Aazar W. Bhandara has over 16 years of experience in international development projects. He has worked for organizations such as USAID, Asian Development Bank, United Nations, World Bank, and INGOs. He has extensive experience developing and implementing large projects related to economic development, private sector development, agriculture, education, and workforce development. He holds an MPhil in Technology Policy from the University of Cambridge.

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Aazar W. Bhandara
Address: 3691 River Heights Crossing, Marietta, GA 30067, United States.
Mobile: +1 (404) 450 9625 Resident Status: U.S. Permanent Resident
Email: abhandara@gmail.com Gender: Male
Key Qualifications
 Development: Over 16 years of progressive experience in design and implementation of large and complex
international development projects with USAID, Asian Development Bank, United Nations, DfID, World
Bank, Government of Pakistan, INGOs and US consulting firms.
 Technical Skills: Policy, economic development, private and financial sector development, monitoring and
evaluation, agriculture and livelihoods, workforce development, energy, Millennium Development Goals,
Public Private Partnerships, G2G, education and proposal development.
 Education: MPhil Technology Policy, Cambridge-MIT Institute, University of Cambridge, UK.
Work Experience
Jan ’15 – Date Asian Development Bank, Manila, Philippines
Staff Consultant (Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist)
Developing Project Performance Management System for ADB funded $65 million
Uplands Irrigation and Water Resources Management Project, Cambodia.
GIZ, Pakistan, Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET)
Consultant
Working with GIZ’s Euro 69.8 million TVET Reform Support Programme to help
them develop and implement a Monitoring and Evaluation system in provincial and
regional Technical Education and Vocational Training Authorities.
AECOM, Washington DC, United States
Proposal Development Consultant
Developing technical proposal, forging partnerships and identifying key personnel to bid
on the upcoming $15 million USAID funded youth workforce development project in
South Punjab, Pakistan.
CARE International, Atlanta, United States
Proposal Development Consultant
Developed technical proposal for CARE Bangladesh in response to USAID/Bangladesh’s
$180 million Title II Development Food Assistance Project. The goal of the Project is to
increase income and food security and build gender equality and resilience in marginalized
populations in Bangladesh.
Engility Corporation, Washington DC, United States
Consultant
Reviewed proposal and helped develop technical partnerships to bid on the upcoming
USAID/Pakistan Office of Transitional Initiative (USAID/OTI) funded youth workforce
development project in Pakistan.
AECOM, Washington DC, United States
Consultant
Reviewed technical proposal and helped develop budget to bid on the USAID/Pakistan
funded $20 million Financial Markets Development Project.

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Jan ’14 – Dec ‘14 The World Bank, Washington, D.C., United States
Consultant
Conducted evaluation and drafted ‘Implementation Completion and Results Report (ICR)’
of the World Bank funded $22 million ‘Balochistan Education Support Project’. The
Project promoted public-private and community partnerships to improve access to quality
primary education for girls in particular.
Department of International Development (DfID), U.K., Pakistan
Consultant
Conducted Annual Review 2014 of DfID Pakistan’s £50 million ‘Financial Inclusion
Program’. The program aims to improve access to financial services for poor and
marginalized groups and for small and medium enterprises in Pakistan through offering
credit guarantees, technical assistance, and innovation grants.
CARE International, Pakistan
Consultant
Conducted research on ‘Opportunities and Challenges to pro-poor business investment in
Pakistan’ with focus on targeting 28 million poor women. Based on the research,
facilitated CARE’s five private sector partners identify initiatives that can help them target
these women on a financially sustainable basis and organized the 3rd Private Sector
Engagement Roundtable to finalize the funding and implementation modalities of these
initiatives.
J.E. Austin Associates Inc., Washington DC, U.S.
Consultant
Prepared Cost Benefit Analysis for meat, citrus, mango, and high value off-season
vegetables value chains as part of the technical proposal that was developed and submitted
in response to USAID/Pakistan’s Commercial Agriculture project.
GIZ, Pakistan, Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET)
Consultant
Worked with GIZ’s Euro 69.8 million TVET Reform Support Programme to build
capacity of their provincial liaison officers in public sector’s budget making process and
budget analysis. Conducted institutional assessment of seven provincial and regional
Technical Education and Vocational Training Authorities and did a budget analysis of
public sector’s contribution to the TVET sector across Pakistan.
AECOM
Consultant
Collected information on upcoming USAID funded youth workforce development and
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governance projects, mobilized local level partner organizations,
and developed Concept Paper on Youth Workforce Development in Pakistan to facilitate
writing of the technical proposal.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Consultant
Reviewed and finalized study on Women in Agriculture in Pakistan. The report provides
status, challenges and contribution of women in sub sectors of agriculture and gives a road
map for further improving their contribution in these sub sectors.
CARE International, Pakistan
Proposal Development Consultant
Developed $9.7 million concept paper in response to USAID’s 2013 Annual Program
Statement for ‘Partnering to Accelerate Entrepreneurship initiative’. The proposal focused

