Name: Salwa Akhtar

Phone: 03005558995

Email:

Date of Birth: 6th November 1988

Nationality: Pakistani

Profile:

I am flexible, committed and able. I offer this together with a broad range of previous experience directly & indirectly related to the development sector. Presently im working for United State’s Agency for International Development- Pakistan Trade Project. Pakistan Trade Project aims to improve the overall trade environment of the country by applying best international practice in the trade sector. I interned for four months in United National Industrial Development Organisation during my undergrad where i got to learn about the On Un Pilot Programme and i prepared feasibility reports, concept notes, service summary sheets & project proposals according to the format of different donor agencies.

I also assisted our Legal Customs & Trade Policy Advisor with a Legal gap analysis in which we identified gaps in Pakistan Customs Act in accordance with the Revised Kyoto Convention (WTO).

Objective:

I am looking for an organization to provide me with an opportunity to work as a development practitioner in Pakistan and obtain skills in policy making & developmental research.

Work Experience:

United States Agency for International Development (USAID): Pakistan Trade Project

Programme Coordinator 1st January 2011- Present

  • Contributing to the overall Pakistan Trade Project development strategy by providing relevant project inputs including reasearch, written reports and studies;
  • Report to Project Management for background information and progress on initiatives and activities of Advisors and Specialists.Liaison with PTP Federal Board of Revenue Working Group responsible for coordinating and scheduling PTP FBR working group sessions;
  • Assisting in the implementation of Financial Guarantee System to curb unauthorized trade in Pak Afghan region and setting up of Electronic Data Interchange;
  • Working on a Pilot Project with the HCM team on a US-Aid iniative aiming at increasing women participation in the trade sector

Customs & Trade Policy Assistant 1st June 2010- 31st December 2010

  • Carried out extensive analysis and reasearch on Pakistani imports, exports and the current trade deficit;
  • Networking with other NGO’s and provding assistance in the formulation of policies for the Federal Government

United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO)

Internee 15th June 2008- 15th September 2008

  • I worked under a team of experts in preparing and implementing various projects for ONE UN Pilot Programme under the supervision of UNIDO country representative
  • Prepared feasibility reports, concept notes, service summary sheets, project proposals according to the format of Donors covering all types of SME’s
  • Actively took part in the taskforce meetings, subgroup meetings, stake holders meetings and NGO’s meetings
  • Worked on UN system, electronic network and assisted in providing valuable strategies for the development of practical assistance for the host country through the scrutiny of government priorities and policies.

Education

BSC: ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT (2007-2010)-External Programme – (London School of Economics & Political Science), LSE.

Core Subjects: Introduction to Economics, Micro Economics, Macro Economics, Corporate Finance, Organizational Theory, Principles of Accounting, Introduction to Business and Management, Management Science Methods, Principles of Marketing, Sociology, Mathematics, Statistics, Society and Environment.

2005-2007 : A’ Levels Cambridge University

2003-2005 : O’ levels Cambridge University

Skills

  • Data Analysis: As part of my degree I have become adept at handling and interpreting largeamounts of data and drawing conclusions from this. I frequently use Microsoft Excel to produce spreadsheets and I can use a wide variety of statistical tests.
  • Teamwork:I enjoy teamwork and i feel my role in teams is mediation preventing confrontations and keeping everyone on friendly terms.
  • Organisation: I have organised several USAID roundtable conferences held in various cities of Pakistan. One of the biggest conference that i have organised to date was the roundtable conference held on January 2010 in the capital-“Public Private Sector Consultative Mechanism” where we had more then a hundred business delgates from both public and private sector from all over Pakistan. US Ambassador Cameron Munter was our chief guest.
  • Communication: Throughout my degree and year out I have become extremely good at communicating. Often in situations when English wasn’t the common language.

Leisure Activities/ Interests: I am a keen sportswoman and love keeping fit by playing volleyball and tennis, I also take regular Pilates, Karate and Kickboxing classes. I am passionate about music and am an avid reader and have a vast collection of quotable quotes.

Volunteer Work

  • Volunteered for day and night shift for the orphans from the earthquake of 2005 at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, based in the capital city of Islamabad, Pakistan.
  • Participated for Rotary Polio campaign, and collection of food items and other clothing material for the flood affectees- 2010 flood’s were one of the worst floods in Pakistan’s history -displaced 14 million people.

References:

1)Ms Jennifer Regan 3) Mr Warren Weinstein

International Trade & Legal Customs Advisor Country Director, Pakistan

USAID – Pakistan Trade Project J.E Austin Associates

2) Dr Cathelina Alliende 4) Mr Gareth Davies

Principal Chief Of Party

University College Islamabad USAID- Pakistan Trade Project

Tel: +92512281461, +92512853178 Tel: 051-8438280