Saqib Farooq Chohan

Senior education systems and international development professional with over 20 years of experience leading education reform, public policy, institutional strengthening, digital transformation, and multi-million-dollar development programs in partnership with governments, multilateral development banks, bilateral donors, UN agencies, academia, civil society, and the private sector. Extensive expertise in designing and implementing large-scale education, TVET, youth skills, workforce development, and social sector initiatives, with strengths in strategic planning, program and portfolio management, evidence-based policymaking, EdTech and digital innovation, education data systems, monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEAL), public-private partnerships (PPPs), corporate social responsibility (CSR), safeguarding, child protection, and partnership development.

Proven track record of advising senior government leaders and development partners on policy formulation, systems strengthening, institutional reform, digital learning, assessment and examination reforms, education data governance, out-of-school children (OOSC), skills development, employability, workforce readiness, and federal-provincial coordination. Successfully led complex initiatives, coordinated international technical assistance, strengthened institutional capacity, and delivered high-impact programs funded by the World Bank, FCDO, JICA, USAID, ADB, UNICEF, UNESCO, CIDA, AusAid, AKDN, the European Union, and other international partners.

Recognized for building consensus, mobilizing strategic partnerships, resolving policy and operational challenges, and translating national priorities into sustainable, results-driven programs. Brings strategic leadership, analytical thinking, operational excellence, partnership management, resource mobilization, evidence-based decision-making, and excellent communication, negotiation, facilitation, and stakeholder engagement skills. Fluent in English, Urdu, and Punjabi.

• Policy & Strategy Development - Co-authored National Distance Education Strategy, Pakistan STEM Initiative, Gilgit-Baltistan Education Strategy 2030, Early Childhood Education Policy (Balochistan), and contributed to multiple national and provincial policy frameworks.
• Programme Design & Management - Designed and managed multi-million-dollar programmes for EU, World Bank, FCDO, DFID, JICA, USAID, and UNICEF across all regions of Pakistan.
• Government & Donor Coordination - Served as Federal Coordination Focal Point for World Bank-FCDO DARE Trust Fund; led coordination for IPEMC, NEDPG, LEG, and Education Secretaries' Forums.
• Digital Transformation & EdTech - Spearheaded Pakistan's national distance learning response during COVID-19; led Teleschool, Radio School, National e-Education Portal; facilitated Google for Education partnerships.
• TVET & Skills Development - Founding member of PSDF; supported TVET reforms with NAVTTC, provincial TEVTAs, and international partners.
• Inclusion & Safeguarding - Led DFID Girls' Education Challenge for 55,500+ girls; developed comprehensive safeguarding, PSEAH, and GESI frameworks.
• Institutional Strengthening - Founding member of Pakistan's first private-sector national examination board (AKU-EB); supported establishment of Pakistan Institute of Education (PIE).
• Regional Expertise - Extensive operational experience across KP, GB, Balochistan, Punjab, Sindh, ICT, AJK, and former FATA.

• European Union - Direct experience with EU-funded Northern Pakistan Education Programme (NPEP-I & II), including managing research, programme delivery, and policy coordination. Familiar with EU compliance and reporting procedures.
• World Bank & FCDO - Senior leadership role as Federal Coordination Focal Point for the Data and Research in Education (DARE) Trust Fund, managing a complex portfolio of technical assistance and fostering consensus among key stakeholders.
• FCDO/DFID - Successfully led the DFID Girls' Education Challenge Fund and DFID 'IIm Ideas' Programme. Experienced in FCDO/DFID results frameworks, safeguarding requirements, value-for-money principles, and financial oversight.
• JICA - Senior advisory role embedded within the Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training through JICA, providing strategic guidance on national education sector planning, policy, and implementation.
• USAID - Managed a $90 million cooperative agreement (ED-Links), served as a certified AOTR/COTR, and advised on $148 million strategy development. Deep understanding of USAID compliance, procurement, and monitoring standards.
• UNICEF, UNESCO, GPE - Extensive collaboration through national coordination platforms (LEG, NEDPG, IPEMC), the SDG 4 Mid-Term Review, the ECW Multi-Year Resilience Programme, and various policy and systems-strengthening initiatives.
• Other Partners - Collaborated with DFAT (AusAID), AKDN, CIDA, and UNDP on various projects, demonstrating a broad and adaptable donor engagement portfolio.

