Muhammad Waseem Ashraf is an acclaimed international development and governance specialist with over two decades of leadership driving democratic reform, climate-responsive policy, and institutional capacity building across South Asia and beyond. As Deputy Office Director at USAID Pakistan, he oversees multi-million-dollar portfolios in democracy, human rights, climate governance, and peacebuilding-partnering with national institutions, civil society, and global donors to embed environmental accountability within governance systems.
I Build Bridges Where Others See Divides - Empower | Transform | Build
Strategic Leadership & Program Management: Architect of large-scale governance and climate programs for USAID, UNDP, SDC, World Bank, and the United Nations-designing, executing, and evaluating initiatives that strengthened electoral processes, decentralized service delivery, and bolstered public-sector transparency in Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
Institutional Strengthening & Capacity Building: Trainer and mentor to hundreds of government officials, parliamentarians, community leaders, and youth activists-delivering tailor-made curricula in public administration, project management, and inclusive development.
Policy Analysis & Advocacy: Expert in political economy analysis, policy formulation, and stakeholder engagement-informing national reform agendas and advancing systemic change in both stable and post-conflict environments.
Embedding climate-risk assessments in electoral and public-service projects.
Advising on policy mechanisms that align local governance practices with global climate commitments.
Designing community-driven climate adaptation modules that empower vulnerable populations to participate in-and benefit from-sustainable development.
Ph.D. Scholar in Public Policy, Forman Christian College University (expected 2025): Dissertation on the political economy of governance and climate adaptation in transitional democracies.
Adjunct Lecturer & Mentor: Delivered graduate-level courses and workshops in Public Administration, Governance Theory, and Project Management at university and several professional forums.
Master's Degrees: Public Policy (FC College University, 2010) and Project Management (SZABIST, 2008).
Authored numerous policy papers and peer-reviewed articles on electoral reform, community-driven development, federalism, local governance, conflict and peacebuilding, and climate-resilient governance.
Served on editorial committees for leading evaluation and policy journals-curating cutting-edge research and ensuring methodological rigor.
Technical Advisor & Consultant: Contributed to high-level assessments and policy briefs for USAID University, UNDP, and regional governments.