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on fostering women entrepreneurship through catalyzing private sector investment in early
stage enterprises in Pakistan’s rural agri-businesses.
May ‘13 – Dec ‘13 U.S. Agency for International Development, Pakistan
Workforce Development Consultant
Developed Concept Note for upcoming USAID youth workforce development program
for South Punjab, Pakistan.
Asian Development Bank, Pakistan
Consultant
Conducted post project evaluation of (i) $700 million ‘Flood Emergency Reconstruction’
Project and (ii) $41 million ‘Sindh Coastal Community Development’ Project. Drafted
Project Completion Reports of these two projects that included detailed economic
analysis.
GIZ, Pakistan, Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET)
Consultant
Proposed a monitoring and evaluation system to track implementation of National Skills
Strategy, analysed governments federal and provincial budget allocations to TVET, and
conducted a Training Need Assessment of provincial Technical Education and Vocational
Training Authorities in the agriculture, energy, and services sectors.
Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund, Pakistan.
Resource Mobilization Consultant
Identified funding gaps for priority areas and based on discussions with stakeholders and
donors, identified potential funding sources, created funding scenarios, and developed
fundraising proposals totalling $500 million.
Sep ‘11 – May ‘13 United Nations Development Programme, Pakistan
Assistant Country Director, Poverty Reduction and MDGs
 Managed a five-year ‘Poverty Reduction and MDGs’ portfolio of projects totalling $50
million focussed on poverty reduction, governance, accelerating implementation of
MDGs, sustaining livelihoods, and skills development.
 Assisted four provincial governments prepare and launch the first ever sub-national
MDG reports in Pakistan. These reports provided policy input to key decision makers
in accelerating selected MDGs. By working with federal Parliamentary Committee on
MDGs, significant inroads were made to bring MDG acceleration at the forefront of
national policy agenda.
 On request of Government of Balochistan, provided technical assistance through
Deloitte in helping the provincial government develop the ‘Balochistan
Comprehensive Development Strategy 2013-2020’.
 Led the process in Pakistan of developing a new framework for international
development goals – Post 2015 development agenda.
 Supported Government in developing the New Economic Growth Framework.
 Launched and disseminated in Pakistan the 2013 Human Development Report –"The
Rise of the South: Human Progress in a Diverse World".
 Managed teams of staff and consultants, actively monitored UNDP funded programs
in Pakistan, designed new initiatives, and secured funding for 2 projects from USAID
and the Government of Balochistan.
 Worked in close collaboration with the country office, other UN Agencies, UNDP
Regional Office and Headquarter, Government officials, donors, and civil society
organizations to successfully implement the assigned portfolio.

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Dec ‘09 – Sep ‘11 Asian Development Bank (ADB), Pakistan Resident Mission
Financial Sector, Public Financial Management, and Trade Specialist
 Administered ADB-financed projects and TAs covering both public and non-
sovereign operations with focus on financial and private sector development, trade,
small and medium enterprise development, public private partnerships, economic
diversification, and structural transformation.
 Contributed to development of ADB’s (i) country strategy, economic reports, and
other special purpose assessments, (ii) loans and policy dialogue, and (iii) other
economic and sector work.
 Managed implementation of ADB financed (i) $400 million Second Generation of
Capital market Reform Program, (ii) $500 million Accelerating Economic
Transformation Program and (iii) $650 million Punjab Government Efficiency
Improvement Program.
 Contributed to the design, drafting of the Reports and Recommendations of the
President (RRP), and processing of $700 million Pakistan Flood Emergency
Reconstruction Project. Coordinated Pakistan 2010 Floods Damage and Needs
Assessment for the Governance sector conducted by ADB and the World Bank.
 Conducted post project evaluation of (i) $99 million NWFP Barani Area
Development Project Phase II and (ii) $30 million NWFP Urban Development
Project. Drafted Project Completion Reports of these two projects that also included
a detailed economic and financial analysis.
 Participated in policy dialogue with the government and private sector on financial
sector reforms, private sector development, trade, public financial management and
structural transformation and maintained active contacts in government, private
sector, and civil society to seek informed assessments on Bank funded projects and
programs.
Jun ‘09 – Oct ‘09 Empower Pakistan: Performance Project
Jul‘09-Oct ‘09 Chief of Party
Jun‘09-Jul‘09 Deputy Chief of Party
USAID’s Economic Growth (EG) activities in Pakistan were being implemented with the
support of Empower Pakistan: Performance Project (EPP), a contract managed by the
QED Group LLC. EPP provided program management support to USAID EG and
implementation partners by coordinating the following: (i) Monitoring and Evaluation, (ii)
Knowledge Management, (iii) Communications, and (iv) Gender. The project was closed
in October 2009, among many others, because of changing US Government strategy in
Pakistan. During the brief stint, I along with my team (i) managed the project and
provided guidance and technical support to the staff in implementing project activities, (ii)
prepared technical documentation to fulfil USAID’s reporting requirements including
workplan, performance monitoring plan, quarterly reports, performance reports, briefing
papers, concept papers, technical documentation (RFAs, RFPs, SOWs) and other periodic
documentation for the USAID Mission, and (iii) collaborated with USAID, US
Government, USAID EG Partners, Government of Pakistan, and other donors on
activities related to economic growth.
Nov ‘03 – Jun ‘09 United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Pakistan
Senior Economic Growth Advisor
 Advised senior management on Pakistan’s development including a wide range of
economic, private sector, trade, energy, agriculture, fiscal and financial reforms
issues and their implications on bi-lateral assistance, U.S. Government interests
and regional issues impacting Pakistan.
 Conceptualized Mission’s strategy for supporting economic development.

