Zia Sultana
Karachi,SD
Summary
Experienced A+ public health professional with a strong background in program management and leadership.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Project Manager
Jivan Family Charitable Fund
01.2024 - 10.2024
- Maintained a comprehensive record of project activities through photographs and videos, capturing key moments and milestones
- Led and motivated the project team, fostering a collaborative and results-oriented work environment
- Effectively delegated tasks to team members, ensuring clear roles and responsibilities
- Regularly assessed team performance and provided feedback to enhance individual and team productivity
Zonal Head - Operations (Family Planning & Reproductive Health)
Pakistan Press Foundation
05.2023 - 12.2023
- Working closely with Head of Operations to supervise smooth functioning of all Family Planning & Reproductive Health Clinics based in Karachi region
- Monitor quarterly and annual projections for achieving KPIs (Post Abortion Care, CYP and Income) with clinical teams
- Reviewing projects' performance and preparing strategies to achieve project sustainability before the end of each project
- Developing marketing plans, suggesting improvement and monitoring its implementation at each project
- Strongly monitor the income to cost ratio of clinics for the sustainability
- Strongly monitor the Quality Technical Assessment (QTA) standards and ensure timely action are closed
- Ensure all teams comply with client satisfaction indicators based on gender and rights-based approaches as per guidelines
- Oversee compliance (Internal stock audit, invoicing system) of Family Planning services with the quality assurance guidelines
- Ensured all reports submission to donor and Government (PWD)
- Assisted Regional Head in Government liaison strategies for strengthening partnership with PWD, Sindh HealthCare Commission and Health department
Research Specialist
Mariestopes Society Pakistan
06.2019 - 08.2021
- Conducted a qualitative case study on 'Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) policy driven behavior in Pakistan' funded by London School of Economics in collaboration with London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)
- Successful in liaison with Health departments (Sindh and Islamabad), NGOs & Corporate sectors (PPHI & RSPN, Chemotic International), DRAP, Tertiary care hospital (Sindh and Islamabad), Domestic and international pharma industries (Brooks, GSK, Pfizer, Byer) and funding agencies (WHO, DFID, USAID, DAI) for AMR policy analysis
- Made vital contribution in designing of analysis and writing workshop in collaboration with LSHTM research team
- Lead in organizing a dissemination Symposium on AMR at NIH, Islamabad and Aga Khan University, and oversee all logistic arrangements and liaising meeting with Government & non-government stakeholders
- Developed quarterly reports of progress update of projects for the ERC committee of Aga Khan University
Manager
Aga Khan University Hospital
07.2017 - 12.2018
- Lead in staff trainings/development programme to upgrade the capacity of the research teams in the programme implementation and management of the Immunization projects
- Conducted a qualitative impact study on 'Fieldworker perceptions of the feasibility and acceptability of four subnational household sampling methods (EPI sampling, compact segment sampling (CSS), lot quality assurance sampling (LQAS), and one based on randomly sampling households from satellite imagery -GIS)
- Developed monitoring tools and MIS to monitor the progress of research surveys
- Conducted relevant orientation, workshop, team work facilitation and staff learning/development activities
- Compiled Immunization projects implementation training and orientation materials
- Conducted field visits to project sites for government and other partner, providing necessary information for briefing on the project
- Collaborated with members of the development community, including NGOs and bilateral agencies (PWD, LHW Program
- MNCH) in the exchange of information relating to Immunization sector
- Supported in knowledge management and capacity building of research team
Consultant
Development Alternative Inc. (DAI)
01.2017 - 04.2017
- Worked as Consultant with DAI in USAID project for Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) for the community of Lyari
- Lead in developing donor progress and completion reports
- Developed a detailed methodology and tools for mapping of existing gender discrimination, GBV, gender mainstreaming, women empowerment and related policies, legislations and programmes
- Designed and conducted an action research to explore current Violent Extremism (VE) trends in the community of Karachi
- Developed Counter Violent Extremism (CVE) manual for the Community Women Leaders
- Developed a training manual on CVE and conducted a capacity building and training workshop on CVE for women leaders and youth groups
