Syed Wali Shah
Islamabad
Summary
Dynamic Programme Officer with the Aga Khan Foundation Pakistan, skilled in human-centered design and international coordination. Proven track record in enhancing educational outcomes through strategic partnerships and effective budget management. Successfully led capacity-building initiatives, impacting over 1,290 teachers, while ensuring timely project completion and stakeholder engagement.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Programme Officer, Schools2030 Pakistan
Aga Khan Foundation Pakistan
Islamabad
03.2023 - Current
- Coordinating with Federal and Provincial Ministries of Education for obtaining NoC (No Objection Certificate) to implement project and program activities in Pakistan
- Establishing professional relationship with District Education Offices in Chitral and Gilgit Baltistan to achieve project milestones with the expected outcomes
- Managing the Schools2030 teams in Chital and Gilgit Baltistan
- Liaison with stakeholders (students, teachers, parents and communities, Govt Line Departments, AKDN Agencies and other civil society organizations for coordination and networking
- Ensuring timely completion of the project activities as per the work plan, timeframe, and the allocated budget
- Managing National and International Showcasing Events in coordination with my team and country lead.
- Managing projects and program budget effectively and efficiently.
Senior Instructor School Improvement Program (SIP)
Aga Khan University, Pakistan
10.2021 - 02.2023
- Identifying, designing, and delivering workshops, lectures, sessions, and short courses at PDC, Chitral
- Facilitating specifically designed certificate programs, Advance Diploma in Education and Early Childhood Education and Development (ECED) courses
- Preparing modules for market demand-driven courses
- Conducting workshops for professional associations/schoolteachers
- Participating in developing instructional materials related to academic programs/projects
- Engaging in scholarly work including writing articles independently on assigned projects
- Pursuing publication of scholarly work in professional journals under the supervision of senior faculty
- Participate in research studies such as designing instruments, collecting, compiling, and analyzing data and writing initial reports
- Conducting and participating in various meetings and sessions with stakeholders at PDCC and in the field
- Participating in in-house faculty meetings, forums, and policy-based discussions at PDCC
Coordinator USAID-funded Pakistan Reading Project (PRP)
World Learning International
Gilgit Baltistan
07.2018 - 09.2021
- Planned, implemented, monitored, and evaluated teacher in-service capacity-building activities in provinces, regions, and districts
- Monitored training sessions, TIG meetings, and classroom-level activities regularly in the field
- Provided on-the-job support to project staff, mentors, education officials, head teachers, and teachers during training, and TIG sessions
- Ensured timely accomplishment of teacher in-service activities in provinces, regions, and districts, in close coordination with district and provincial project staff
- Coordinated with provincial, regional, and district education departments to initiate and implement project activities timely
- Liaison with government, private, and community institutions for the implementation of activities
- Designed, and rolled out monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure regular data collection, quality assurance, and reporting
- Conducted training needs assessments TNA to identify technical and operational needs and devised capacity-building initiatives for the staff members
- Reviewed monthly plans of the district team and monitored the implementation of the activities to ensure timely accomplishment
- Contributed to designing and developing reading resources at the regional and national levels
- Coordinated and supported district teams and the government District Department of Education for scaling up CPD activities
- Prepared and managed project and program budgets
- Produced monthly, quarterly, and annual progress reports for the donors and critical stakeholders
Program Manager USAID-funded Pakistan Reading Project (PRP)
International Rescue Committee -IRC
Islamabad
04.2014 - 06.2018
- Developed concept notes and proposals for Parental Engagement to Promote Reading, Children with Special Needs, Gender, and Summer Camps
- Facilitated regional teams implementing, monitoring, and evaluating Complementary Reading Project (CRP) and Community Reading (CMR) activities in 700 government primary schools in 6 regions (GB, AJK, KPK, Islamabad, Sindh, and Baluchistan)
- Played a key role in conceptualizing, planning, and implementing the Mobile Bus Library (MBL) program in 300 government primary schools in Sindh and Islamabad
- Designed and carried out partner organization capacity assessment and developed capacity building plan to improve the work efficiency of the implementing partner organizations
- Managed Community Managed Reading (CMR) and Complementary Reading Project (CRP) grants as per Grants Management Cycle- GMC
- Drafted success stories and organized results and lessons learned propagation events
- Produced Monthly, Quarterly and Annual reports for donors as well as for organizational knowledge management
National Coordinator USAID-funded Teacher Education Program (TEP)
EDC International
Islamabad
03.2011 - 02.2014
- Established a coordination mechanism with the Ministry of Education to implement teachers' education activities in 20 government universities, and 90 teacher education colleges in 4 provinces of Pakistan as well as Gilgit Baltistan and Kashmir
- Ensured implementation of USAID-EDC B.Ed
- Honors and Associate Degree in Education colleges and universities across Pakistan
- Planned and conducted capacity-building sessions for university supervisors and college lecturers
- Produced classroom-based model lessons for teaching Science, Math, English, and Reading subjects
- Prepared program and project budgets
- Produced and disseminated Monthly, Quarterly, and Annual progress reports