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 Prepared policy papers, annual report documents, performance reports, briefing
papers, concept papers, technical documentation (RFAs, RFPs, SOWs) and other
periodic documentation for the USAID Mission, USAID Washington, State
Department, and the US Congress.
 Served as the Contracting or Agreement Officer’s Representative (C/AOR) for
various contracts and grants including portfolio’s financial management.
 Collaborated with Government of Pakistan, Multilateral Development Banks, and
Bilateral Donors on activities related to economic development and served as
Mission’s Environmental Officer.
 Designed and managed USAID/Pakistan’s (2003-2007) $72 million economic
growth portfolio that consisted of:
o $11.4 million competitiveness activity that resulted in 41 policy reforms
benefitting dairy, marble, gems, horticulture, furniture, and surgical
instruments value chains and leveraged more than $130 million from the
Government and the private sector.
o $25 million Competitiveness Support Fund that supported private sector
through provision of technical assistance and matching grants.
o $6 million financial services program that helped financial institutions
respond to needs of entrepreneurs that were neither served by MFI’s nor
by commercial Banks. $90 million was leveraged for entrepreneurs
through the program partners.
o $11.2 million financial services program implemented through Khushali
Bank for provision of loans, especially to women, in Baluchistan, Sindh,
and tribal areas of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan.
o South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy that facilitated Pakistan in solar
and wind mapping, training key public sector personnel, and promoting
energy trade between central and south Asia.
o Pakistan-US Science and Technology Cooperation Program that aimed to
increase bilateral cooperation in science and technology.
o $4 million arid agriculture project in Balochistan province implemented
through the Food and Agriculture Organization.
 Designed and managed $30 million energy policy, conservation, and capacity
building portfolio.
 Designed (i) $300 million livelihoods project to address stabilization issues in
volatile tribal areas of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan, (iii) $28 million livelihoods
project for people affected by Pakistan’s 2005 earthquake, and (iii) $355 million
agriculture and food security portfolio.
 Granted one-year leave of absence to attend graduate school at the University of
Cambridge, UK.
Consulting Assignments
Oct ‘09 – Dec ‘09 Universal Services Fund, Pakistan. Undertook a study on establishing Multipurpose
Community Telecentres in underserved areas of Pakistan.
Mar ‘08 – Apr ‘08 J.E. Austin Associates Inc., Washington DC, USA. Undertook a study for the World
Bank Washington on regulatory and administrative barriers to growth and investment in
the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan and edited Egypt Competiveness Report.
Jan ‘02 – Oct ‘03 Asian Development Bank, Pakistan. Conducted post project evaluation of (i) $125
million ‘Pehur High Level Canal’ Project, (ii) $72 million ‘Punjab Water Supply and
Sanitation’ Project, and (iii) $60 million ‘Punjab Rural Water Supply and Sanitation’
Project. Drafted Project Completion Reports of these three projects that also included
detailed economic and financial analysis.