• My career has provided me with deep, hands-on experience across all regions of Pakistan, enabling me to understand local contexts and foster effective partnerships.
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) & Former FATA - Contributed to the EU-funded Northern Pakistan Education Programme, supported USAID education initiatives, and led policy and institutional strengthening projects with the Aga Khan Foundation and JICA.
• Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) - Extensive engagement from the EU NPEP-I project to my advisory role with the Aga Khan Foundation (AKDN), where I co-authored the Gilgit-Baltistan Education Strategy 2030.
• Balochistan - Led the development of the Early Childhood Education Policy in Balochistan for AKES(P) under AusAID funding and managed USAID education projects.
• Punjab - Founding member of the Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF), established M&E frameworks, business rules, and SOPs for the 50 million GBP fund.
• Sindh - Managed the DFID 'IIm Ideas' Public-Private Partnership in Sindh and provided technical oversight for USAID's Sindh Community Mobilization Component.
• Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) - Held multiple senior advisory roles embedded within the Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training (MoFEPT), providing strategic direction on national policy.
• Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) - Directed post-earthquake rehabilitation of 384 schools and 52 basic health centers.

• National Policy Leadership - Co-authored Pakistan's National Distance Education Strategy (2023) and contributed to the national Digital Learning and Education Innovation Strategy, establishing the policy framework for technology-enabled learning across formal and non-formal sectors.
• Digital Transformation & EdTech - Spearheaded national EdTech initiatives including Teleschool, Radio School, National e-Education Portal, and OTT Learning Platform; served as Ministry focal point for Tech Valley–Google Pakistan partnerships, introducing Google for Education solutions nationwide.
• COVID-19 Response & Learning Recovery - Led Pakistan's national distance and blended learning response during the pandemic, ensuring continuity of education for millions of students through high-tech and low-tech solutions; designed and implemented digital learning strategies to combat learning disruptions.
• TVET & Skills Development - Founding member of the Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF), establishing M&E framework and business rules for 50 million GBP fund; supported TVET reforms with NAVTTC, provincial TEVTAs, and development partners.
• Large-Scale Programme Management - Managed $90 million USAID ED-Links cooperative agreement; served as Federal Coordination Focal Point for World Bank-FCDO DARE Trust Fund, coordinating seven international technical assistance firms.
• Girls' Education & Inclusion - Led DFID Girls' Education Challenge Fund, empowering 55,500+ vulnerable adolescent girls; developed comprehensive Safeguarding, Child Protection, and PSEAH policies.
• Institutional Strengthening - Founding member of Pakistan's first private-sector national examination board (AKU-EB), leading development of institutional systems, operational frameworks, and examination processes from inception.
• Regional Experience - Deep operational knowledge across KP, Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan, Punjab, Sindh, ICT, AJK, and former FATA, with direct experience implementing EU, World Bank, DFID, JICA, USAID, and AKDN programmes.

• National Distance Education Strategy | 2023 | Co-author
• Pakistan STEM Initiative (STEAM) | 2023 | Co-author
• Student Learning Achievement Study, European Commission, Northern Areas, Pakistan | 2003 | Lead Author
• Punjab Education Sector Reform Programme Assessment Study, CIDA (DFATD) for Government of Punjab | 2010 | Co-author
• $148 million South Punjab Education Development Strategy, USAID | 2009-2010 | Co-author

With over two decades of experience across education systems reform, institutional development, and strategic policy engagement, I work at the intersection of human capital development and national transformation agendas.

My professional journey spans foundational education reform initiatives, workforce ecosystem strengthening, youth skills acceleration, and multi-stakeholder partnership architecture. I have contributed to institutional design and operational structuring during early-stage reform platforms, and subsequently led strategic collaboration efforts linking public institutions, private sector actors, development partners, and civil society.

My core focus areas include:

Human capital competitiveness and youth workforce integration

SDG-aligned education and skills transformation frameworks

Public–private partnership design and coalition-building

Digital integration within education and training ecosystems

Program strategy, execution oversight, and impact alignment

I remain committed to supporting scalable, policy-aligned initiatives that strengthen national productivity, innovation capacity, and sustainable development outcomes. My work is guided by systems thinking, collaborative leadership, and results-oriented implementation.