writing, Monitoring and Evaluation, Team Leadership, Capacity Building, Community Development, Budgeting and Financial Management, Analytical Skills, Proposal Writing, Coordination, Computer Skills, Report Writing, and Social Research.  I managed all aspects of the UNICEF/LGRD Project, a $23.4 million flagship CRVS program, in 36 districts. I provided supervision and direction to 66 project staff and 4200 Village Secretaries of the Local Government department, as well as other stakeholders, including teachers, healthcare providers, and local government officials.


Furthermore, I am a seasoned practitioner across various domains, including Communication for Development (C4D), Partnership Defined Quality (PDQ), Community Development, Social Mobilization, Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC), capacity building trainings, establishment of Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), as well as Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA).


International donor agencies and INGOs often face skepticism as cultural intruders, lacking trust within communities, especially among religious groups. Pakistani Madaris are perceived as catalysts for promoting extreme views, raising serious concerns about their impact on students and society at large. Rather than equally focusing on Madaris and religious preachers, project personnel tend to neglect communication and engagement with them, concentrating solely on the general community. Consequently, a significant gap exists between the regions' populace, INGOs, and Donor Agencies. To bridge this gap, I developed a strategic approach to actively involve religious institutions in project activities, aiming to foster cohesion among Religious Preachers, Civil Society, Youth, Donor Agencies for a Tolerant, Informed, and Unified Society. To date, I have successfully established numerous community-based committees of religious folks in various districts, serving as an asset for utilization in different upcoming projects for positive social change. This strategic approach has been a significant tool for engaging all project stakeholders in the challenging area of District Dir Lower, from where radicalization and militant groups, including Tehreek Nifaz-e-Shariat Mohammadi and the Taliban, have emerged.

Experience

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Project Manager Social Cohesion
CREST Consulting Pakistan
Feb 2023 - Present | Peshawar, Pakistan


Developed project plans, coordinated activities, managed budgets, and ensured financial goals.
  Organized conflict resolution meetings between religious scholars and civil society.
Identified and trained religious scholars for harmony promotion.
Organized workshops to foster a secure environment for civil society. Scheduled sessions to reduce mistrust between religious scholars and civil society. Formed peacebuilding committees in mosques and Madaris for dispute resolution.
Raised awareness among seminary students about computer skills and internet proficiency. 
Managed and supervised a team of 11 project staff

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PROVINCIAL MANAGER CRVS, KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA /MERGED DISTRICTS
LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (LGRD)
Mar 2017 - Dec 2022 | Peshawar, Pakistan


Provided technical assistance in Strengthening the Civil Registration & Vital Statistics system (focus on birth registration
Formulated project strategies, SOPs, work plans, committee TORs, JDs, DIP, and budgets
 Build relationships with diverse stakeholders, including community members, CBOs, NGOs, and government departments
Trained project staff on Communication for Development (C4D) principles, including behavior change communication.
Trained community elders on sustainable birth registration. Trained school teachers as focal persons for birth registration and child rights awareness
 Developed project proposals, DFAs, letters, documents, and reports.
Simultaneously, I led another UNICEF-funded project to enhance birth registration. I provided technical assistance to the Local Government Department and other stakeholders to strengthen their capacity to deliver birth registration services for children in 17 Polio Super High-Risk Union Councils of District Peshawar
Notified 19 Birth Registration Coordination Committees through coordination with Deputy Commissioners. 
Led teams in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Merged Districts, overseeing the CRVS project with 66 staff members

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS 
 In 2017, birth registration in merged areas was less than 1%. As project coordinator, I established the office, introduced a successful model in tehsil Bara, and scaled up the program to 98 UCs. The initiative increased birth registration from 1% to 15.51% in seven merged districts. The success led to expansion, covering 36 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. I supported LGRD, achieving a milestone of 15 million registrations from March 2017 to December 2022. I effectively supervised the monitoring and quality assurance of birth registration records for two million children under the age of five across all districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

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Program Manager Health, Merged Districts
Human Empowerment & Development Organization (HEDO)
Apr 2016 - Mar 2017 | Peshawar, Pakistan


Assisted the Social and Behaviour Change/Infant and Young Child Feeding counsellors (SBC/IYCFC) and staff of facilitation centers for promotion and support of optimal feeding practices for mothers, infants and young children in the target population. Support the families through SBC/IYCF counsellors/community outreach workers and other FC staff through ensuring adherence to agreed guidelines for IFOH’s program.
 Supervised a team of 37 project staff members

 

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Project Manager Livelihood, FATA Development Programme (FDP-GIZ)
DEWAH
Apr 2015 - Mar 2016 | Khyber Agency, Pakistan


Achieved project deliverables, collaborating with diverse stakeholders for livelihood initiatives.
Empowered communities and trained CBOs for small-scale projects.
 Conducted LMST, CMST training, and facilitated grand jirga meetings. Guided CBOs in implementing 35 quick-impact projects, promoting livelihood through the Community Development Fund. Developed needs assessment procedures and monitoring systems.
 Managed and supervised a team of 17 staff

 

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Program Manager Health and Education ,Merged Districts
Human Empowerment & Development Organization (HEDO)
Jan 2013 - Dec 2014 | Peshawar, Pakistan



Led project staff, formed Community-based Organizations and women groups in Nowshehra. supervised Capacity Building for Parent-Teacher Committees (PTCs) and Community-Based Organizations.

