Our Team

Meet the dedicated people behind the Women Economic Empowerment Fund

Leadership

Ms. Hira Arian

Managing Director – WEEF

Hira Arian is a development professional specializing in women's economic empowerment, climate-resilient livelihoods, and inclusive enterprise development. She leads WEEF's strategic vision, operational management, partnerships, and program delivery. Her focus is on building sustainable, market-linked income opportunities for rural and climate-affected women through skills development, access to finance, and business incubation.

Mr. Javed Hussain

Director

Javed Hussain is a senior development practitioner with over 22 years of experience in community development, climate justice, women's rights, and institutional leadership. He is the Executive Director of Sindh Community Foundation (SCF) and a Gender Just Climate Solutions Award winner at COP27. At WEEF, he provides strategic oversight, policy direction, and ensures alignment with gender-transformative and climate-responsive frameworks.

Directors

Ms. Shahnaz Sheedi

Director

Shahnaz Sheedi brings extensive experience in community mobilization, women's leadership, and grassroots development initiatives. She contributes to strengthening community ownership, social inclusion, and accountability mechanisms within WEEF-supported programs.

Ms. Jamilaz Nawaz

Director

Jamilaz Nawaz has strong experience in women-focused programming, social development, and capacity building. Her role emphasizes safeguarding women-centered values, ethical programming, and ensuring inclusive and impactful interventions under WEEF.

Finance & MEAL

Mr. Niaz Muhammad

Finance Director

Niaz Muhammad is a finance and compliance professional with expertise in financial management, budgeting, donor reporting, and risk management. He provides fiduciary oversight to WEEF, ensuring transparency, strong internal controls, and long-term financial sustainability of the Fund.

Mr. Irshad Ahmed

Director – MEAL & Quality Assurance

Irshad Ahmed is a Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) specialist with strong expertise in results-based management, impact measurement, learning systems, and quality assurance. He leads WEEF's MEAL frameworks to ensure evidence-driven decision-making, accountability, and continuous program improvement.

Our Advisors

Dr. Muhammad Isameel Kumbhar

Advisor – WEEF

Muhammad Isameel Kumbhar is an experienced academic and development professional with expertise in development economics, rural livelihoods, and policy advisory. He provides strategic guidance on program design, impact analysis, and long-term sustainability, supporting evidence-based and scalable WEEF interventions.

Organizational Structure

Board of Directors

CEO / Managing Director - Fund

Hira Arain

Core Management Team

Executive Director: Javed Hussain

Manager - Quality Assurance & Monitoring

Manager - Outreach & Community Mobilization

Manager - Appraisal

Finance Officer

Compliance & Reporting Officer

Fund Management & Governance

Governance Structure

  • Independent Fund Governance Committee (civil society, finance experts, community leaders)
  • Professional Fund Manager for daily operations and compliance
  • Annual Independent Audits & Transparent Reporting
  • Separate Legal Registration to enhance credibility and donor confidence

Self-Sustaining Model

  • Fixed capital preserved
  • Profits generated biannually
  • 15% of returns cover operations; remainder reinvested