Summary

Work experience

• Consultant

  Independent Consultant

  2023.01-Current

  (3 years)

  Write on public policy/ national development in News media – ‘Discourse’ journal of the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics; DAWN newspaper and The Friday Times. Currently, preparing an updated and enhanced edition of my book on public policy.
• Social and Economic Development Consulting

  WHITEBOARD Management Solutions (Pvt ltd)

  2006.01-2022.09

  (17 years)

  Country Strategy & Programme Evaluation, IFAD Pakistan; for the Independent Office of Evaluation, IFAD Rome, as a consultant focusing on analyses for assessment at strategic and policy levels (phase 1) and as Peer Reviewer (phase 2). Assessment of Development Results (ADR) of the UNDP Program in Pakistan; for the Independent Evaluation Office, UNDP New York, as Senior Team Specialist - Development Policy. Za fa r U. Ah med | 2 Based on the assessment, the report highlights Lessons Learnt and Recommendations for future strategy and process. Principal Coordinator and report author, countrywide Community Consultation dialogues (villagegroup meetings) on the Government of Pakistan’s 5-year Poverty Reduction Strategy Plan, for the PRSP Secretariat, Ministry of Finance. (Sponsored by DfID - RSPN). Assignment for the Planning Commission to assist in preparing the Medium Term Development Framework (MTDF), five-year plan. Participated in ‘Working Groups’ and wrote reports, chapters and presentations on rural development, special and less developed areas, social protection, nutrition, and public-private partnerships. Deputy Team Leader, independent external mid-term Impact Evaluation of (RSPN) Rural Support Programmes Network, “Assessing the Impact of Community Driven Development – Twenty Six Years of Pakistan’s Rural Support Programs”, by HTSPE consultancy, for DfID UK. RSPN is a technical support and coordination apex body for (then) 10 member organisations. FGs, KIIs, Interviews. , Independent Evaluation Department, Asian Development Bank, Manila. As part of a Special Evaluation Study of the Asian Development Fund, prepared a Country Report on ADB Pakistan resident mission’s 13 sectors/themes and selected loans. In- depth interviews. Led process and authored report, a participatory consultative research leading towards the development of a strategic framework for the next phase of Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund’s (PPAF) community-based ‘Institutional Development’ component (3 tier community-leddevelopment), for its 100+ Partner Organizations. FGs, KIIs, Interviews in ten districts. Led (a) Organizational Review – this researched review recommended major structural, HR and system efficiency changes, and (b) 5-year strategic planning exercise of Thardeep Rural Development Program, Sindh. In-depth interviews and KIIs. Led a 5-year strategic planning process for the Azad Jammu Kashmir Rural Support Program. Team Leader, external evaluation of Trust for Voluntary Organizations (TVO), set up by a USAID $30m fund, as a grant-making institution. Until that time, TVO had funded more than 1300 NGO projects. FGs and KIIs. The study led to major structural, systems and program course corrections. In-depth interviews, KII. Team Leader, end of project evaluations of (1) Enhancing Education Opportunities for Girls in Earthquake Affected Areas, (2) Community-Based Disaster Risk Management project, and (3) mobile prosthetic limbs project. Oxfam Novib – NRSP, in AJK. FGs and KIIs. Subject Matter Expert ‘Independent Procurements Review’ team, review of the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund and its Partners; with Ernst & Young Advisory Services, for the World Bank. Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) Development Program – Livelihoods Development, (ledby CHF; initially a $150m USAID project), ‘EoP Report on Achievements’. Team Leader, mid-term & end of project Evaluations of the Oxfam Novib – NRSP project Post Disaster Livelihoods Reconstruction in Muzaffarabad, AJ Kashmir. The Project involved social
• Regional General Manager

