Farishta Amaj
Ottawa
Summary
Internationally trained public health professional with 6+ years of experience in maternal and neonatal health, immunization, nutrition, and health systems strengthening across Afghanistan, Pakistan and now Canada . Deeply familiar with the Afghan context, having worked in more than 24 provinces, including some of the most remote areas, and collaborated extensively with the Ministry of Public Health, UNICEF, UNDP, and NGOs. Skilled in stakeholder engagement, strategic planning, and data-driven decision-making, with a strong record in system design, cold chain optimization, pharmaceutical supply chains, and death surveillance systems. Co-led and supported 16 donor proposals with a 94% success rate, while also contributing to the humanitarian sector in Canada, leading outreach and engagement initiatives for newcomer communities. Multilingual in English, Dari, and Pashto, with proven ability to deliver results, build capacity, and drive sustainable reforms in challenging and resource-limited environments.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Stakeholder Coordinator
Refugee 613
03.2025 - Current
- Lead stakeholder engagement with 30+ national and regional partners (umbrella orgs, SPOs, Francophone networks, policy institutes, digital innovators) to establish the National Advisory Table (NAT) and guide multi-year project strategy.
- Coordinate consultations and workshops, including the Language Matrix Validation Event (2025), ensuring data-driven decision making, bilingual delivery, and policy-aligned outcomes.
- Develop and implement strategic communication and knowledge-mobilization systems across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Mailchimp, and multilingual platforms, increasing newcomer access to reliable settlement information.
- Identify challenges and apply problem-solving and root cause analysis to strengthen translation prioritization and equity-based digital content delivery.
- Provide coaching and support to partners and collaborators, fostering capacity-building and effective implementation across diverse stakeholders.
- Collaborate with project managers and cross-functional teams to design and implement systems for 8+ multi-year activities under the "Service Delivery Improvement" (SDI) stream, including pilots, evaluation, and sector training.
- Build and sustain trusted relationships with senior government, funder (IRCC), and sector partners, ensuring alignment with public sector reform objectives and long-term project sustainability.
- Oversaw alignment of project activities with IRCC’s funding priorities and Refugee 613’s strategic objectives, ensuring consistency across eight multi-year SDI activities.
- Contributed to proposal writing for new projects by drafting technical narratives, aligning activities with funder requirements, and supporting budget justification.
- Participated in Contribution Agreement negotiations with government representatives, supporting the organization’s positioning, compliance, and funding approvals.
- Built and sustained trusted relationships with senior government, funder (IRCC), and sector partners, ensuring alignment with public sector reform objectives and long-term project sustainability.
Outreach Coordinator
Refugee 613
07.2024 - 03.2025
- Coordinated targeted outreach initiatives to newcomer communities, service providers, and local partners, ensuring culturally responsive and accessible engagement strategies.
- Developed and delivered community-facing campaigns (workshops, webinars, social media, and printed resources) to address newcomer needs, including mental health awareness and stigma reduction.
- Led two organizational research projects on language access and digital engagement, providing evidence to guide program priorities and sector-wide advocacy.
- Supported the development of mental health–related content tailored for newcomer communities, ensuring sensitivity, inclusivity, and practical guidance for diverse audiences.
- Built and maintained partnerships with grassroots organizations, settlement agencies, and municipal stakeholders to strengthen collaborative service delivery and amplify impact.
- Adapted outreach tools (infographics, digital campaigns, multilingual resources) to ensure inclusivity, equity in information access, and alignment with IRCC-funded program priorities.
- Monitored and analyzed community feedback to inform data-driven decision-making, ensuring programs and campaigns remained responsive to newcomer experiences.
- Represented Refugee 613 in networks and sector events, presenting outreach insights and supporting the organization’s role as a national leader in newcomer communications and engagement.
Health Projects Advisor
Sanayee Development Organization
06.2022 - 01.2024
- Advised on the design, implementation, and evaluation of health and community development projects across multiple provinces, with a focus on maternal and child health, nutrition, and access to primary care.
- Led the development of project proposals and technical narratives for international donors, aligning activities with funder priorities and government health strategies.
- Provided technical input to strengthen program design and strategic planning, ensuring evidence-based approaches and measurable results.
- Supported field teams in monitoring project performance, identifying gaps, and recommending adjustments to improve effectiveness and sustainability.
- Prepared donor reports, project briefs, and communication materials to highlight outcomes and secure ongoing funding.
National Coordinator
MoPH Afghanistan & UNICEF Afghanistan
03.2020 - 10.2021
- Coordinated nationwide deployment of cold chain equipment under a joint Ministry of Public Health–UNICEF contract, ensuring alignment with the national cold chain plan and project milestones.
