Zahir Shah Email & Phone Number

Islamabad, Pk

Remote

- Provide research and M&E consultancy services to different public and private sector organizations on a range of different thematic and subject areas.- Providing on-going support to research companies for large scale national surveys in the Federal and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.- Conduct external evaluation for projects to assess the achievement against intended objectives.- Provide high quality technical assistance to different INGOs and NGOs in the development of their M&E framework and provide capacity building support for developing research and M&E capabilities of their staff.- Provide expert input into design, analysis and reporting on different behavioural research studies for diverse clients.Summary of some work:Nationally representative monthly tracker and ad-hoc surveys: Conduct large-scale surveys every month (sample of 3000-4000+ households) to explore what people in Iraq think and feel and, as far as possible, why they think and feel as they do.British Council Next Generation Research: Lead researcher for the British Council's Next Generation research project in Iraq.BBC Media Action Survey: Lead a comprehensive quantitative media survey for BBC Media Action to analyse media consumption in Iraq Kurdistan Region.IDPs needs assessment and IDP/Refugees and Host Communities dynamics study: Lead a large scale quantitative survey in KRI on IDP/Refugee and Host Community dynamics and needs assessment of IDPs/Refugees living in camps.Chemonics Iraq – Led the design and delivery of a Community Perception Survey to gauge the opinions of local residents in Iraq relating to the efficiency and reliability of existing governance models.EU Iraq – Led a survey regarding water in terms of source, usage, and peoples’ opinion of water and water services, and other issues.JICA Iraq – Led a Survey to understand the social and economic conditions of the people of Erbil to assist in developing the socio-economic framework of the Erbil City Master Plan.

Erbil Governorate, Iraq

Quantrics is a research and data analytics firm that offer services in South Asia and the Middle East. We specialize in providing high-quality technical assistance, consulting, and research services to a diverse range of clients, including both large corporations and smaller organizations.

Amman, Jordan

- Led organisation's research and evaluation projects globally.- Provided research and M&E consultancy services to different INGOs and public and private sector organizations on a range of different thematic areas.- Responsible for the delivery of high-quality research projects from concept and design stage to analysis, reporting and delivering presentations to the clients.- Led all stages of monitoring, evaluation, and research projects – from the design stage to data analysis and reporting.- Developed data collection tools (both quantitative and qualitative), sampling methodology and analysis plan to the client.- Developed research M&E plans, in close collaboration with the programme team and clients, where relevant.- Developed M&E (logic/results) frameworks and assisted in the development of output, outcome, and impact level SMART indicators.- Conducted M&E and data collection trainings and ensured that quality assurance protocols and mechanisms are followed.- Conducted qualitative and quantitative data analysis using different tools such as SPSS, STATA, R, Q and NVivo.- Developed narrative reports based on qualitative and quantitative research findings.- Survey design and management using CAPI tools such as SurveyToGo, SurveyMonkey and KoboToolBox.- Actively led review of the research process, identify areas for change and manage such change together with the implementation of an ongoing monitoring process.- Promoted and monitored implementation of correct procedures throughout the Research team.- Manageed the internal research team as well as all the external research consultants and subject matter experts.

Erbil Governorate, Iraq

Mena

- Lead and manage all stages of quantitative research projects and collaborate with operations staff to ensure that design, fieldwork, analysis, and deliverables meets deadlines and expectations.- Conduct Media surveys, market, political and social research.- Conduct advanced quantitative analysis using statistical softwares (R, SPSS, Q and STATA).- Build client-facing and internal presentations and reports to present survey and social media data in intuitive, non-technical formats and summarize insights.- Conduct ad-hoc analysis to answer research questions using survey and social media data, using regression and other advanced techniques.- Together with head of quantitative research, contribute to writing questionnaires and identifying appropriate research designs to understand questions of interest.- Identify key insights, in collaboration with qualitative researchers, in order to develop communications, branding, and media production strategy recommendations.- Manage fieldwork, scripting, and panel logistics for online research.- Improving, documenting, and standardizing research processes and methodologies, with a focus on developing techniques for conducting research in remote or unstable areas.- Collaborate with Head of Operations and operations staff to ensure that face-to-face and online fieldwork meets quality standards and desired specifications.- Conduct in-house data processing and weighting using SPSS, R, and STATA.

Yangon, Myanmar

- Lead project implementation, communicating with partners and clients (national and international) and relevant project executing agencies in Greater Mekong region.- Work as Principal analyst on projects in diverse sectors and provide highest quality research and consulting services.- Conduct surveys, monitoring and evaluation, project management, market analysis, data reviews, and baseline evaluation, and more.- Organize teams, coordinate activities to meet deadlines, and draft documentation for project proposals and bids.- Conduct independently, or as one of a team, economic/development research on various topics of development.

