Nilofar Sakhi ( fa, نيلوفر سخی) is an author and a policy analyst with expertise in security, geopolitics & peace. She is a professorial lecturer of International Affairs at George Washington University and a non resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council.
Career
Nilofar Sakhi is a professorial lecturer of International Affairs at George Washington University and a Non Resident Senior Fellow at Atlantic Council. Sakhi taught at George Mason University and American University of Afghanistan. She served as a country director of the Open Society Foundation-Afghanistan office and an executive director at the American University of Afghanistan.She is the former chief executive and executive director at the
American University of Afghanistan
The American University of Afghanistan (AUAF) ( fa, ; ps, ) is an Afghan private university located in the Darulaman section of Kabul. Most students of AUAF currently live abroad and there are plans to create a new AUAF campus in Qatar in the ...
.
A former Fulbright fellow, Nilofar Sakhi has written extensively on various aspects of traditional and nontraditional security, geopolitics of peace, peacemaking and peacebuilding processes and human security. Her recent book is on Human Security and Agency: Reframing productive power in Afghanistan. Currently she is working on regional security with a case study of Afghanistan-South and Central Asia and exploring the domestic and external incongruences that impact regional peace diplomacy. She has been involved in assisting peace, development, and counter insurgency policy formulation. A former visiting fellow at National Endowment for Democracy and Columbia University, and a fellow at Asia Society and International Center for Tolerance Education, Nilofar has researched a wide range of research projects pertaining to politics of peace, security, negotiations and mediation in peacemaking processes.
Sakhi is the founder of a national NGO WASSA, the first women's
NGO
A non-governmental organization (NGO) or non-governmental organisation (see spelling differences) is an organization that generally is formed independent from government. They are typically nonprofit entities, and many of them are active in h ...
in
Herat
Herāt (; Persian: ) is an oasis city and the third-largest city of Afghanistan. In 2020, it had an estimated population of 574,276, and serves as the capital of Herat Province, situated south of the Paropamisus Mountains (''Selseleh-ye Safē ...
, Afghanistan founded in 2002. While there she established the Center for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at WASSA in 2008.
She is the former executive director at American University of Afghanistan, and former country director of Open Society Afghanistan.
Prior to serving as country director she was the Senior Consultant on Rule of Law, Transitional Justice, Human Rights and Women's Rights at the
Open Society Institute
Open Society Foundations (OSF), formerly the Open Society Institute, is a grantmaking network founded and chaired by business magnate George Soros. Open Society Foundations financially supports civil society groups around the world, with a st ...
in Afghanistan. She has served as a fellow at both the International Center for Tolerance Education and the Asia 21 Young Leaders Initiative in 2010, and as a visiting fellow at the
National Endowment for Democracy
The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is an organization in the United States that was founded in 1983 for promoting democracy in other countries by promoting political and economic institutions such as political groups, trade unions, ...
,
Columbia University
Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...
. She is also on the International Steering Committee at Afghanistan: Pathways to Peace
The institute also houses the Laura Bush Library and Resource Center and was funded by a $5 million grant from the
U.S. Department of Defense Task Force for Business and Stability Operations.
The work of the center focuses on providing the tools and resources necessary to promote women's rights and opportunities in business and government in Afghanistan.
During her time with ICAWED she has met with several dignitaries, including United States
Secretary of State John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry (born December 11, 1943) is an American attorney, politician and diplomat who currently serves as the first United States special presidential envoy for climate. A member of the Forbes family and the Democratic Party, he ...
Her work has focused largely on advocating at the national and international level for improvements in public policies involving the rights of women and peaceful economic and political transition.
Speaking of the future of women's rights in a
Voice of America
Voice of America (VOA or VoA) is the state-owned news network and international radio broadcaster of the United States of America. It is the largest and oldest U.S.-funded international broadcaster. VOA produces digital, TV, and radio content ...
interview Sakhi noted that the next generation of women have strong role models in current Afghan society,
“Looking at women talking about their political rights in parliament, looking at women entering into business and having trade in Malaysia and Dubai, and looking at women who are successful personalities internationally of raising Afghanistan voices. This gives an image.”
External sources
Center for the Study of Islam & DemocracyRetrieved on Jan-14-2007
Scripps Howard Foundation WireRetrieved on Jan-14-2007
Retrieved on Jan-14-2007
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sakhi, Nilofar
Afghan feminists
21st-century Afghan women politicians
21st-century Afghan politicians
Living people
Year of birth missing (living people)
Civil rights activists
Muslim reformers
Afghan activists
Afghan women activists
American University of Afghanistan
Women civil rights activists