  RSPN

  2002.04-2005.03

  (3 years)

  organisation of dispersed communities, rebuilding community physical infrastructure, enterprise 04/2005 – 11/2005 Punjab Rural Support Program (member organisation of RSPN). , Lahore. As RGM managed a large portfolio of micro-finance, community physical infrastructure and training of activists. RSPN is a technical support and coordination apex body for 10 member Rural Support Programs. As M&E Specialist of the Network, oversaw M&E guidance and support to all its (atthat time 10) member organisations. Coordinated the community consultations research for the Government of Pakistan’s ‘Interim’ Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (I-PRSP), analysed findings and prepared the overall report. Assignment with the Planning Commission to assist in preparing the Medium Term Development Framework. Oversaw support to the Microfinance and social sector programs of member Rural Support Programs, when needed.
• Social and Economic Development Consultant

  Independent Consultant

  1993.01-2000.01

  (7 years)

  (1) External Assessment and Planning Platform to convert a ‘flexible’ project into a coherent integrated rural development program – the Thardeep Rural Development Program (TRDP), Sindh. (2) led a comprehensive Management Review of TRDP. Save the Children (UK) (1) Mid-term Review and (2) Final Evaluation of the Project for Elimination of Child Labour in the Soccer Ball Manufacturing Industry, in Sialkot, Punjab. ILO (1) Child Labour in the Soccer Ball Industry, Sialkot (Punjab) industrial region. KIIs, FGs, analysis and report, SC UK (2) Six months of technical support for the SC-UK Child Labour program. The study highlighted that the family was included in home-based work so as to afford basic necessities. An international boycott by buyers was not the answer, it would have adversely affected children and women as much as anything else. (3) a review of the National Commission for Child Welfare & Development, Government of Pakistan, for the Save the Children-Alliance. “Rural Social Development Program”, 3 missions with separate teams, for program identification, design and technical support to civil society organisations, $25m program. The programs selected included TVO, SPO, SAP PK, and Shirkat Gah. European Commission. Team Leader of countrywide (Pakistan) study “Support for the Future Role of NGOs in HIV and Development”. Extensive KIIs, FGs and individual interviews. UNDP Regional Project for HIV and Development (Asia-Pacific), New Delhi. Private Sector (Social) Marketing of Contraceptives in Pakistan, Feasibility Study and Business Plan for a countrywide program. Implemented under the ‘Key’ social marketing brand. DfID-UK. Za fa r U. Ah med | 4
• CEO

  NATPOW

  1998.01-1998.01

  for Population Welfare NGO support apex body for reproductive health, funded by the World Bank, UNFPA and GoP.
• Consultant, Planning & Program Development.

  Family Planning Association of Pakistan, Lahore, Punjab

  1992.01-1992.01

  Consultant, Planning & Program Development.
• Deputy General Manager: Monitoring & Evaluation, Finance & Administration

  Balochistan Rural Support Program, Quetta

  1991.01-1992.01

  (a year)

  I was a senior start-up team member, which converted the earlier GTZ “Pak-German Self-Help Project” into this indigenised development program. The Project was registered as a Company, and major structural, management and systems changes were made.
• Planning and Monitoring, Evaluation & Research Section Specialist

  Aga Khan Rural Support Program

  1990.01-1991.01

  (a year)

  Now the Aga Khan Development Network implements this development approach also in India and the Central Asian republics.
• Manager Monitoring

  Aga Khan Rural Support Program

  1984.01-1987.01

  (3 years)

  Regional Program Monitor, Baltistan/ Manager Monitoring, at Head Office, Gilgit Now the Aga Khan Development Network implements this development approach also in India and the Central Asian republics.

Educational experience

• Cornell University, Ithaca, New

  International Development

  1988.01-1989.05

  (a year)

  MPS, International Development, Planning
• Atkinson School of Management, Willamette University

  MM/MBA; Business, Government & Not-for-Profit Management

  1980.09-1983.06

  (3 years)

  MM/MBA; Business, Government & Not-for-Profit Management
• University of Karachi, Karachi

  Economics

  1977.09-1980.06

  (3 years)

  Economics, International Relations, History

Languages