SAJJAD HUSSAIN
Education Reform • Programme Leadership • Public Policy • Partnerships & Civil Society
Education Reform & Programme Leadership Specialist
Strategic Vision & Expertise
Sajjad Hussain is an education and development professional with 17 years of experience in programme leadership, education reform, public policy, civil society partnerships, and monitoring, evaluation, research and learning (MERL). He has led large-scale donor-funded initiatives, including the EUR 45 million EU-funded BRACE Programme across 10 districts of Balochistan, and has worked with international development partners such as the EU, FCDO/DFID, GIZ, UN Women, UNFPA, and UNDP. His expertise includes programme and financial management, government and stakeholder engagement, mixed-methods research, policy analysis, community mobilisation, and strategic communications. Currently serving as Manager of Education and Public Policy at Tabadlab, he contributes to education policy development, foundational learning research, and evidence-based reforms. He holds an M.A. in Curriculum in Global Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an M.Sc. in Peace and Conflict Studies from National Defence University, Islamabad.
Services Offered
Education Sector Reform
Provides research, strategic guidance, and policy recommendations to strengthen education systems, improve learning outcomes, and expand equitable access to quality education.
Programme Management & Leadership
Leads complex development programmes from planning to implementation, ensuring effective coordination, timely delivery, budget compliance, and achievement of programme objectives.
Public Policy Research & Analysis
Conducts policy research, reviews public-sector challenges, and develops evidence-based recommendations to support informed decision-making and institutional reform.
Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MERL)
Designs monitoring and evaluation frameworks, manages M&E databases, assesses programme results, and translates findings into actionable learning and recommendations.
Research Design & Evaluation
Designs and leads qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research, including surveys, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and programme evaluations.
Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)
Supports the design, coordination, and implementation of RCTs to assess interventions, measure impact, and generate evidence for education and development programmes.
Donor-Funded Programme Management
Manages donor-supported development initiatives, including work planning, financial oversight, compliance, stakeholder coordination, and donor reporting.
Financial & Budget Management
Oversees programme budgets, resource allocation, procurement compliance, financial accountability, and the efficient use of project resources.
Government & Stakeholder Engagement
Builds and maintains working relationships with government departments, development partners, civil society organisations, and community stakeholders.
Civil Society Partnerships
Facilitates collaboration among civil society organisations, grassroots networks, community groups, and public institutions to advance development objectives.
Community Mobilisation & Engagement
Develops community engagement strategies, coordinates regional teams, and supports local participation in education reform, governance, and service delivery initiatives.
Data Analysis & Evidence Generation
Analyses research and programme data using tools such as Stata and Excel to identify trends, assess outcomes, and generate evidence for policy and programme improvement.
Digital Survey & Data Collection
Develops and manages digital data collection workflows using KoboToolbox and Qualtrics, including questionnaire design, enumerator training, and field data coordination.
Policy Briefs & Technical Report Writing
Produces evaluation reports, policy briefs, concept notes, case studies, donor reports, and other evidence-based documents for institutional and public-sector audiences.
Strategic Communications & Advocacy
Develops communication and advocacy strategies, prepares public-facing content, and communicates research findings to policymakers, donors, media, and communities.
Media Relations & Public Engagement
Supports media engagement, public speaking, interviews, opinion writing, and the dissemination of development research and policy messages.
Capacity Building & Training
Designs and delivers training, coaching, and training-of-trainers activities to strengthen the skills of programme teams, field staff, and community participants.
Project Planning & Performance Management
Develops work plans, tracks implementation progress, coordinates project teams, and conducts performance reviews to support effective delivery and accountability.
Community-Led Governance & Development
Supports participatory governance and community empowerment initiatives that strengthen local decision-making, institutional capacity, and public service delivery.
Education Campaign Strategy
Designs and manages education awareness and advocacy campaigns that engage communities, strengthen public accountability, and promote education reform.
