Ms. Afshan Javed is a results-driven development professional and operations leader with over 15 years of progressive experience in education reform, teacher training, institutional capacity building, women’s empowerment, and project management across Pakistan. Currently serving as Country Operations Director at GRAO, she brings extensive expertise in strategic planning, programme implementation, stakeholder coordination, and technology-enabled education.

Her career reflects a strong commitment to quality education, community empowerment, and sustainable development. She has worked with leading national and international organizations, including Intel Education Initiative Pakistan, UNFPA, SRSP, PPAF, Ujala Education Foundation, and Women Welfare Organization Poonch (WWOP). She is recognized for designing and managing large-scale development projects, strengthening institutional capacity, and translating policy into meaningful community impact.

Areas of Expertise

• Technology-Enabled Learning
• Early Childhood Education (ECE)
• Sexual & Reproductive Health & Rights (SRHR)
• Civic Education
• Entrepreneurship Development
• NGO Leadership & Management
• Project Management & Capacity Building
• Women’s Empowerment
• Strategic Planning & Programme Implementation

Professional Experience

Country Operations Director – GRAO (Present)

As Country Operations Director, Ms. Javed oversees GRAO’s operational functions, ensuring efficient programme delivery, compliance, team leadership, and strategic organizational growth across all provinces.

Intel Education Initiative Pakistan (2012–2015)

Project Coordinator & Program Officer – Trainings

Played a key role in implementing one of Pakistan’s largest technology-enabled education initiatives by improving access to quality education through digital learning, teacher training, and modern classroom technologies.

Key Responsibilities & Achievements

• Planned, implemented, and monitored education projects across multiple districts.
• Coordinated with government departments, schools, and development partners.
• Designed and delivered technology-based teacher training programmes.
• Conducted field monitoring to ensure quality implementation.
• Managed project resources, reporting, documentation, and monitoring frameworks.
• Developed success stories, case studies, and quarterly reports for Intel’s global team.
• Organized training follow-up systems and maintained project databases.
• Conducted needs assessments and prepared concept notes for future initiatives.

Recognition

• Appreciated by Intel Pakistan for successfully organizing the Intel National Science Fair (2014).
• Recognized for outstanding stakeholder engagement with government and private sector organizations (2013).
• Invited as a Judge for the Millennial Digital Expo 2013 at Roots Millennium Schools, Islamabad.

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) – 2019

National Trainer (Implemented through ACT International)

Delivered master training programmes on Sexual & Reproductive Health & Rights (SRHR), gender equality, youth-friendly services, health promotion, monitoring & evaluation, and community action planning for trainers and facilitators nationwide.

Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP) – 2019

Consultant – Institutional Capacity Building

Designed and delivered training programmes on civic education, constitutional rights, local governance, and community leadership under the SRSP/PPAF-LACIP II Project, strengthening community organizations across District Shangla.

Parwaan Preschool Readiness Programme – 2018

Consultant – Early Childhood Education & Entrepreneurship

Trained and mentored aspiring entrepreneurs to establish sustainable Early Childhood Education centres, focusing on child development, entrepreneurship, business management, and parental engagement.

Ujala Education Foundation (2017–2018)

Project Coordinator

Managed education projects across multiple provinces by overseeing programme implementation, donor compliance, stakeholder engagement, reporting, fundraising, proposal development, and process improvement initiatives.

Women Welfare Organization Poonch (WWOP) – 2016

Consultant – Women’s Entrepreneurship & Economic Empowerment

Designed and delivered entrepreneurship training programmes that enabled women in Azad Jammu & Kashmir to establish businesses, access employment opportunities, and train other women within their communities.

U-Good Global Organization (2009–2011)

Executive Assistant

Supported programme planning, outreach, stakeholder engagement, budgeting, monitoring, communications, and team supervision while contributing to organizational development and performance improvement.

United Bank Limited (UBL) (2007–2009)

MIS Coordinator – Cards Division

Managed reporting, collections, client records, HR support, and departmental coordination. Received the Best Performance Employee Award for two consecutive years (2007 & 2008).

Professional Certifications

• Postgraduate Diploma in NGO Leadership & Management
• Certified Trainer – AE E-Teacher Program, Arizona State University (USA)
• Certified Trainer – English for Specific Purposes MOOC, Ball State University (USA)
• Professional Workshops in Team Building, Communication Skills, Business Development, Planning & Scheduling, CRM, and Legal Recovery Processes.

Academic Qualifications

• M.A. English Literature – Punjab University
• B.A. English Literature – Punjab University

Technical Skills

• Microsoft Office Suite
• Advanced Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Internet & Email Management
• Database Management
• Project Documentation
• Report Writing

Languages

• English
• Urdu
• Punjabi

Contact

Country Operations Director – GRAO
Email: afshan@grao.org.pk