Yangon, Myanmar

- Contribute to identifying new business development opportunities for UNOPS Myanmar, through research and analysis of trends in key sectors, attendance at inter-agency meetings as assigned, assessments of stakeholders’ needs and of the potential of relevant UNOPS services in Myanmar.- Support the planning, design and implementation of business development initiatives of UNOPS Myanmar in a timely manner, especially in key areas of infrastructure, procurement and project management.- Assist in the grant management, production of project proposals, concept notes, associated project documents and prepare legal documents related to projects, in cooperation with the UNOPS colleagues and partners.- Contribute to developing communication materials (factsheets, newsletters etc.) and update data dashboards.- Provide operational, programmatic and administrative support of on-going small and medium scale projects, ensuring progress is made according to agreed timelines, including delivery of the required outputs to partners.- Coordinate inputs and draft a range of high-quality materials and reports on projects and services for donors, UN agencies and UNOPS management. - Assist in the preparation of project budgets and support budget negotiations in cooperation with technical specialists and in accordance with UNOPS policies.- Organize and participate in internal and external meetings, workshops and events as required. Provide administrative and technical support at such platforms.- Prepare internal training and team-building initiatives to bring together programmes and units of the UNOPS Myanmar portfolio for knowledge sharing and business improvement.

Pakistan

- Provided Technical Assistance in Monitoring and Evaluation for transforming education service delivery in Pakistan.- Conducted research and monitoring & evaluation exercises for tracking and monitoring periodic achievement and tracking of KPIs in line with the action Plan and DFID’s Logical Framework.- Research design, including the development and piloting of survey instruments and Monitoring and evaluation exercises for collecting, collating and analyzing all key data to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the programme.- Developed Excel data dashboards for monitoring data on many education and learning indicators and school facilities for more than 28,000 schools.- Maintained the online Results Management Information System of the project for tracking progress on agreed targets. Assisted programmer with the development of online MIS system.- Managed the online Work Plan tracking system and assisted programmer with the development of this online Work Plan tracking system.- Assisted with developing monitoring frameworks, plans and tool for other working groups.- Quantitative Value for Money Analysis and Impact analysis of various interventions- Liaison and coordination with all the relevant stakeholders.- Assisted in administering and monitoring of all aspects of project implementation and target achievements.- Performed data collection, management, aggregation and reporting. - Prepared numerous annual, mid-year, quarterly and monthly review reports of the project.- Assist with development of M&E plan and Annual Work plan.- Quantitative and qualitative analysis of primary and secondary data collected from surveys and Monitoring and evaluation exercises.- Assisted the team responsible for conducting Out of School Children Census in the state.- Checked the accuracy of project reports.

Islamabad, Pakistan

- Provided technical support on policy initiatives, especially in doing research, writing policy briefs, developing concept notes and presentations on potential initiatives that can be taken to alleviate poverty and support economic growth in Pakistan.- Worked with the team on the initiative to establish Bureau of Infrastructure Development. Prepared PC-I with a token allocation of Rs. 140 Million been included in the PSDP for the year 2015-16. It is aimed at addressing various issues hampering the growth of infrastructure and the need to promote Public Private Partnerships in the infrastructure space.- Prepared a detailed working paper and concept note for the Establishment of Pakistan Construction Industry Development Authority. Approved by the taskforce on Construction sector reforms headed by the Minister.- Assisted Member (I&RC) and Physical Planning & Housing Section on establishing the Pakistan Urban Planning and Policy Centre at the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform.- Carried out an extensive organizational review of Pakistan Public Works Department and wrote a research paper and made recommendations for Restructuring of Pakistan Public Works Department.- Prepared concept paper for the establishment of Trust for Gwadar Pak-China Friendship Hospital.- Assisted Member of the Construction Industry Reform Task Force. Part of the team that worked on establishing this task force.- Worked together with PwC London and University of Oxford on their proposal to enhance the programme management abilities (people, process, technology) of the Planning Commission to improve its ability to achieve its strategic goals of delivering major programmes in Pakistan on time and on budget while realizing the planned benefits.- Carried out an extensive organizational review of Pakistan Public Works Department and wrote a research paper on 'Restructuring of Pakistan Public Works Department'.

London, United Kingdom

Wrote a ‘Guide to Fundraising’ for partner organizations

Islamabad, Pakistan

- Worked in the department that helps build recognition for the group as responsible company in an industry seen as controversial.- Worked with the team responsible for tackling illicit trade in cigarettes in Pakistan- Worked with a highly professional team to prepare a report on ‘Illicit trade in Cigarettes: The Impact on Pakistan”- Contributed to the preparation of a detailed presentation on the analysis of the draft of new WHO [Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)] protocol for Anti Illicit Trade and its impact on PTC business in case of implementation.

Master Of Science (Msc), Development Studies

Activities and Societies: Economics SocietyDissertation: The Political Economy of Decentralization in Pakistan: Examining the allocative.

Master Of Arts (Honours), Economics

Activities and Societies: Economics Society, Management Society