Work Experience
Manager, Education and Public Policy
Analyses education-sector challenges, including teacher shortages in girls’ schools across Pakistan and Balochistan. Led a large randomised controlled trial involving 2,400 parents and students across 600 rural schools in Sindh. Developed a foundational learning guidebook for parents, contributed feedback to the Federal Education Policy, provided technical support to the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning practice, and presented research findings to education stakeholders and policy forums.
Research Consultant (Climate, Disasters and Women)
Designed a mixed-methods study to evaluate the impact of a UN Women project across three provinces. Developed quantitative research tools, led recruitment and training, coordinated data collection, and prepared the evaluation report.
Research Consultant (Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights)
Designed a peer-driven ethnographic study documenting the perspectives of adolescents and young people. Led participatory data collection to examine experiences and access to sexual and reproductive health and rights services.
Senior Non-Key Expert (Evaluation)
Designed the evaluation of a major EU-funded programme grant component, prepared the work plan and inception report in consultation with stakeholders, and conducted eight focus group discussions and 20 key informant interviews in Pishin and Kech. Authored a comparative evaluation of BRSP and NRSP components, contributing evidence to Balochistan’s Community-Led Local Governance policy, and presented findings to the EU, DAI management, and provincial government leadership.
Programme Manager
Managed the EUR 45 million EU-funded BRACE Programme across 10 districts of Balochistan. Oversaw programme budgets, resource utilisation, procurement compliance, and accountability standards. Coordinated with federal and provincial governments, the EU, and development partners; strengthened local authorities’ capacity for community engagement and service delivery; supervised research and commissioned qualitative and quantitative studies; and delivered training-of-trainers activities for implementing staff and community members.
Head of Programmes – Pakistan
Led programme activities and completed the USIP-funded Youth Development Programme, an educational initiative engaging young people from more than 60 universities.
Project Manager – COVID-19 Emergency Refugee Support Programme
Managed the successful completion of a PKR 50 million GIZ-funded emergency health and immunisation programme for Afghan refugee communities in Balochistan. Supervised community awareness sessions on maternal and child nutrition, strengthened staff capacity through training, ensured donor reporting, and prepared the final narrative report.
Communications Consultant (Remote)
Managed Urdu-language communication products for Malala Yousafzai and the Malala Fund, supporting communication and advocacy focused on girls’ education.
Graduate Teaching Assistant
Supported university teaching in South Asian literature, media, languages, and political history. Coached approximately 70 undergraduate students in essay writing and presentations, evaluated assignments, and organised educational tours, guest talks, and film screenings.
Barnet, Landau and Raskin Next Leaders Fellow
Conducted research, interviews, and policy-oriented writing, publishing blogs and opinion articles through Foreign Policy In Focus.
Manager, Community Engagement
Led national community engagement strategies for an education and governance reform campaign. Managed 50 regional coordinators through performance reviews, coaching, technical training, and ongoing support. Facilitated results-based monitoring and evaluation and prepared narrative reports for donors, government, journalists, partners, and communities. Drafted concept notes, memoranda of understanding, quarterly reports, and speeches.
Assistant Manager, Community Engagement
Developed project budgets, oversaw resource allocation, coordinated work plans, and supported timely implementation. Assessed the performance of 50 regional coordinators across 50 districts and maintained the monitoring and evaluation database for quarterly progress reporting.
Civil Society Coordinator
Analysed education data and translated findings into data sheets, infographics, and dashboards for communities, journalists, and policymakers. Documented lessons learned and case studies and prepared progress reports, policy briefs, and newsletters.
Intelligent Networks Expert
Managed client relations with Telenor Pakistan, supporting client coordination and service-related communication.
