Naheed Esar

Naheed Esar brings a wealth of experience in the non-profit and governmental sectors. Esar is a dedicated public health advocate with over a decade of experience supporting the health and well-being of vulnerable communities, particularly women and children. Her passion for public health and social justice has led her to work in some of the most challenging environments, both domestically and internationally. Most recently, Esar served as the Deputy Foreign Minister for Resources and Management for the Government of Afghanistan in Kabul. In this role, Esar led and oversaw the operations of various departments and eight provincial directorates. She oversaw the management of over $100 million annual budget, as well as 1,300 staff both at the Ministry and at overseas embassies. She negotiated with foreign officials to build long-term bilateral relationships to support the ministry’s goals and needs. Esar has worked with United Nations Development Program (UNDP) as gender mainstreaming consultant, Department For International Development (DFID) as a gender consultant, and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as a researcher, and a John Hopkins University researcher where she conducted a longitudinal research project on the lives of widows in Afghanistan.

A Fulbright scholar, Esar combines her professional experience, with the US-immigrant lived experience. Esar’s dedication to public health and her commitment to social justice have been recognized by her peers, and she has been honored with numerous awards for her work.