Looking for a job

Nida Sultan

@nidasultan

International development professional delivering programme strategy, partnerships, and grants—driving multi-million-dollar fundraising and impact.

Pakistan

Message

What I'm looking for

I’m looking for remote and field-based roles where I can lead programme strategy and partnerships, manage grants end-to-end, and strengthen safeguarding and compliance—especially in fragile and conflict-affected contexts—working with diverse global teams.

I’m an international development professional with a strong track record in programme management, business development, partnership management, and grants management across education, health, WASH, humanitarian response, and community development. I led or co-led fundraising securing over USD 40M across FCDO, Malala Fund, and EU frameworks.

I’m experienced across the full partnership and grant lifecycle—from partner identification and due diligence to capacity building, compliance monitoring, reporting, and close-out. I’ve built and operationalised country strategy in a localisation-first model, working exclusively through local implementing partners.

In programme design and delivery, I develop logframes, KPIs, risk registers, and results frameworks, and I bring direct experience in fragile and conflict-affected contexts, including Afghanistan crisis response and Pakistan flood emergency. I also design and deliver capacity building training for partners and staff.

Right now, I’m leading business development and organisational systems as Deputy Director at IRADA Foundation, including managing an EUR 6M EU concept note pipeline and building country strategy, partnership policy, and due diligence frameworks. I’m known for strengthening safeguarding and compliance approaches while keeping portfolios on-track using tools like Foundant and Monday.com.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Deputy Director

Current

IRADA Foundation

Aug 2025 - Present (11 months)

Leads an EUR 6M EU concept note for a journalist support programme in Pakistan, managing the full business development cycle. Developing Pakistan country strategy and partnership/due diligence frameworks, and designing capacity-building for staff.

Business Development Concept Note Development Donor Narrative Writing Due Diligence Organisational Sustainability Model Capacity Building Stakeholder Management Training Delivery

Partnership Manager / Operations Lead

Malala Fund

Apr 2022 - Jul 2025 (3 years 3 months)

Developed and operationalised Malala Fund’s Pakistan country strategy and led proposal development for out-of-school girls and STEAM programmes. Managed a grants portfolio for local implementing partners end-to-end, including due diligence, compliance monitoring, reporting, and grant closures, and led emergency response during the 2022 Pakistan floods.

Programme Management Partnership Management Capacity Building Compliance Monitoring Grant Reporting Grant Close Out Monday.Com BHD Committee First Response Officer MEL (Logframes KPIs Emergency Response

Programme Manager – Humanitarian Response

FCDO / British High Commission

Oct 2021 - Mar 2022 (5 months)

Led the GBP 5M Afghanistan Humanitarian Rehabilitation Programme concept note to secure funding for rehabilitation support. Co-led major health programming and Afghanistan crisis management coordination, and managed a large humanitarian and resilience portfolio with compliance and donor reporting responsibilities.

Donor Engagement Compliance Monitoring Donor Reporting KPIs COVID 19 Emergency Response Alignment

Programme Officer - Health, Educ & WASH

FCDO / DFID / British High Commission

Nov 2018 - Sep 2021 (2 years 10 months)

Led the GBP 3M Health Technical Assistance Programme concept note and proposal through donor approval. Managed large-scale nutrition, COVID-19 vaccine rollout, and school construction/rehabilitation including WASH infrastructure, and used DFID Development Tracker for programme management and public accountability.

Proposal Development Programme Delivery Fortified Food Delivery COVID 19 Vaccine Importation & National Rollout School Construction & Rehabilitation Solarisation Of Schools Monitoring DFID Development Tracker National Nutrition Survey Delivery

Deputy Manager, Business Support

DFID / British High Commission

Mar 2015 - Oct 2018 (3 years 7 months)

Contributed to change management for the DFID-FCO merger by managing staff consultations and bridging institutional cultures. Designed and delivered learning and development for 100+ staff and supported HR governance, inclusive recruitment, workforce planning, and performance management.

Change Management Learning Development HR Governance Workforce Planning Performance Management UK Civil Service Compliance (Framework Based Work)

Administration Officer

DFID / British High Commission

Jan 2014 - Feb 2015 (1 year 1 month)

Provided executive coordination for senior leadership, including correspondence, stakeholder engagement, and cross-departmental operations. Supported day-to-day administrative and operational processes.

Executive Coordination Stakeholder Engagement Correspondence Management

HR, Procurement & Logistics Officer

USAID – Citizens' Voice Project

Sep 2011 - Dec 2013 (2 years 3 months)

Established HR, procurement, and partner compliance frameworks for a community development programme implemented across multiple field sites in Pakistan. Supported partner compliance with the programme’s operational requirements.

HR Framework Development Procurement Support & Compliance Field Operations

Programme Support Manager

USAID – Pre-Service Teacher Education

Dec 2009 - Mar 2011 (1 year 3 months)

Supported programme development and partner capacity building for a national teacher education programme. Led monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities with teacher training colleges.

Monitoring Evaluation And Learning Teacher Training College Collaboration

Executive Assistant to Chief of Party

USAID – Safe Drinking Water & WASH Project

Dec 2008 - Nov 2009 (11 months)

Managed donor communications, field mission logistics, and programme documentation for a WASH-focused development project. Supported operational coordination during field activities.