Key skills and expertise

Bringing over 53 years of experience in international educational development, the expert has focused on policy, planning, and management. Key qualifications include team leadership, policy research, and proficiency in quantitative and qualitative research methods. Career highlights include leading projects funded by USAID, the EU, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank, managing programs with budgets exceeding $80 million. Responsibilities have included overseeing national education policies, enhancing educational access, and improving quality and gender inclusivity. The expert has developed and implemented capacity-building initiatives and conducted evaluations for large-scale international projects.

Project experience and donor exposure

With a background in collaborating with international donors such as USAID, the European Union, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank, the expert has been involved in project implementation, technical assistance, evaluations, and capacity building in the education sector. Worked across diverse projects involving regional and national initiatives in countries like Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, Nigeria, and Myanmar. The expert has focused on enhancing educational access, quality, gender inclusivity, and workforce development through these donor-funded initiatives.

Sectors and geographic focus

Previously held roles such as Chief of the National Education and Training Sector and Team Leader on various international projects, the expert has worked across key sectors including education, training and capacity building, gender and human rights, and administration. Responsibilities have encompassed policy development, project management, and monitoring and evaluation. The expert possesses cross-cutting expertise in education policy, workforce development, and gender inclusion. The geographic scope of work spans multiple regions, including Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, with a focus on increasing educational access and improving quality. Extensive geographic experience includes deep familiarity with local governance, cultural dynamics, and regional development issues in Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, with additional contributions to projects in Lebanon, Myanmar, Nigeria, and the USA.

Languages and education

With a background in languages, the expert is fluent in English and Urdu, demonstrating excellent proficiency in reading, speaking, and writing. Competence in Arabic and Indonesian has been utilized in various international contexts, including in-country work and collaboration with multilingual teams across projects in countries such as Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. The expert holds a Ph.D. in Education with a focus on Educational Policy, Development Planning, Management, and Economics of Education from Harvard University, USA. Additionally, a Master's degree in Education from Harvard University and a Master of Arts in Science and Mathematics Education from the American University of Beirut, Lebanon, complement a Bachelor of Science from Punjab University, Pakistan. The academic background is further enriched by a diploma in Educational Policy Analysis from the Harvard University Institute of International Development and a certificate from UNESCO's International Institute of Educational Planning in Paris.