Sibghatullah Ghaznawi
New York,NY
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Associate Research Scholar
Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies (SIWPS)
New York, USA
11.2022 - Current
- Guiding and mentoring students on the existing models of post-conflict political stability interventions
- Helping students understand stability models for conflict and post-conflict situations with a focus on human rights, specifically those of women, minorities, and marginalized groups
- I am also working on explaining consolidation of power and internal cohesion of the autocratic regime of the Taliban.
Honorary Director
Tarzi Research Organization (TRO)
01.2020 - Current
- Identify issues of national interest that require in-depth assessment and analysis
- Raise funds, identify relevant researchers, and facilitate their work
- Achievement: I successfully studied the recruitment tactics used by the Islamic State of Khorasan (ISK) and crafted a comprehensive report specifically for senior policymakers
- Assessed Amu River water distribution to evaluate its potential as a source of future conflict with Afghanistan's northern neighbors
- Evaluated the political challenges surrounding trade with Pakistan amidst the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic
- Assessed the political obstacles hindering the operationalization of Chabahar Port for Afghan traders
- Conducted an opinion survey among key leaders in the south and southwest regions of Afghanistan, presenting the findings directly to the President
- Reports detailing the outcomes of these studies are accessible on the organization's webpage at: https://tarziresearch.org/publication.
AGORA Consultant
Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED)
Afghanistan
02.2022 - 10.2022
- Developed tools for assessment and mapping of community-led area-based projects for natural resources management and conflict resolution
- Trained assessment and mapping teams
- Trained local youth groups to participate in resource mapping
- Developed the assessment report.
Deputy Minister Municipalities
Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG)
Afghanistan
01.2021 - 08.2021
- Oversaw the reform and development of regulations, rules, and policies for transparent municipal tax collection and accountable expenditure
- Lead national programs for the improvement of urban governance, municipal financial management, and infrastructure
- Allocated 2% of the municipal budgets for youth development and empowerment and got a matching incentive from the central government
- Provided direction to programs and projects development for the 2% budget allocated for youth empowerment
- Ensured the implementation of municipal law and inclusive city administration
- Advised the government of Afghanistan on issues related to the municipalities
- Expanded Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) to 15 new cities
- Worked with the central bank and finalized mortgage financing regulations and policies
- Completed plans for holding municipal elections in five major cities of Afghanistan and obtained approval for government funding
- Concluded the first round of the Citizen Charter Program in 4 major cities
- Facilitated government support for new donor-funded programs
- Identified new areas of revenue generation for the cities
- Participated in the cabinet meetings and secured government support for almost all issues that I brought to the meetings
- Completed plans for public-private partnership on infrastructure and housing projects.
Director of Local Stability Dept.
Office of National Security Council
Kabul, Afghanistan
12.2019 - 12.2020
- Implemented a political security program aimed at engaging communities in security-related decision-making at the sub-national level
- Established the program's legal framework, developed manuals, training materials, and a results framework to ensure effective implementation
- Provided support to national security agencies in enhancing their Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRM) and establishing links with the GRM of the Citizen Charter Program
- Conducted conflict resolution missions in Nangarhar, Ghor, and Paktia provinces to mitigate large-scale tribal conflicts and prevent further escalation
- Offered strategic advice to the government on various issues, including mitigating the impact of COVID-19 on local stability and ensuring the health and well-being of security forces.
Governance Expert
Particip Consulting, UNDP
Kabul, Afghanistan
08.2019 - 12.2019
- Reviewed and revised the desk review report and responded to IDLG comments in the light of the new sub-national governance policy and contributed to the recommendations document for amending municipal and local councils' laws
- Interviewed high officials of the government relevant to the Functional Review (FR) of the local governance institutions
- Analyzed findings from the interviews of the deputy ministers, ministers, and other high officials.
Executive Director
Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG)
Afghanistan
02.2018 - 07.2019
- Managed the daily activities of the program and operations
- Developed annual plans, budgets, and a strategic results framework to ensure effective project management and accountability
- Formulated a conceptual framework of social inclusion focusing on integrating youth initiatives into community development projects, promoting equity and participation
- Led the formulation of sustainable livelihood guidelines and a youth engagement strategy to empower local communities and address unemployment challenges
- Pioneered the business hub concept to stimulate job creation for youth, while fostering connections between rural agricultural products and urban skilled labor
- Guided partner NGOs in establishing Community Participatory Monitoring (CPM) and community-led Grievance Redressal Mechanisms (GRM), enhancing project accountability and responsiveness
- Supported and mentored provincial Project Management Units (PMU) to uphold the quality of social and infrastructure projects funded by the program
- Collaborated with technical and social teams to develop mechanisms ensuring accountability and transparency in community development projects
- Contributed to the design of an employment generation program for returnees in 11 provincial urban centers with a focus on youth, addressing their socio-economic needs
- Participated actively in budget discussions related to the employment program for returnees, providing valuable insights and recommendations for effective resource allocation.
Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist
Checchi Consulting, SUPPORT II (USAID)
Afghanistan
08.2017 - 12.2017
- Assessed USAID’s on-budget support program for the government of Afghanistan, the New Development Partnership (NDP), using mixed methods
- Assessed the program effectiveness and appropriateness of methods of result verification
- Provided recommendations to strengthen the NDP to achieve better results
- Conducted a Data Quality Assessment (DQA) of 96 selected indicators across all USAID-funded activities in Afghanistan.
Analyst
UNDP
Kabul, Afghanistan
03.2017 - 05.2017
- Analyzed data from an institutional capacity-building survey of the Afghan Parliament (both houses)
- Developed the report with key findings and recommendations.
Stability Consultant
Integrity Watch
Kabul, Afghanistan
12.2016 - 02.2017
- This consultancy was aimed at identifying the challenges of donor-funded stability programs
- Contributed to study tools development
- Conducted key informants' interviews and preliminary analysis of the collected data.
Policy Advisor for Sub-National Governance
GOPA Worldwide Consultants
Kabul, Afghanistan
08.2016 - 11.2016
- This assignment was aimed at promoting substantive, in-depth dialogue on sub-national governance topics in Afghanistan between scholars, governance practitioners, and policymakers
- Assessed the challenges of the district classification and its impact on governance and the local political economy
- Developed a policy brief on the existing district classification system and recommended a way forward
- Developed a district assessment framework to assess districts based on their strategic location, resource base, and presence of national assets
- Conducted a desk review of the donor-supported governance programs and conducted focus group discussions with key political informants on people's political participation in the governance processes
- Developed a coordination project document for the central ministries to ensure better coordination with subnational entities and improve people’s participation in the political processes
- Facilitated approval of the project document by the central government.
Research Assistant
Dexis Consulting Group
Washington DC, USA
10.2015 - 02.2016
- Studied linkages between the Country Development Cooperation Strategies (CDCS) and Strategic Assessment Frameworks (SAF) of the Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance (DRG) Division of the USAID
- Conducted interviews, contributed to the desk review, and developed a data analysis framework
- Identified thematic areas, coded themes, and analyzed the data.
Senior Policy Advisor
Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG)
Kabul, Afghanistan
07.2013 - 08.2014
- Led consultation with elected representatives, civil society, and academia on municipalities' and local councils' laws
- Analyzed the political findings and contributed to the draft and revision process of the municipalities and local councils' laws
- Assisted in the drafting of the local administration law
- Advised IDLG to establish a partnership for developing a joint social inclusion policy with the Ministry of Public Works and Ministry of Work and Social Affairs
- Led a conflict resolution mission to Herat province and resolved a political conflict over sports funds allocation for youth between the provincial governor and key political figures of the province
- Facilitated the maintenance of strategic dialogue between government officials of IDLG partner organizations and civil society organizations.
Director of Local Programs and Coordination
Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG)
Kabul, Afghanistan
06.2012 - 06.2013
- Represented the government in the process of donors’ strategy development for stability (USAID, DFID, and UNDP)
- Led the process of establishing the Local Programs Department, which aimed to improve coordination of sub-national programs and provide technical support to provincial governors
- Led the process of assessments in 30 districts for planning purposes and advised the team on the analysis and utilization of the data
- Developed a conceptual framework of Governance Management Information System (GovMIS) to establish a systematic data collection and reporting mechanism between the center and provinces
- Piloted the use of a balanced scorecard for governance in Afghanistan, working with a local NGO
- Developed the department's annual work plan and helped provincial governors' offices develop annual work plans
- Coordinated with the Ministry of Economy to identify and remove the overlap of responsibilities between the provincial Department of Economy and the provincial sectoral directorate.
Program Director
Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG)
Kabul, Afghanistan
05.2010 - 06.2012
- Managed teams to assess government institutions, services, and opportunities for intervention in 49 districts and then develop governance improvement plans in consultation with community representatives
- Led planning meetings with the donor agencies (USAID, DFID, French Embassy, and coalition forces)
- Worked with local administrations in several provinces to establish district-level councils with youth subcommittees to improve political decision-making and linkage between people and government
- Advised the central government on the establishment of the Rule of Law working group; then, led it at the request of the group members
- Developed work plans, human resource plans, and communication plans and supervised their implementation with the relevant departments.
HIV Research Project Manager
Johns Hopkins University (JHU)
Kabul, Afghanistan
07.2008 - 05.2010
- Managed the development and implementation of five studies of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases in at-risk groups in Afghanistan
- Designed projects' budgets and aligned activities with the strategic objectives of the National AIDS Control Program’s (NACP) objectives
- Provided technical support and guidance to the Afghanistan National AIDS Control Program of the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) on issues related to monitoring, evaluation, and surveillance
- Contracted fieldwork to two national NGOs, trained field staff on tools and protocols, and monitored performance
- Drafted the conceptual framework of the health policymaking process in Afghanistan and designed the research protocol to study the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs (KAB) of policymakers about HIV and other health issues
- Managed both expatriate technical staff and national staff of the HIV surveillance team.
