Ayesha Waqar

AYESHA WAQAR Islamabad, Pakistan • -/ - •- Professional Summary Experienced Project Coordinator with a focus on community services, protection, and humanitarian programs. Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams, manage community-based projects, and ensure alignment with donor and stakeholder requirements. Expertise in protection, gender-sensitive programming, and enhancing community resilience in challenging environments. Dedicated and results-oriented professional with expertise in food security, Water Security, educationfocused programs, and community-based development projects. Proven experience in managing school meal programs, food distribution, and leading teams in complex environments. Area Of Expertise • • • • • • • • • • • • • Community-based Protection Programs Legal Literacy & Advocacy Gender-responsive Program Implementation Stakeholder Engagement & Coordination Monitoring & Evaluation in Humanitarian Contexts School-based Food Distribution Project Management Stakeholder Coordination Project Proposal, Report Writing & Policy Implementation Gender-sensitive Analysis Research & Data Analysis Team Leadership Professional Experience Professional Experience Ashraful Aid International Humanitarian Organization – Johannesburg Implemented community resilience programs, focusing on protection, legal awareness, and community engagement strategies to enhance local advocacy efforts and protect vulnerable populations. Project Manager/Donor Relations Officer January 2024  Directed a team of 5 in implementing streamlined project processes, achieving a 15% reduction in project timelines and a 10% increase in project profitability.  Spearheaded the successful rollout of food security, Water security, and community resilience programs, ensuring alignment with donor expectations and comprehensive reporting.  Orchestrated the normalization of administration, logistics, and technical programming, resulting in a 10% increase in project efficiency and enhanced stakeholder satisfaction.  Developed personalized donor engagement strategies that led to a 10% increase in donor retention rates and a 15% rise in fundraising performance.  Generated detailed reports and analytics to track project performance, donor engagement metrics, and fundraising outcomes, ensuring compliance with organizational policies and providing insights for future initiatives.  Managed partner relations and coordinated cross-functional teams to meet project goals, contributing to improved donor relationships and sustained support. Key Responsibilities as Project Manager  Develop and execute strategies that align with organizational goals, ensuring effective project delivery.     Cultivate strong relationships with donors and stakeholders to enhance collaboration and support for projects. Regularly evaluate project progress against objectives, adjusting strategies to optimize outcomes. Ensure all projects adhere to organizational policies and donor requirements through meticulous reporting practices. Promote a collaborative team environment that encourages professional growth and high performance. CRSM - Resource & System Management INGO’s Consulting Company Completed a 5-month training as a Project Officer with CRSM Consulting, where I developed essential skills in Project Proposal Writing, Project Management, and Monitoring & Evaluation, focusing on food security and education programs. Project Officer     JULY 2024– November 2024 Managed and coordinated food distribution, Livelihood, and education-related projects in vulnerable communities, particularly in Duhok (Iraq) as part of the WHH Food Security and Nutrition Project. Led team management efforts, optimized resources, and ensured the effective delivery of project outcomes in school meal programs and other community resilience initiatives. Prepared and submitted detailed reports and project proposals for international donors, including NRC and DCA. Ensured alignment with donor expectations and organizational policies. Collaborated with cross-functional teams across different locations, including projects in Syria, to deliver results under challenging conditions. Key Responsibilities     Conducted document review and provided research support for project development and implementation. Drafted project reports, proposals, and official documentation for submission to international stakeholders and donors. Built partnerships and liaised with stakeholders to enhance project sustainability and community outreach. Ensured compliance with organizational policies, regulatory frameworks, and donor requirements, achieving high standards in project management. BLUE VEINS – Peshawar (NGO) Led a legal literacy and women’s access to justice program, directly contributing to community protection by establishing Dispute Resolution Councils and advocating for gender-responsive policing. Project Coordinator April 2023 – October 2023 Program: UN Women’s KP Rule of Law Roadmap’s project viz., “CSOs Engagement in Promoting Rule of Law, Legal Literacy, and Women’s Access to Justice in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Merged Districts” • Orchestrated a community awareness campaign on pro-women laws, engaging 400+ participants fostered partnerships with district institutions leading to a 30% increase in local advocacy efforts. • The project is implemented in four districts viz., Mardan, Khyber, Kohat, and Kurram. • To record the implementation, I generate activity as well as periodic reports every three months. Also, I maintain • proper work plans and risk register to ensure safe and smooth program management. • One of my significant achievements in this project as a result of advocacy efforts with the office of District Police Officer (DPO) Khyber is the establishment of three Dispute Resolution Councils (DRCs) in Landikotal, Bara, and Tirah tehsils of district Khyber where Jirga system reigns. • Another remarkable achievement in this project was the appointment of the first female ASHO in Kurram as a result of advocacy efforts on gender-responsive policing with the office of DPO Kurram. Program: “Norwegian Church Aid’s project viz., “Faith in Action on Equal Rights and Opportunities” • Orchestrated capacity-building workshops for diverse faith youth, civil society activists, and women on peacebuilding, social cohesion, and electoral participation, resulting in a 40% increase in civic engagement and policy awareness. • • • • • • • To be specific, the project includes the passage and implementation of the Kalash Marriage Bill and the implementation of a 2% Admission Quota for Minorities in Higher Education in KP. The project is implemented in two districts of KP viz., Peshawar and Chitral. One of the significant achievements in this project under my leadership was: Spearheaded the refinement of the Kalash Marriage Bill draft from a gender perspective, resulting in enhanced inclusivity and representation in policy-making processes. Led engagements with the Governor of KP on the implementation of KP’s Higher Education Department to enforce the 2% Admission Quota for Minorities in 34 universities, driving equitable access to education for underrepresented groups. Governor KP directed the varsities to implement the quota but his technical team is also signing an online campus management system to trace the execution of the said policy. All of this is the result of our successful advocacy efforts with Governor KP. To record the implementation, I generate activity and periodic, and annual reports. Executive Administration Officer AURAT AZADI MARCH – Socialist feminist movement Volunteer 2021 – 2022 I led their poetry group, produced and managed content for their social media, and performed translation, transcribing, critical analysis, evidence-based writing, and literature review on female issues in Pakistan as well as feminist poetry. Also, take initiative in activities like preparing required lists and fundraising for charity purposes. Used Google Sheets for planning plus demonstrated flexibility and my ability to work best under pressure during 2021 March. Volunteer AURAT COLLECTIVE – Women-centric platform 2020 – 2022 At this community organization, I did a literature review, writing, storytelling, translation, and interviewing, produced content for their social media, and very often brought new ideas to the table. Met deadlines and communicated during meetings effectively. Currently, the initiative is on hold but I am still part of it. Education M.Sc. in Geography University of Peshawar, 2021Thesis: “Comparative Analysis of Covid-19 in different Provinces of Pakistan” Course, Certification, and Training PMI – Project Management Certificates Leading Virtual Course PMD -Project Management for Development Course Virtual Teams Management Course Received Certificate from 3rd National E-course on Peer Education and Reproductive Health and Rights Received training on Child Protection by International Organization for Migration (IOM) Received Training & Certification on Data Collection for GBV and Protection (UN) Languages:  Fluent in English, Urdu, and Pashto