Najia Hyder

Najia Hyder has a diverse and extensive work experience spanning several organizations and roles. Najia began their career as a Project Coordinator at DevCon, later known as LEAD Pakistan, from August 1995 to June 1996. Following this, they served as the National Coordinator for the Ministry of Women's Development/UNICEF, where they led the development of a National Plan of Action for the Women of Pakistan between 1996 and 1998.

In 2003, Najia joined Mercy Corps, initially as a Senior Program Officer responsible for program operations and grants management in Caucasus & Central Asia and West Bank & Gaza. Najia later took on roles such as Acting Country Director from October 2006 to May 2007, Director of Leadership Development from August 2008 to January 2011, and Director of Global Programs from February 2011 to April 2016. As Director of Global Programs, they worked closely with the Senior Vice President for Programs, providing advice on strategy and organizational structure, while also leading business process improvements and ensuring program quality across a $500M program portfolio.

From 2019 to 2023, Najia served as the Founding Executive Director of the Children's Public Private Partnership (CP3), where they collaborated with community leaders and the Oregon Department of Human Services to help children safely exit foster care. Najia brokered public-private partnerships to address barriers like lack of stable housing and in-home child safety.

Prior to their current role, Najia joined the Children's Institute as a Member of the Board of Directors in June 2021, providing oversight and leveraging research, practice, and advocacy to promote justice for families and enhance opportunities for children prenatal to grade 5. Najia also served on the DEI Board Committee.

In April 2023, Najia took on the position of Chief Program Officer at Relief International, where they are responsible for overseeing program development and implementation.

Throughout their career, Najia has demonstrated strong leadership, strategic thinking, and the ability to build partnerships to drive positive change in various sectors, particularly in relation to children and women's development.

Najia Hyder holds a Master of Arts (M.A.) in International Studies from the University of Oregon. Najia also has a Master of Science (M.S.) in Cultural Anthropology from Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, and a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Economics and Mathematics from the University of Punjab, Islamabad. Additionally, Najia has certifications in PMD Pro from APM Group and PRINCE2 Practitioner from AXELOS Global Best Practice.