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International Fund for Agricultural Development, Pakistan. Conducted mid-term
project evaluation. Prepared financial and economic analysis and Mid-Term evaluation
report of $23 million Northern Areas Development Project.
Infrastructure Projects Development Facility, Ministry of Finance, Pakistan. Prepared
situation analysis of Public Private Partnerships at the federal/ provincial level in Pakistan.
Agribusiness Development Project, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Government of
Pakistan. Prepared policy study on attracting Foreign Investment in Pakistan’s Food
Processing industry.
Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund, Pakistan (World Bank funded Project). Conducted
social and economic evaluation of 356 rural infrastructure projects including irrigation
works, water supply, and farm-to-market roads.
Full-time Employment (Continued)
Mar ‘01 – Dec ‘01 Small & Medium Enterprise Development Authority, Government of Pakistan,
Management Associate-Project Development and Monitoring
(i) Monitored on-going projects; (ii) Carried out global and country specific analysis of
industrial sectors; (iii) Formulated policy recommendations; (iv) Prepared proposals to
seek government and donor financing; (v) Coordinated with Ministry of Industries, private
sector, and donors; and (vi) Developed PC-IIs to implement World Bank’s Investment
Climate Survey and Asian Development Bank’s SME Sector Development Project PPTA.
Apr ‘99 – Mar ‘01 Rural Support Programmes, Pakistan
Apr ‘00-Mar ‘01 Senior Program Officer Monitoring and Evaluation, National
Rural Support Programme, Head Office, Islamabad.
Apr ‘99-Apr ‘00 Program Officer Monitoring and Evaluation, Punjab Rural
Support Programme (PRSP), Multan Region.
(i) Developed and implemented M&E system for credit, community infrastructure, and
education activities; (ii) Conducted baseline surveys evaluations; (iii) Coordinated with
donors and field offices; (iv) Established NRSP’s M&E systems in 19 districts and
managed and supervised 25 local M&E staff; (iv) developed proposals that helped NRSP
secure Rs.645 million ($12 million) in funding for program expansion from Pakistan
Poverty Alleviation Fund; and (v) Co-authored PRSP’s first Annual Report.
Education
2007-2008 MPhil – Technology Policy (Distinction)
Cambridge-MIT Institute, University of Cambridge (UK)
1996-1998 MA – Economics (Distinction)
University of the Punjab (Pakistan)
Reports and Publications
 Farrukh, R.M., Bhandara, A.W., 2007, ‘Project Completion Report -- Punjab Community Water Supply and Sanitation
 Project’, Asian Development Bank, Pakistan Resident Mission.
 Shafi, S., Bhandara, A.W., 2005, ‘Project Completion Report -- Pehur High Level Canal Project’, Asian Development
 Bank, Pakistan Resident Mission.
 Bhandara, A.W., Farrukh, R.M., 2003, ‘Project Completion Report -- Punjab Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project’,
 Asian Development Bank, Pakistan Resident Mission.
 Bhandara, A.W., 2002, ‘Impact Assessment of Community Infrastructure’, Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund.

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 Bhandara, A.W., 1999, ‘First Annual Report’, Punjab Rural Support Program, Pakistan.
Scholarships, Awards, and Honours
2012 Addressed National Security and War Course on Human Security in Pakistan.
2010 Special Act Award for designing USAID's Energy Programs, USAID.
2008 Meritorious Honour Award, USAID.
2007 Superior Group Award, USAID.
2007 Chevening Scholarship for MPhil degree at the University of Cambridge, UK.
2007 Superior Honour Award, U.S. Department of State.
2006 Superior Group Honour Award, U.S. Department of State.
2006 Fellowship for study at UN Staff College, Turin, Italy.
2005 Meritorious Honour Award, U.S. Department of State.
2000 Presidential Academic Roll of Honour, University of the Punjab, Pakistan.
1991 National Talent Scholarship, Government College Lahore, Pakistan.
Trainings
Sep 2012 Communities of Practice – Poverty and Environment, UNDP, Bangkok.
Jun 2011 Managing for Results and FIDIC Contracts, Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Jan 2011 Achieving Results, Manila, Philippines.
Mar 2010 Beginning Life in ADB, Manila, Philippines.
Apr 2007 Fiscal Policy and Management, Georgia State University, Atlanta, USA.
Nov 2006 Foreign Assistance Country Tracking System, Thailand.
Jul 2006 Boulder Microfinance Program, UN Staff College, Turin, Italy.
Apr 2006 Planning, Achieving and Learning Certification, USAID, Morocco.
Feb 2005 Development Credit Authority (financing tools), USAID, Jordan.
Aug 2004 Cognizant Technical Officer Certification, USAID, Washington D.C., USA.
Apr 2004 ‘Enterprise Development and Competitiveness, USAID, Thailand.
Mar 2001 Project Preparation and Appraisal, Planning Commission, Government of Pakistan.
Dec 2000 Strengthening Local Self Governance in South Asia, Commonwealth Foundation India.
Affiliations and Honorary Positions
2008-date Member, Oxford and Cambridge Society, Islamabad Chapter.
2008-date Member, British Alumni Association of Pakistan.
2008-date Member, Pakistan Society of Development Economists, Islamabad, Pakistan.
2007-2008 President, MPhil Technology Policy 2007-2008 Cohort, University of Cambridge, UK.
1996-1998 Vice President and General Secretary, Post-Graduate Economic Society, Foreman
Christian College, Lahore, Pakistan.
Personal Information
Languages: English (Fluent), Urdu (native), Punjabi (native), Hindi (Speaking -- Fair).
IT skills: MS Office, SPSS, and STATA.