Five-member committee governs the functions of Social Association for the Development of Afghanistan (SADA). They together make decisions and advice the strategies to be implemented by the organization. The Boards of Directors also conduct meetings with top management to discuss and evaluate the policies and procedures of the organization. The members of the governing board represent the vision, mission and objectives of SADA to the donor and other stakeholder organizations.
It is important to mention, that all previous five members of the Governing Body has recently resigned, and they were replaced by the new five members. Their names, qualifications, and short-bios are presented as below:
RAHMATULLAH ALIZAI
An engineer by trade (Bachelor of Civil Engineering and Master in Civil Structure and Infrastructure Engineering from one of the most prestigious universities in Istanbul-Turkey), Mr. Alizai began his career in community development because he wanted to help rebuild communities in Afghanistan after decades of conflict. He joined the Social Association for Development of Afghanistan (SADA) in 2015 as a social mobiliser, working to implement education initiatives for children in rural regions of southern Afghanistan controlled by the Taliban. As a grassroots and Afghan-led organization, SADA can work in provinces where international organizations can’t operate due to insecurity. This access allowed Mr. Alizai and his colleagues to partner with community leaders in insurgent-controlled territories to establish the first accelerated learning centers in the Chora and Shar-e-safa districts of Ruzgan and Zabul provinces respectively. After starting at SADA five years ago, Mr. Alizai is now the Executive Director and head of the Board of Directors.
In April 2020, Mr. Alizai became the Malala Fund Education Network Champion in Afghanistan. With the Malala Fund grant, he will improve local dropout rates of girls by working with religious leaders and community leaders to establish Girls’ Education Shuras (GES), committees of parents and village elders who will speak out for girls’ education. With the support of the GES, Mr. Alizai has intended to lead village-level advocacy campaigns to change social norms that prevent girls’ school enrolment and retention. They will also identify 900 out-of-school girls and help them reenroll in schools.
JAN MOHAMMAD MIHRABAN
Mr. Jan Mohammad has completed his Bachelor of Science in Economics and MBA in Management. Starting his career in UN-Habitat in 2005, he has more than 17 years of experience in UN, Government, and International& National NGOs in the areas of Training and Education, Private Sector Development, Agriculture, Economic Growth, Women Economic Empowerment, Livelihood, Rural Development, Literacy, Conflict Resolution, TVET and IDPs & Returnees Protection.
Mr. Jan Mohammad has immense knowledge in developing fund raising proposals, operation manuals and preparing policies in accordance with the donor requirements. In addition to working experience in humanitarian field, Mr. Jan Mohammad is an author, who published hundreds of academic articles through national magazines, newspapers and international websites. He is a lecturer in private universities in Kabul with outstanding knowledge in behavioral science. He has been delivering numerous seminars on social and psychological topics to youth and women. He worked on senior positions including government and non-government organizations. He served as editorial for MRRD magazine and the member of academic committee in Afghan Institute of Higher Education. His communication skills and decision-making talents make him a unique member of the board of directors of SADA.
MISS. KHANDAN DANISH
Miss. Khandan is born in a very remote and marginalized province of Afghanistan Bamyan. She has completed high school in Bamayan in 2011 and attended American University of Afghanistan in 2013 where she completed her bachelor in L.L.B Law through U.S Embassy funded scholarship. Additionally, she has got her first MA in Management from Kazakhstan American Free University (KAFU).
Besides studying, Miss. Khandan has been working as a fulltime employee since 2013 with international and national NGOs in Afghanistan. She has an extensive experience of working in development sector in varying capacity with different national and international organization including United Nation Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), and Afghanistan Institute for Civil Society (AICS) in Afghanistan. Her expertise lies in human resource management, organizational development, program management and program delivery, monitoring and evaluation, communication and verifying financial management system.
Beside her fulltime job, Miss. Khandan has been working voluntarily with some of the organization i.e., She was the member of Student Government Association (SGA) at the American university of Afghanistan-AUAF from 2016-2017. Her addition to the SADA Governing Body is particularly special for the organization.
Shafiq Ullah KHAN
Mr. Shafiq Ullah has got his Bachelor Degree in Financial and Monetary Affairs Faculty, from Kabul University, Kabul Afghanistan; also, he got his Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from Bakhtar University, Kabul Afghanistan. As an important member of the governing body of SADA, he has devoted himself to carry out the Strategic Plans and Policies as established by the board of Directors. He is currently engaging in organizational restructuring, implementation of innovative ideas and maintaining the sustainability of the organization. He also involves himself in engaging the external community which is crucial in building essential relationships for the organization.
He manages the organizational resources, motivating employees, encourages good advocating and embarrassing change. Being an important part of the organization, he makes hard decisions and critical choices for the betterment of the SADA.
Izhar Ul Haq Khanzada
Mr. Izhar Ul haq was born in (1/1/1995) in northern province of Sari Pul. He has completed his school in (2010) and went for his bachelor degree to one of Pakistan’s highest ranked university, the University of Taxila.
Mr. Izhar Ul Haq has joined Social Association for Development of Afghanistan (SADA) in 2016 as an Assistant finance officer and with the time he has been promoted to Finance Officer and then as Finance Manager. Currently, he is not only dealing with the financial stuff of the organization, but has fully devoted his time to contribute his own part in building the capacity of the organization on grassroots level.
BACKGROUND:
Social Association for Development of Afghanistan (SADA) is a non-governmental, non-for-profit and non-political Humanitarian and Development organization. SADA was founded in 1994 when Afghanistan was severely affected by internal war and access to any humanitarian facilities and services was practically debarred.
SADA was established with a vision of “To alleviate poverty and human sufferings to see educated, self-reliant, peaceful and developed Afghanistan” by enhancing access to quality and free education, improving health system, upgrading local agriculture & irrigation systems, increasing awareness around hygiene and sanitation, and advocating for the rights of women & children.
SADA has started its first operation in Kandahar province by implementing a UNOPS funded WASH project with the total fund of $12,657 in 1996. SADA gradually expanded its operations across the southern region by establishing partnerships with UNOPS, UNDP, UNWFP, UNICEF, UNHCR, Malala Fund, Street Child – Children in Crisis, GPE, JICA, Action Aid, ZOA Refugee Care, Royal Netherland Embassy, PRT and the government of Afghanistan.
SADA has been able to successfully implement over three hundred small and large humanitarian and developmental projects in various sectors across the country. Those projects have greatly contributed in improving the living conditions of hundreds of thousands needy people. SADA built up strong relationships with communities and gained a particular acceptance among the local people.
SADA is headquartered in Kabul and currently has sub offices in Kandahar, Zabul, Helmand, Sari-Pul, Faryab and Urozgan provinces. On the basis of service delivery, the organization has good reputation among donor organizations, government officials, Community elders and other stakeholders.
