Sajjad Muhammad

A mature and seasoned professional having more than 20 years of experience in rural development sector with focus on socio-economic growth, agriculture financing, sustainable livelihoods development and food security. The thrust of my experience has remained on food security assessments and analysis, including designing assessment methodologies, questionnaires and data analysis, strategy formulation for sustainable livelihood/ rural development, monitoring and evaluation. I have worked with different national and international organizations including Asian Development Bank (ADB), United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP), United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO), Faysal Bank (Pvt) Limited, Agriculture Department and International Fund for Agriculture Department (IFAD).

Since

June 2015, I have been serving as a Sector Specialist at the Planning and Development Department, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. My core expertise lies in the planning, design, and appraisal of development projects, with extensive experience in preparing PC-1s and related planning documents. I have contributed to the formulation of socio-economic development strategies, evaluation and approval of public infrastructure projects, monitoring of development funds, and management of the Annual Development Programme (ADP).

Additionally, I have coordinated with international development partners and foreign-funded programs while providing technical and administrative support to high-level decision-making bodies, including the Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) and the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC).

Manager, Agribusiness & Agri skills, KP-RETP - Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Rural Economic Transformation Project-IFAD, Planning & Development Department, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa - Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

• Lead negotiations with private companies and Farmer Service Centres (FSCs) to establish pro-poor Public-Private-Producer Partnerships (4Ps) and multipurpose Producer/Farmer Organizations (PFOs) that enhance rural livelihoods and support programme objectives.
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with the private sector, PFOs, FSCs, government agencies, NGOs, research institutions, academia, and development partners to strengthen value chains and ensure sustainable market linkages for smallholder farmers.
• Facilitate collaboration among stakeholders to address implementation challenges and develop effective sustainability and exit strategies for programme interventions.
• Ensure compliance with IFAD guidelines and key documents, including the Financing Agreement (FA), Project Design Report (PDR), Logical Framework (LFA), and Project Implementation Manual (PIM), while keeping the PIM updated for agribusiness operations.
• Guide and support private partners and service providers in developing, evaluating, and refining business proposals and 4P business plans aligned with programme objectives and expected results.
• Work closely with the Monitoring & Evaluation and Knowledge Management teams to design monitoring tools and track outputs and outcomes of 4P initiatives.
• Provide technical advice to PMU staff, 4P partners, PFOs, and FSCs on business operations, management information systems, agricultural services, and partnership development.
• Assess capacity-building needs and organize training and awareness programmes to strengthen the skills of programme staff, partners, and service providers.
• Lead the preparation and updating of the Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWPB), ensuring timely implementation and achievement of programme targets.
• Manage the business proposal approval process from concept note development through PSC/IFAD approval to successful implementation.
• Coordinate the preparation and submission of documentation required for contract agreements and partnership arrangements.
• Develop operational guidelines and management tools for agribusiness activities and ensure timely submission of progress and management reports to the Programme Director and relevant authorities.
• Coordinate the selection, supervision, and performance management of service providers, ensuring quality delivery and effective contract management. Conduct regular field visits to programme districts to monitor implementation, identify gaps, and provide technical support to maintain programme standards.
• Support policy dialogue and strategic engagement with government counterparts and provide technical assistance to the Programme Director on business development initiatives.
• Oversee the administrative and operational management of the Business Development Unit, ensuring efficient coordination and delivery of programme activities.

Agriculture Sector Specialist, Project Management Unit - World Food Programme (UNWFP), SDU, Planning & Development Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa - Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

(2015-06)

WFP's COUNTRY STRATEGIC PLAN (CSP) 2019-2023

• Supervised Food for Assets (FFA)/ Livelihoods activities, planning and designing of both cash-based Transfers (CBT) and Food component modalities in targeted districts.
• Capacity building of implementation partners (IPs) for implementation of FFA, CBT & food component modalities of project activities.
• Regular review of FFA project field activities against the planning and provide feedback to IPs on the gapes observed.
• Established technical working group, having members from govt/ line departments for technical support to FFA structures and livelihood/Agriculture trainings activities.
• Integration of activities with FAO/UNDP at field level for long term impact.
• Coordination with respective district Govt/ line departments for FFA activities and required support at field-based interventions.
• Analyzed proposals of implementation partners (IPs), budgets and provide feedback to higher management about IPs performance assessment.
• Reviewed IPs performance/IPs monthly reports.
• Develop work norms & module for FFA trainings and physical structured activities under country strategic plan (CSP).
• Developed FFA activities including rehabilitation of irrigation channels, establishment of vegetables demonstration plots and Capacity building trainings for farmers.
• Settled work norms for implementation of activities in consultation with Govt line departments.
• Lead joint activities with WFP and FAO in districts Khyber and Mohmand.
• Developed FFA required data requirements with data team and developed data base for FFA activities.
• Lead WFP food assistance to the Households (HH) living inside camps and represent WFP in return task force established by Govt.

Agriculture Sector Specialist, Project Management Unit - World Food Programme (UNWFP), Planning & Development Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa - Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

(2016 - 2018)

UNWFP'S PROTRACTED RELIED AND RECOVERY OPERATIONS (PRRO-II) 2016-2018

• Supervised project activities implemented through IP named HUJRA village Development Organization in districts Mohmand, Khyber, Bajaur and Kurram.
• Ensured coordination of activities among the projects and partners.
• Supported monitoring, evaluation, reporting, coordination field supervision field activities and appraise the overall program progress and performance.
• Formulated strategy and provided technical support to project staff and partners in organizing project target communities into various social and economic activity-based interest groups.
• Identification, selection and organization of crises affected and food insecure areas with potential to enhance agriculture production through inputs support, capacity building, and supporting enterprises and value chains.
• Coordinate and consult line departments, FAO managers, local authorities, other national and international actors, and with beneficiary community leaders active in WFP mandated sectors to identify needs and geographical areas of priority for the implementation of WFP activities.
• Provide technical and managerial support to the implementation of needs assessment and made recommendations contributing to prevention and finding durable solutions to crises affected population merged districts.
• Organized communities to work towards sustainable solutions to their socio-economic issues.
• Contribute in preparation of project proposals relevant to WFP program.

MSc. (Hons) - Agricultural Extension and Education - Allama Iqbal Open University (2016 - 2018)

Master - Business Administration - IQRA National University, Peshawar Campus (2005 - 2007)

BSc. (Hons) - Agriculture Science - N.W.F.P Agricultural University Peshawar (2000 - 2004)

Intermediate - Pre-Medical - Board of Intermediate and secondary Education, Peshawar (1997 - 2000)

Matriculation - Science Group - Board of Intermediate and secondary Education, Peshawar (1995 - 1997)