Chairman / National PRA Specialist Mr. Jafar Shah is a senior social development professional and nationally recognized Participatory Reflection and Action (PRA) Specialist, with over 30+ years of experience in community-based development, participatory planning, institutional strengthening, and social mobilization in Pakistan’s mountainous and conflict-affected regions. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Natural Sciences and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB), complemented by extensive national and international training in participatory development, rural systems analysis, gender and development, and community organization. Mr. Jafar Shah is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of the PRA approach in Pakistan. He has designed and delivered PRA-based assessments, baseline studies, training manuals, and capacity building programs for numerous national and international organizations, including IIED (UK), SDC/ Inter co-operation, SRSP, AKRSP, and ActionAid. He has facilitated over 100 PRA and social mobilization training workshops, primarily in remote and marginalized communities, and has served as a national resource person for participatory planning and people-centered development approaches. His professional experience spans senior leadership and program management roles. He served as Regional Program Manager at Sarhad Rural Support Program (SRSP), where he led multi sectoral development programs using participatory and inclusive approaches. Prior to this, he held senior positions under the Pak-Swiss Kalam Integrated Development Project (KIDP), including Head of Village Development Program and Senior Social Organizer, leading field teams responsible for community organization, livelihoods, natural resource management, and institutional strengthening at tehsil and district levels. In addition to his development sector leadership, Mr. Jafar Shah served as a Member of the Provincial Legislative Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (2008–2018). During this period, he chaired and served on several standing committees, including Public Accounts, Health, Labour, and SDGs, and was recognized as one of the most vocal parliamentarians for four consecutive years. His legislative experience strengthens his ability to bridge community priorities with policy and governance frameworks, a key requirement for locally led adaptation planning. Mr. Jafar Shah is the founding
Chairman of the Board /Director/Governors of QAFELA, where he provides strategic oversight, policy guidance, and coordination with donors, government institutions, and civil society partners. His role focuses on strengthening institutional governance, ensuring accountability, and guiding community-led development initiatives. He has also contributed to the formation of multiple NGOs and NGO consortia at district, regional, and provincial levels. His international exposure includes training programmes, workshops, and study tours in Germany, the Netherlands, Thailand, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Belgium, Jordan, and the United States, with a thematic focus on rural development, cooperatives, micro-enterprises, natural resource management, and participatory governance. He has presented papers at international forums hosted by IIED (UK), ICIMOD (Nepal), and other regional platforms. Syed Jafar Shah has received several national and international recognitions, including the Ashoka Fellowship Award for his contribution to environmental protection and community development, designation as a Global Goodwill Ambassador, and an IUCN award for contributions to district conservation strategy development. He is a member of multiple regional and international networks, including the PRA Network Pakistan and the Asia Forestry Network. Within the PROAACT project, Syed Jafar Shah will provide strategic leadership and technical guidance on participatory processes, ensuring that community risk assessments, adaptation planning, and prioritization of Nature-based Solutions are firmly grounded in PRA principles, inclusivity, and local ownership.