Associated Consultants

Uzera Nishat – Human Resources, Organizational Culture & Leadership Development

Uzera brings over 20 years of leadership in HR strategy, people management, organizational structuring, and leadership development. With regional experience in South Asia and technical certifications from Oxford and Cornell, she has successfully driven cultural transformation, gender equity, and performance systems in organizations like IRC and WaterAid. Her expertise lies in HR policy, compliance systems, leadership pipelines, and team culture. At DDS, she steers internal organizational growth and provides capacity-building support to partners in institutional governance and workforce development.

Sarwat Jahan – Peacebuilding, Livelihoods & Stabilization Programming

Sarwat is a senior program leader with over 27 years of experience in peacebuilding, stabilization, livelihoods, and gender-responsive programming. She has directed large-scale USAID-funded interventions, managing over 1,400 community grants and working across fragile regions to promote resilience, inclusion, and governance. Her expertise lies in CVE, conflict sensitivity, social protection, and community-led programming. At DDS, Sarwat provides strategic input into stabilization and resilience portfolios, working closely with field teams and donors.

Shazia Khalid – Monitoring, Evaluation & Adaptive Management

Shazia is a MEL leader with more than 20 years of experience in designing evaluation systems, managing complex MEL portfolios, and leading evidence-based decision-making processes across development sectors. She has held senior positions in NDI, UNODC, and Adam Smith International, overseeing MEL frameworks for democracy, health, and public finance reform programs. Her technical strengths include CLA, VfM, and MEL capacity building. At DDS, Shazia anchors large-scale evaluations, results monitoring, and learning strategy design across donor-funded initiatives.

Mawish Iqbal – Gender Equality, Social Inclusion & Rights-Based Evaluation

Mawish is an award-winning development researcher with over a decade of experience in evaluations, research, and evidence generation rooted in gender, equity, and human rights-based approaches. She has worked with UNICEF, BISP, World Bank, and numerous global and national institutions on projects spanning WASH, education, health, social protection, and climate resilience. Mawish’s areas of expertise include gender mainstreaming, inclusive MEL design, and rights-based research methods. At DDS, she ensures that inclusion, gender, and intersectionality are integral to evaluation and policy work.

Tahira Habib – Minority Rights, Gender Advocacy & Civic Leadership

Tahira is a highly respected advocate for minority rights, gender equality, and civic leadership with decades of experience working with the U.S. Consulate, HRCP, and regional coalitions. She has led policy advocacy campaigns, designed grassroots trainings, and contributed to peace and rights-based dialogues both nationally and internationally. Her expertise includes religious minority rights, GBV prevention, and human rights education. At DDS, Tahira leads work related to rights advocacy, social cohesion, and community capacity-building.

Ahmed Jan – Rural Development, Evaluation & Local Governance

Ahmed Jan is a highly experienced development professional from Balochistan with over 18 years of progressive experience in community development, project management, and MEL (Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning). His work spans key donor-funded programs such as BRACE and GRASP under the EU, where he served as a provincial M&E coordinator with Oxford Policy Management. Ahmed combines sectoral expertise in rural development, agriculture and food security, value chain management, and gender integration, with practical leadership roles across multi-district field operations. With a strong academic base—including postgraduate studies in History and Agriculture—he has led numerous evaluations, developed sectoral strategies for the Government of Balochistan, and conducted research on human trafficking, post-harvest losses, and institutional reform. At DDS, Ahmed brings grounded field insight, technical evaluation expertise, and a deep understanding of local governance systems in Balochistan and beyond.

Noor ul Ain – Community Mobilization, Program Implementation & Local Governance

Noor brings deep field experience in community engagement, program delivery, and government liaison, particularly in Sindh. She has managed civil documentation, education, and property taxation projects in partnership with UNDP, NADRA, and the World Bank. Her expertise includes field monitoring, partner coordination, and training delivery. At DDS, Noor supports field research, sub-national project management, and local governance interventions, ensuring that strategies are responsive and inclusive.

Sara Syed – Gender-Based Violence, Livelihoods & Community Engagement

Sara Syed is a committed development practitioner with over a decade of field and technical experience in gender-based violence prevention, women’s livelihoods, and community mobilization. With a proven track record in leading GBV training, psychosocial support, and gender protection interventions, she has worked with organizations such as Mercy Corps, Islamic Relief, UN-Habitat, and IDO. Her expertise lies in designing and delivering tailored training for service providers, coordinating GBV referral mechanisms, facilitating radio-based community outreach, and leading grassroots behavior change efforts. Additionally, Sara has contributed to large-scale livelihood and vocational training programs, particularly for women and adolescent girls in vulnerable communities. At DDS, she plays a vital role in designing and implementing programs focused on gender mainstreaming, GBV response, protection systems, and women-led community development.

Suleman Naqeeb - Corporate Business Planning and Financial Systems Advisor
Suleman Naqeeb is a dedicated and results-driven finance professional with over 15 years of experience in financial management, business planning, and strategic operations. Currently serving as Finance Manager at Legal and Legal in Rawalpindi, he has successfully designed and managed comprehensive financial systems using QuickBooks and developed over 100 business plans across diverse sectors. His expertise spans financial reporting, procurement, payroll, bank reconciliation, and end-of-year account finalisation. In addition to his core financial competencies, Suleman brings a strong foundation in marketing, IT systems, and web development, including experience with platforms such as WordPress and OpenCart. Known for his adaptability, multilingual skills, and problem-solving acumen, he thrives in dynamic environments and excels in cross-functional coordination. At DDS, Suleman contributes to institutional financial planning, internal control systems, and operational efficiency, ensuring that development projects are not only impactful but also financially sustainable.