Senior Manager- EU-funded School Improvement Program (SIP)
Plan International
Islamabad
10.2009 - 02.2011
- Developed a proposal for Enhance Girls Education in Pakistan and succeeded in winning the German National Office (GNO) grant to implement the program in 430 schools in district Mansehra-KP and district Chakwal-Punjab
- 1290 teachers were professionally developed focusing on girls’ education and empowerment
- The infrastructure of 120 schools was improved
- 430 principals and headteachers were professionally developed focusing on school management and pedagogical leadership
- 430 Student Representative Councils (SRCs) were formed and activated
- 430 Parents Teacher Associations (PTA) were formed and activated
Senior Officer Education Programs
Plan International
Mansehra
07.2005 - 09.2009
- Analyzed Plan International models of Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD), Non-Formal Education (NFE) Adult Literacy Program (ALP), and School Improvement Program (SIP) to make it best fit in the context of Pakistan
- Carried out a comprehensive capacity need assessment (CNA) of all existing implementing partners of Plan International Pakistan
- Developed and executed need-based capacity enhancement sessions and workshops for the implementing partners of Plan International-Pakistan
- Developed monitoring and control mechanisms for the implementation of planned activities through the partner organizations
- Established coordination mechanism with district and provincial education departments
- Produced a comprehensive proposal for establishing Child-Friendly Spaces (CFS) in 3 districts of Punjab and 3 districts of Sindh
- The proposal was accepted by the European Union (EU) and the grant was released
- Planned and executed awareness and reconceptualization sessions for the officials of the government district and provincial education departments
- Prepared and managed program and project budget
- Produced Monthly, Quarterly, and Annually progress reports (narrative and financial)
Professional Development Teacher (PDT)
Aga Khan University Institute for Educational Development
Chitral
07.2004 - 06.2005
- Designed and executed English Language Proficiency Course (ELPC) for the graduate girls of district Chitral
- Monitored and observed teaching, learning, and development process and progress at number of WSIP schools in district Chitral
- Designed and executed one-week professional development sessions for the teachers of one of the private schools in Chitral
- Planned and organized an Education Seminar first time in the history of PDCC in Chitral where education experts, community representatives, social workers, political representatives, and the representative from public administration participated
- Gathered and drafted several success stories from WSIP schools
- Planned and executed a week-long professional development workshop for the teachers of AKESP and teachers from public WSIP schools
Education
MS in Project Management - Project Management
Riphah International University
Islamabad, PakistanMasters in Education - Education
The Aga Khan University
Karachi, PakistanBachelors in Education - Education
University of Karachi
Karachi, PakistanCertificate in Primary Education -
Aga Khan University Institute for Educational Development
Karachi, PakistanCertificate in Project Management -
Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS)
Lahore, PakistanSkills
- Expert in Human Centered Design
- Strong organization and coordination skills
- Interpersonal skills working in a multicultural environment
- Effective communication for reports, briefs, and presentations
- Analytical skills and ability to work under tight deadlines
- International Coordination
- Monitoring and evaluation methodologies
- Drafting high-quality documents and reports
- Building and maintaining partnerships with stakeholders
- Excellent presentation and communication skills
- IT skills (office productivity tools, online collaboration tools)
- Contract and financial management (budgeting, reporting)
- Data collection, analysis, and evidence-based decision-making
Summary - Professional Experience
Having more than 17 years of professional experience in managing, designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating international donor-funded education projects and programs. Some of the well-known projects and program I have successfully managed across Pakistan are: Schools2030 Programme in Chitral and Gilgit Baltistan, USAID-funded Pakistan Reading Project (PRP), Punjab, Sindh, Baluchistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, AJK and Gilgit Baltistan, School Improvement Program (SIP) in KPK and Punjab, Girls Empowerment through Education Program (GEEP) in Chakwal Punjab, Education in Emergency Program (EEP), Hazara KPK, Child-Friendly Education in Emergency Project (CFEEP) in Punjab and Sindh, Adult Literacy Program Islamabad and Wihari, Fast Track Education Program Islamabad and Faisalabad.
Timeline
Programme Officer, Schools2030 Pakistan
Aga Khan Foundation Pakistan
03.2023 - Current
Senior Instructor School Improvement Program (SIP)
Aga Khan University, Pakistan
10.2021 - 02.2023
Coordinator USAID-funded Pakistan Reading Project (PRP)
World Learning International
07.2018 - 09.2021
Program Manager USAID-funded Pakistan Reading Project (PRP)
International Rescue Committee -IRC
04.2014 - 06.2018
National Coordinator USAID-funded Teacher Education Program (TEP)
EDC International
03.2011 - 02.2014
Senior Manager- EU-funded School Improvement Program (SIP)
Plan International
10.2009 - 02.2011
Senior Officer Education Programs
Plan International
07.2005 - 09.2009
Professional Development Teacher (PDT)
Aga Khan University Institute for Educational Development
07.2004 - 06.2005
MS in Project Management - Project Management
Riphah International University
Masters in Education - Education
The Aga Khan University
Bachelors in Education - Education
University of Karachi
Certificate in Primary Education -
Aga Khan University Institute for Educational Development
Certificate in Project Management -
Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS)
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