SYED ALI RAZA
Development Expert
Islamabad
Summary
A seasoned professional with a proven track record in project management, administration, planning, monitoring & evaluation and coordination. Pursuing a strategic role where my acquired skills and experience could be best utilized to lead initiatives that mitigate risks, foster sustainable development and fortify communities against environmental challenges. Committed to applying my project management and coordination skills; to efficiently use available resources, drive innovative solutions and make meaningful contributions towards a more resilient and sustainable future.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Assistant Chief/Deputy Director (Recovery and Reconstruction Unit)
Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Government of Pakistan
08.2023 - Current
- Worked on Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) of 2022 flood-related damages in Pakistan
- Actively participated in Preparation of Resilient Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction Framework (4RF) for Pakistan Floods 2022
- Serving as a focal point for coordinating disaster management and resilience-building efforts among various government departments, donor agencies, and all stakeholders. Facilitate regular meetings, workshops, and consultations to ensure effective collaboration and information sharing.
- Oversee the implementation of flood related projects from initiation to completion. Develop project plans, timelines, and budgets in collaboration with relevant stakeholders. Monitor project progress, identify challenges, and proactively address issues to ensure timely delivery of results.
- Establish and maintain strong relationships with donor organizations, international agencies, NGOs, and other partners involved in disaster management and resilience initiatives. Coordinate donor meetings, assist in proposal development, and ensure alignment of project objectives with funding priorities.
- Design and implement monitoring and evaluation frameworks to assess the effectiveness and impact of flood recovery projects. Collect and analyze data on project outcomes, document lessons learned, and recommend adjustments to enhance project performance and accountability.
- Contribute to the development of policies, strategies, and guidelines related to disaster risk reduction, emergency response, and resilience-building initiatives. Advocate for mainstreaming resilience considerations into national development plans and policies.
- Identify training needs and develop capacity-building initiatives for government staff and partners involved in disaster management and resilience efforts. Organize workshops, seminars, and knowledge-sharing events to enhance technical skills and knowledge in relevant areas.
Director (Tourism & Community Development)
Galiyat Development Authority (GDA), Government of KP
12.2020 - 07.2023
- Successfully managed all tourism activities in the region
- Prepared and successfully executed various projects for Tourism and Community development
- Successful projects executed include
- Successful marketing and promotion of tourism activities in the region
- Regularly engaged with universities and academia for conducting tourism-related research and creating work opportunities for prospective students
- Successfully arranged various tourism and hospitality trainings
- Initiated and completed projects for community development (olive grafting for agritourism, distribution of environment-friendly stoves, home stay/ community tourism)
- Remained the focal person of GDA for coordination with the Provincial Tourism Department and World Bank on tourism development projects
- Working with the Tourism Department and KITE project World Bank on the development of Integrated Tourist Zones (ITZ)
- Management of tourism promotion events and festivals
- Successfully executed the outsourcing of more than 10 potential tourism development projects on the public-private partnership (PPP) model (creation of 300 jobs for the local population).
Assistant Director (Planning & Development)
Galiyat Development Authority (GDA), Government of KP
02.2019 - 12.2020
- Prepared of the annual development plan and budget
- Successfully managed tourism activities in the region
- Prepared and executed projects for tourism development
- To deal with administrative matters of the development projects of GDA
- Developed mechanism for the performance management of the staff of GDA
- Worked as the principal procurement officer of the department
- Remained focal person of GDA for coordination of World Bank projects.
Planning and Research Officer (Economists Group)
Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives, Government of Pakistan
11.2017 - 02.2019
- Research, collection, and analysis of economic data to provide valuable insights into economic trends, issues, and data
- Evaluated the impact of economic policies and regulations on businesses, industries, and the overall economy
- Prepared and presented research findings in the form of reports, whitepapers, and presentations
- Regular coordination within and outside of the Ministry
- Regularly dealt with the administrative matters of the development projects of the Ministry
- To ensure smooth implementation of Development Projects
- Regular coordination & arrangement of meetings and recording minutes.
Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
Galiyat Development Authority, Government of KP
03.2016 - 11.2017
- Developed a robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks tailored to infrastructure and tourism development projects. Defined key performance indicators (KPIs), data collection methods, and evaluation criteria to measure project progress, outcomes, and impacts.
- Monitored project implementation activities, expenditures, and milestones to track progress against established targets and timelines. Conducted field visits, site inspections, and data verification exercises to ensure adherence to project plans and standards.
- Assessed the effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability of development projects through comprehensive evaluations. Analyzed quantitative and qualitative data to identify strengths, weaknesses, lessons learned, and areas for improvement.
- Regularly prepared monitoring reports, progress updates, and evaluation findings for government authorities, project managers, and other stakeholders. Communicated key findings, trends, and recommendations to inform decision-making and enhance project performance.
- Carried out regular monitoring of Staff attendance, supply of water, solid waste management, tax collections and building control
Education
PhD in Development Studies -
COMSATS UNIVERSITY ISLAMABAD, ABBOTTABAD CAMPUS
M.Phil. / MS in Development Studies - undefined
COMSATS UNIVERSITY ISLAMABAD, ABBOTTABAD CAMPUS
Bachelors (Hons) in Economics - undefined
QUAID-E-AZAM UNIVERSITY, ISLAMABAD
Completed GCE Advanced Levels - undefined
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY
Completed GCE Ordinary levels - undefined
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY
Skills
Project Managementundefined
Awards
- Stood first in class and availed of Merit scholarship throughout my MS degree
- Received certification and Rs. 1 Million cash award for extraordinary performance as Director in GDA
Publications
MS Thesis titled, "Economic Impact of Tourism on Indigenous People of Nathiagali"
References
Available upon request.
Extracurricular Activities
Pakistan Peace Collective March 2013 Member QAU Adventure Club February 2013 NUST International Model United Nations' 13 January 2013 Founding member of the Quaidian Economic Society, QAU Feb 2012 - Jan 2013
Training
- Training on Introduction to PDNA, 09/2023, World Bank
- Training on Public Private Partnership, 09/2022, Government of KP Tourism Department
- Sustainable Tourism - promoting environmental public health, 10/2020, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
- Public Policy Challenges of the 21st Century, 10/2020, University of Virginia, USA
- Programme on Project Management, 08/2019, Lahore University of Management Science (LUMS)
- Induction Training, 01/2018, Pakistan Planning & Management Institute (PPMI)
- Training on Office Procedures, Secretariat Training Institute (STI)
- Psycho-Social Support Program Training, 04/2014, Pakistan Red Crescent (PRC)
- Creative Anger by Rakhshi-U.S Embassy, 12/2013
Timeline
Assistant Chief/Deputy Director (Recovery and Reconstruction Unit)
Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Government of Pakistan
08.2023 - Current
Director (Tourism & Community Development)
Galiyat Development Authority (GDA), Government of KP
12.2020 - 07.2023
Assistant Director (Planning & Development)
Galiyat Development Authority (GDA), Government of KP
02.2019 - 12.2020
Planning and Research Officer (Economists Group)
Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives, Government of Pakistan
11.2017 - 02.2019
Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
Galiyat Development Authority, Government of KP
03.2016 - 11.2017
PhD in Development Studies -
COMSATS UNIVERSITY ISLAMABAD, ABBOTTABAD CAMPUS
M.Phil. / MS in Development Studies - undefined
COMSATS UNIVERSITY ISLAMABAD, ABBOTTABAD CAMPUS
Bachelors (Hons) in Economics - undefined
QUAID-E-AZAM UNIVERSITY, ISLAMABAD
Completed GCE Advanced Levels - undefined
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY
Completed GCE Ordinary levels - undefined
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY
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