Afghan Biographies

Zia, Ihsan, Ehsan


Name Zia, Ihsan, Ehsan
Ethnic backgr. Pashtun
Date of birth
Function/Grade Ex-Minister
History and Biodata

2. Previous Functions:
Deputy Minister for Programs (20040100)
Minister Rural Rehabilitation Development MRRD (20060500)

3. Biodata:
zia_mohammad_ehsanMohammed Ehsan Zia was born in Kabul and graduated from Mahmood Terzy High School. He received a Bachelor's Degree in Social Development from the University of Birmingham, U.K. in 1991, and an M.A. in Post-War Recovery Studies from York University, U.K. in 2000.

Having worked in management and advisory positions for humanitarian and post conflict programs in Afghanistan since 1988, Minister Zia has extensive professional experience in rural and community development. He has worked with international aid agencies and NGOs including the Norwegian Afghanistan Committee (NAC), German Afghan Foundation (GAF), Cooperation for Peace and Unity (CPAU), and Norwegian Church Aid (NCA).

His areas of expertise include rural and community development policy formulation and program design, participatory development theory and practice, strategic planning for government institutions, community mobilization, participation, and prioritization and conflict analysis and practical peace building.

Zia joined the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) as a Policy Advisor in July 2002. He was appointed Deputy Minister for Programs in January 2004, with responsibility for the overall management of six national priority programs with an annual budget totaling more than $300 million. He assumed his duties as Minister of Rural Rehabilitation and Development in May 2006. Mr. Zia’s publications include: * Role of Afghan Civil Society in the Process of Peace-Building in Afghanistan, Carnegie Council, New York * A Community Based Approach to Peace Building, Norwegian Church Aid * Afghanistan, from Protracted Monarchy to Protracted Warfare, University of York, U.K., 1999 * Peace-Building Rhetoric or Reality? University of York, U.K., 2000 (M.A. Dissertation)

Zia is fluent in Dari, Pashto, English, and Urdu.

Last Modified 2011-05-17
Established 2009-10-09