- Managed communication with UNICEF Afghanistan and UNICEF Denmark, providing quarterly progress reports and supporting project planning and implementation strategies.
- Oversaw installation and distribution of solar direct-drive and electric refrigerators to provinces and health facilities, strengthening vaccine storage and delivery systems.
- Conducted field supervision and capacity-building visits across 16 provinces, training cold chain technicians and ensuring compliance with quality standards.
- Monitored and updated the national cold chain inventory, replacing outdated units and ensuring accurate records for decision-making.
- Supervised warehousing, distribution logistics, and installation processes, delivering technical feedback and strengthening operational efficiency.
- Prepared and submitted monthly financial and technical reports, ensuring transparency and accountability for government and donor stakeholders.
National Pharmacy Manager
Sanyee Development Organization
01.2019 - 03.2020
- Oversaw the pharmaceutical supply chain for all BPHS/EPHS projects, including procurement, inventory management, and quarterly reporting to the Ministry of Public Health.
- Supervised and supported the pharmacy workforce across multiple provinces, ensuring compliance with national guidelines and efficient delivery of medicines and equipment.
- Analyzed HMIS data, patient loads, and seasonal disease trends to optimize drug use, prevent misuse, and improve resource allocation at the facility level.
- Conducted monitoring visits to health facilities in Faryab, Kabul, and Zabul, developing action plans and providing technical support to provincial pharmacy officers.
- Delivered capacity-building trainings for health facility staff on rational drug use, prescribing standards, outbreak response, and adverse drug reaction reporting.
- Co-led and supported the development of 16 donor proposals in nutrition, malaria, immunisation, and gender-based violence (GBV), securing funding for 15 projects and strengthening organizational sustainability.
- Prepared technical and financial pharmaceutical reports for donors and government stakeholders, ensuring transparency and accountability.
- Coordinated and communicated with MoPH and other stakeholders on pharmacy-related project implementation and strategy.
Consultant- MNDSR
MoPH and UNDP
08.2018 - 02.2019
- Planned and implemented "Maternal Neonatal Death Surveillance and Response" (MNDSR) activities in Bamyan, Badakhshn, Herat, and Kandahar, strengthening monitoring systems for maternal and neonatal health.
- Developed standard operating procedures (SOPs) for MNDSR and supported integration into national health reporting systems.
- Conducted capacity-building workshops for obstetric specialists, midwives, doctors, and community health workers on death investigation, verbal autopsy tools, and DHIS data entry.
- Collected, investigated, and reported maternal and neonatal deaths, ensuring timely updates in DHIS and generating annual reports with key indicators for mortality reduction.
- Facilitated response actions based on investigation outcomes and disseminated findings to improve service delivery.
- Delivered quarterly certification trainings on SMOL–Cause of Death for health professionals in all 34 provinces.
Education
Doctor of Pharmacy- Masters - Medicine
Qauid-e-Azam University
Islamabad, Pakistan07-2018
Skills
- Strategic Planning & Analysis – Experienced in system design, root-cause analysis, and data-driven decision-making (HMIS, DHIS, project indicators)
- Stakeholder Engagement – Coordinated with MoPH, UNICEF (Afghanistan & Denmark), IRCC, and NGOs on national and international health initiatives
- Project & Proposal Development – Co-led and supported 16 donor proposals in nutrition, malaria, infection prevention, and GBV, with 15 successfully funded
- Leadership & Capacity Building – Supervised health teams and trained over 200 health staff, pharmacy officers, midwives, and cold chain technicians across 16 provinces
- Program Implementation – Led cold chain optimization, pharmaceutical supply chain management, and maternal/neonatal death surveillance projects at the national level
- Policy & Reporting – Drafted technical/financial reports, SOPs, and quarterly progress reports for government and donor compliance
Languages
English
Full Professional
Pashto
Native or Bilingual
Dari
Native or Bilingual
Urdu
Full Professional
Timeline
Stakeholder Coordinator
Refugee 613
03.2025 - Current
Outreach Coordinator
Refugee 613
07.2024 - 03.2025
Health Projects Advisor
Sanayee Development Organization
06.2022 - 01.2024
National Coordinator
MoPH Afghanistan & UNICEF Afghanistan
03.2020 - 10.2021
National Pharmacy Manager
Sanyee Development Organization
01.2019 - 03.2020
Consultant- MNDSR
MoPH and UNDP
08.2018 - 02.2019
Doctor of Pharmacy- Masters - Medicine
Qauid-e-Azam University
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