Monitored program activities, assessing process, impact, and outcome indicators. Engaged stakeholders in strategic planning meetings, ensuring program deliverables were met. Led and supervised a team of 69 project staff, maintaining oversight of activities

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Program Manager, Bacha Khan Poverty Alleviation
Sarhad Rural Support organization
Sep 2011 - Dec 2012 | Peshawar, Pakistan


Assisted field staff in forming CBOs and LSOs, Capacity Building (CMST, LMST), and Natural Resource Management. Supervised Rural Financial Services, promoting technical and vocational skills for improved social sector service delivery.  
Developed project proposals, concept papers, and DIPs, preparing reports. Assisted in creating training modules, organized conferences, and conducted staff orientation and development courses.
 Trained 107 project staff
 

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District Coordinator Family Advancement for Life and Health (FALAH)
Save the Children US, Pakistan
Jan 2010 - Aug 2011 | Mardan, Pakistan


Implemented CAM strategy to enhance birth spacing acceptability, boosting FP use in District Mardan by removing barriers and improving knowledge. Supervised mass media campaigns for contraceptive awareness and FP. Proactively managed livelihood project risks throughout its lifecycle.
Trained 100 religious’ leaders on reproductive health and birth spacing in a month. Conducted training for 234 LHWs and LHS on CCA. Guided field formations in problem-solving and conflict resolution, overseeing project activities.
Led and supervised a team of 7 staff
 

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District Coordinator, Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns (PAIMAN)
Save the Children US, Pakistan
Jan 2007 - Dec 2009 | Peshawar, Pakistan


Encouraged religious leaders for MNCH-FP advocacy. Networked with ulama through visits, calls, and meetings, maintaining a directory and quarterly newsletter.
Collaborated with health authorities, LHW program, NGOs, and line departments for community mobilization. Monitored LHW training, health committees, and PDQ methodology in health facilities
Formed Quality Improvement Teams for community engagement and service quality enhancement. 

Major Achivements : 
 Amidst widespread suicide bombings in KP, I successfully motivated 100 religious’ leaders/Khateebs/Mosque imams to undergo training under the Save the Children US banner in district Mardan. Despite the prevailing stigma against INGOs as perceived intruders, I navigated the situation by holding individual sessions with each Khateebs/Mosque imam. As a result, they actively participated in Family Planning/Birth Spacing training and later advocated for its importance in Friday sermons. An end-line survey revealed that approximately 8 percent of men reported using contraceptives.
 

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Project Officer (Child protection )
Human Empowerment & Development Organization (HEDO)
Jan 2005 - Dec 2006 | Peshawar, Pakistan


 Supervised district-level Child Protection activities, ensuring coordination and alignment with Project strategy. Provided technical support to Mobilizers/CFS Supervisors, established a robust referral mechanism for survivors/children at risk.
 Formulated creative activities for CFS supervisors and generated detailed activity information regularly. Supported the field team in meetings, documented success stories, ensured compliance with health and safety regulations, and managed equipment inventories. 

 

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Capacity Developer , WASH Project
International Rescue Committee (IRC)
Apr 2004 - Dec 2004 | Peshawar, Pakistan


Developed training modules with stakeholder input, coordinated with training organizations for Water Management Committees, and conducted beneficiary orientation. Assessed water supply and sanitation capacity, facilitated networking, and conducted follow-ups with refugees.
Assisted in site selection and data collection for WATSAN staff. Coordinated plans with field staff, motivated refugee populations for water and sanitation, and mobilized communities for resource maintenance. Conducted Training Needs Assessment, maintained records, aided in official correspondence, and trained 22 project staff

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Field Team Leader, Land Mines Awareness Project
Field Team Leader, Land Mines Awareness Project
Mar 1998 - Jan 2004 | Bajaur, Pakistan


 Coordinated with government, LSOs, CSOs, and CLAT for project activities. Engaged media for land mine risk education. Conducted workshops for religious leaders and followed up on activities.
 Managed stakeholders, overseeing program management.
Promoted peace education and social cohesion through community mobilization. Raised awareness on child protection. Demonstrated networking, communication skills, and led decision-making processes.
 Motivated project staff for increased commitment. Managed and supervised 5 project staff

Education

University of Peshawar
Masters, , Masters in Arts‎
Social Anthropology
1997

Skills

Expert Analytical Skills
Expert capacity building trainings
Expert Communication
Expert Communication for Development (C4D)
Expert Communiocationb Skills
Expert Coordination Skilla
Expert Leadership
Expert Partnership Defined Quality (PDQ)
Expert Project Management
Expert Report Writing
Expert Social Research

Languages

Expert Urdu
Expert English
Expert Pashto

Shah Contacts

Saeeda none N/A
National Support Organization