Health Program Manager
Norwegian Afghanistan Committee (NAC)
Kabul, Afghanistan
10.2006 - 08.2007
- Supervised and managed personnel for two health projects and drafted proposals for health projects
- Developed annual project budgets monitored budget implementation and ensured the accuracy and reliability of projects' expenditures.
National Officer
Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO)
Kabul, Afghanistan
09.2005 - 10.2006
- Advised the nutrition department of the health ministry to integrate nutrition activities into all health programs and projects of the ministry
- Established a coordination mechanism between the nutrition department of the health ministry, and home economics and extension departments of the ministry of agriculture
- This coordination was aimed to link health and nutrition initiatives with food production and diversification at the village level
- Coordinated nutrition project strategies with UNICEF and WFP.
Provincial Advisor
Afghanistan Stabilization Program
Kandahar, Afghanistan
10.2004 - 09.2005
- Mapped existing facilities and ongoing projects to identify linkages to the provincial strategy for stabilization
- Identified areas of synergy and duplication of efforts
- Facilitated the identification and prioritization of projects for the Provincial Stabilization Fund (PSF) with Kandahar representatives of the Constitutional Loya Jirga (Constitutional Grand Council).
M&E Officer
IbnSina Public Health Program for Afghanistan
01.2004 - 09.2004
- Prepared monthly, quarterly, and biannual reports of health projects in 4 provinces
- Managed an impact assessment survey of the activities of the organization in two provinces.
House Physician: Medical Unit I
Allied Hospital
Faisalabad, Pakistan
06.2003 - 12.2003
- Examined and counseled outpatients; prescribed medicine and advised needed lab and diagnostic investigations; admitted serious cases for appropriate treatment and follow-up.
House Surgeon: ENT
Hayatabad Medical Complex and Postgraduate Institute
Peshawar, Pakistan
12.2002 - 05.2003
- Attended OPD daily; examined, treated, and counseled patients; performed routine ENT surgeries.
Education
M.A. Democracy and Governance -
Georgetown University
Washington, DC01.2016
Fulbright Scholarship -
01.2016
H. Humphrey Fellowship -
Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health
Baltimore, MD01.2008
Hubert Humphrey Fellowship -
01.2008
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (M.B.B.S) -
University of the Punjab
Lahore01.2002
Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Scholarship -
01.1998
Faculty of Sciences Certificate (Fs.C.) -
Islamia College Peshawar
Peshawar01.1991
UNHCR scholarship for Afghan students in Pakistan -
01.1991
Languages
- English
- Persian (Farsi, Dari, Tajiki)
- Pashto
- Urdu
- Arabic
- Punjabi
Timeline
Associate Research Scholar
Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies (SIWPS)
11.2022 - Current
AGORA Consultant
Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED)
02.2022 - 10.2022
Deputy Minister Municipalities
Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG)
01.2021 - 08.2021
Honorary Director
Tarzi Research Organization (TRO)
01.2020 - Current
Director of Local Stability Dept.
Office of National Security Council
12.2019 - 12.2020
Governance Expert
Particip Consulting, UNDP
08.2019 - 12.2019
Executive Director
Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG)
02.2018 - 07.2019
Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist
Checchi Consulting, SUPPORT II (USAID)
08.2017 - 12.2017
Analyst
UNDP
03.2017 - 05.2017
Stability Consultant
Integrity Watch
12.2016 - 02.2017
Policy Advisor for Sub-National Governance
GOPA Worldwide Consultants
08.2016 - 11.2016
Research Assistant
Dexis Consulting Group
10.2015 - 02.2016
Senior Policy Advisor
Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG)
07.2013 - 08.2014
Director of Local Programs and Coordination
Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG)
06.2012 - 06.2013
Program Director
Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG)
05.2010 - 06.2012
HIV Research Project Manager
Johns Hopkins University (JHU)
07.2008 - 05.2010
Health Program Manager
Norwegian Afghanistan Committee (NAC)
10.2006 - 08.2007
National Officer
Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO)
09.2005 - 10.2006
Provincial Advisor
Afghanistan Stabilization Program
10.2004 - 09.2005
M&E Officer
IbnSina Public Health Program for Afghanistan
01.2004 - 09.2004
House Physician: Medical Unit I
Allied Hospital
06.2003 - 12.2003
House Surgeon: ENT
Hayatabad Medical Complex and Postgraduate Institute
12.2002 - 05.2003
M.A. Democracy and Governance -
Georgetown University
Fulbright Scholarship -
H. Humphrey Fellowship -
Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health
Hubert Humphrey Fellowship -
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (M.B.B.S) -
University of the Punjab
Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Scholarship -
Faculty of Sciences Certificate (Fs.C.) -
Islamia College Peshawar
UNHCR scholarship for Afghan students in Pakistan -
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