Skills & Competencies
// Data Analysis & Statistical Tools
// Survey & Research Tools
// Digital Data Collection
// Community Engagement & Advocacy
// Office Productivity
// Research & Evaluation
// Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning
// Data Visualization & Reporting
// Education Policy & Reform
// Programme & Project Management
// Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement
// Programme Reporting & Documentation
// Communications & Advocacy
Projects & Initiatives
EU BRACE Community Empowerment and Local Governance Programme
BRACE Programme Grant Component Evaluation
Education Reform and Public Policy Research at Tabadlab
Foundational Learning Randomized Controlled Trial
Parent Guidebook for Foundational Learning
UN Women Climate, Disasters and Women Evaluation
UNFPA Adolescent and Youth SRHR Research
COVID-19 Emergency Refugee Support Programme
Alif Ailaan National Education and Governance Reform Campaign
Youth Development Programme
Malala Fund Girls’ Education Communications
Community Engagement and Monitoring Database
Education Data Visualization and Policy Reporting
Balochistan Girls’ School Teacher Shortage Research
Balochistan Development and Poverty Advocacy
Community-Led Local Governance Policy Research
Youth and Community Capacity-Building Initiatives
Education
M.A. in Curriculum in Global Studies
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
M.Sc. in Peace & Conflict Studies
National Defence University, Islamabad
B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering
University of Engineering & Technology (UET), Lahore
F.Sc. in Fundamentals of Science
Tameer-i-Nau Public College, Quetta, Balochistan
Matriculation (SSC)
Government Hazara Society High School, Quetta, Balochistan
Certifications
Graduate Certificate in International Peace and Conflict Resolution
Graduate Certificate, Duke-UNC Consortium for Middle East Studies
Young Connectors of the Future
Conflict Prevention and Resolution
Trainings & Workshops
Graduate Certificate in International Peace and Conflict Resolution
University of North Carolina at Chapel HillGraduate Certificate in Middle East Studies
Duke-UNC Consortium for Middle East StudiesYoung Connectors of the Future
Swedish Institute (Svenska Institutet)Conflict Prevention and Resolution
International Peace and Security Institute (IPSI) & Johns Hopkins UniversityKey Achievements
Managed EUR 45 Million EU-Funded BRACE Programme
Led Development Programme Across 10 Districts of Balochistan
Contributed to Balochistan Community-Led Local Governance Policy
Led Randomized Controlled Trial Across 600 Rural Schools
Conducted Research Engaging 2,400 Parents and Students
Contributed to Federal Education Policy Development
Led Evaluation Research in Pishin and Kech Districts
Completed PKR 50 Million GIZ-Funded Refugee Emergency Support Programme
Managed National Community Engagement for Alif Ailaan Education Campaign
Supervised 50 Regional Coordinators for Education and Governance Reform
Published Education and Development Opinion Articles in DAWN and The News
Published Research on Girls’ Education and Teacher Shortages in Balochistan
Earned M.A. in Curriculum in Global Studies from UNC Chapel Hill
Earned M.Sc. in Peace and Conflict Studies from National Defence University
Awarded Graduate Certificate in International Peace and Conflict Resolution
Awarded Graduate Certificate from Duke-UNC Consortium for Middle East Studies
Selected for Young Connectors of the Future Programme
Published Policy Research Through Foreign Policy In Focus
Presented Development and Poverty Reduction Issues on PTV World and Aaj News
Presented Human Rights Perspectives at the European Parliament and UN Human Rights Council
Technical Contributions
Education Sector Reform and Policy Development
Contributed to education reform through policy research, analysis of teacher shortages in girls’ schools, foundational learning research, and feedback on the Federal Education Policy.
BRACE Programme Management in Balochistan
Managed the EUR 45 million EU-funded BRACE Programme across 10 districts, supporting community empowerment, local governance, government coordination, and improved service delivery.
Community-Led Local Governance Policy
Conducted programme evaluation and field research in Pishin and Kech, producing evidence that informed Balochistan’s Community-Led Local Governance policy.
Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning
Designed evaluation approaches, developed quantitative research tools, maintained monitoring databases, and translated programme findings into actionable recommendations and reports.
Research Design and Field Evaluation
Led qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research, including focus group discussions, key informant interviews, participatory research, and field data collection.
Foundational Learning Research
Led a randomized controlled trial involving 2,400 parents and students across 600 rural schools in Sindh and developed a localized guidebook to help parents support children’s foundational learning.
Climate, Disasters and Women Research
Designed and coordinated a multi-province evaluation for a UN Women project, including research tool development, team training, data collection, and preparation of the final report.