- Designed and conducted a policy dialog with Community Stakeholders for the prevention of Violence Extremism
- Developed a sustainability framework for CVE on the basis of UNHCR and CEDAW framework
- Managed relationships with project partners and donors(DAI) for implementation and lead in performing all areas of program management including development of work-plans, strategies, budgeting, implementation, technical writing, donor and internal reporting and concept notes
Manager Community Mobilization
Mariestopes Society
07.2014 - 03.2016
- Worked as Manager Community Mobilization in Mariestopes Society USAID project on family planning and reproductive health and developing IPC Toolkit on Birth spacing for married men & women and mother in law
- Identifying and working closely with key partners across public and voluntary sector for action in relation to lead areas, providing specialist advice in the development of best practice and service delivery
- Design and delivery of capacity building workshop on Behavior Change Communication(BCC) and community engagement as per project annual work plan for Communicating complex public health messages to a wide range of professionals and lay groups, undertaking project management, including the planning and organization of a range of complex public health areas concurrently
- Instrumental in developing the training manuals on Community Mobilization and counseling on Safe motherhood for Field Health Workers (FHEs) and Health Services Providers (HSPs) as well as operational manuals to establish the community Resource Groups and Community Social Volunteer
- Planning and organizing international events (IWD, International Family day & International Girl child day) with operational team of Sukkur, Multan, Karachi and Hyderabad
Training Coordinator
Aga Khan University Hospital
12.2011 - 04.2014
- Developed and conducted capacity building workshops and refreshers on Early Child Development (ECD) on Nutrition, ANC, PNC and play modules (Physical, Cognitive, Language, Social& Emotional Development) and inclusion (gender, disabled and ultra-poor)
- Reviewed and evaluated practice and service delivery to ensure aims and objectives were met complying with the national and local guidance
- Provided training on Child Development Associate (CDA) Tool and AKUADS during baseline training to ECD workers
- Acted as a co-investigator in a Formative Action Research study using media (TV & Radio) campaign to promote the ECD messages in Baluchistan across 3-districts including Gwadar, Quetta and Qila Saifullah
- Explored current child care practices regarding Nutrition, ANC, Maternal Mental Health, Child development and inclusion (Gender, Disabled and Ultra-Poor) in 3 districts of Baluchistan, including Gwadar, Quetta and Qila Saifullah by designing and implementing qualitative research study
- Successfully developed modules on ANC, PNC, Inclusion and Health & hygiene for ECD worker and maintained effective coordination with the IPs (Implementing Partners) of Gwader, Quetta and Qila Saifullah for the execution, progress update and monitoring activities of project
- Fostering of strategic cooperation with implementing partners for the promotion of ECD
Education
Masters - Social Sciences
University of Karachi
PakistanSkills
Grants writing
Project management
Project planning
Project planning and development
Project tracking
Strategic planning
Risk management
Schedule management
Team collaboration
Work flow planning
Project scheduling
Task prioritization
Cost control
Document management
Data analysis
Budgeting and forecasting
Root-cause analysis
Presentations
Team bonding
Resource allocation
Compliance monitoring
Stakeholder communications
Relationship building
Coaching and mentoring
Project closure
Logistics management
Performance improvements
Conflict management
Performance evaluations
Cost reduction and containment
Meeting facilitation
Trainingworkshopsattended
- 5-day writing and analysis workshop, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 05/01/18
- 3-day ToT on SMH counseling cards, Johns Hopkins University, 07/01/15
Personal Information
- Nationality: Pakistani
- Marital Status: Single
Publications
- Is enhancing the professionalism of healthcare providers critical to tackling antimicrobial resistance in low- and middle-income countries?, Human Resources for Health, BMC
- What are the barriers to implementing national antimicrobial resistance action plans?, Health Policy and Planning, Oxford Academia
Timeline
Project Manager
Jivan Family Charitable Fund
01.2024 - 10.2024
Zonal Head - Operations (Family Planning & Reproductive Health)
Pakistan Press Foundation
05.2023 - 12.2023
Research Specialist
Mariestopes Society Pakistan
06.2019 - 08.2021
Manager
Aga Khan University Hospital
07.2017 - 12.2018
Consultant
Development Alternative Inc. (DAI)
01.2017 - 04.2017
Manager Community Mobilization
Mariestopes Society
07.2014 - 03.2016
Training Coordinator
Aga Khan University Hospital
12.2011 - 04.2014
Masters - Social Sciences
University of Karachi