Adolescent and Youth SRHR Research
Designed a peer-driven ethnographic study and coordinated participatory research documenting young people’s perspectives on sexual and reproductive health and rights services.
Education Campaign and Community Engagement
Led national community engagement strategies for the Alif Ailaan education campaign, supervised regional coordinators, and supported education and governance reform advocacy.
Regional Team Leadership and Capacity Building
Supervised up to 50 regional coordinators and contributed to staff development through performance reviews, coaching, technical training, and training-of-trainers activities.
Programme Financial Management and Accountability
Oversaw programme budgets, resource allocation, procurement compliance, and accountability requirements to support responsible and efficient use of development funds.
Government and Development Partner Coordination
Facilitated collaboration among federal and provincial governments, district administrations, the European Union, international development agencies, civil society organisations, and community stakeholders.
Youth Development and Educational Programming
Contributed to the completion of a USIP-funded youth development programme engaging students from more than 60 universities across Pakistan.
Emergency Health and Refugee Support
Managed a PKR 50 million GIZ-funded emergency health and immunisation programme for Afghan refugee communities in Balochistan, including community awareness, staff training, and donor reporting.
Girls’ Education Communications and Advocacy
Managed Urdu-language communication products for Malala Yousafzai and the Malala Fund to support advocacy for girls’ education in Pakistan and internationally.
Education Data Analysis and Visualization
Converted education data into data sheets, infographics, dashboards, and reports to communicate findings to communities, journalists, policymakers, and development partners.
Policy Briefs and Development Reporting
Prepared concept notes, memoranda of understanding, quarterly progress reports, policy briefs, case studies, newsletters, donor reports, and programme documentation.
Publications on Balochistan Development
Published articles and opinion pieces addressing education, poverty, climate vulnerability, women’s participation, refugee protection, and regional development challenges through outlets including DAWN, The News, and Foreign Policy In Focus.
Media Engagement and Public Advocacy
Represented development programmes and communicated research findings through media interviews, public discussions, advocacy campaigns, and presentations to government and international stakeholders.
University Teaching and Student Mentoring
Supported undergraduate teaching at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, coaching approximately 70 students in essay writing and presentations and assisting with academic activities.
Testimonials & Endorsements
"Sajjad demonstrates strong leadership in managing complex development programmes. His ability to coordinate with government departments, development partners, and local stakeholders contributes to effective implementation and accountability."
Ahmed Khan
Development Programme Director"Sajjad brings valuable expertise in education reform, policy research, and evidence-based decision-making. His work connects research findings with practical recommendations to address education challenges and improve learning outcomes."
Sarah Malik
Education Policy Specialist"His experience in research design, mixed-methods evaluations, and monitoring and evaluation supports rigorous assessment of programme results. He communicates findings clearly and translates evidence into actionable recommendations."
Usman Ali
Monitoring and Evaluation Manager"Sajjad has a strong understanding of community engagement and civil society partnerships. His collaborative approach helps bring government institutions, development organisations, and local communities together around shared objectives."
Ayesha Rahman
Civil Society Programme Coordinator"His analytical skills and understanding of public policy are valuable assets in development initiatives. Sajjad is effective at translating field research and programme experience into policy insights and recommendations."
Bilal Hussain
Public Policy Consultant"Sajjad has demonstrated experience in donor-funded programme management, financial oversight, stakeholder coordination, and reporting. His commitment to accountability and community-focused development is reflected in his professional work."
Nadia Ahmed
International Development Specialist"Sajjad communicates complex development issues through research reports, policy briefs, media engagement, and advocacy content. His ability to engage diverse audiences strengthens the visibility and impact of development initiatives."
Imran Shah
Communications and Advocacy ManagerPublications & Reports
No Records Found
No publication records have been added yet.
Media Appearances
No Records Found
No media appearance records have been added yet.
LET’S WORK TOGETHER.
Available for executive advisory, system architecture, and strategic technology consulting. Reach out directly or send a message below.