Waheed Zafar

Waheed Zafar

Project Management Specialist | Data-Driven Operations Lead

Visiting Associate – Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI)

Waheed Zafar is a seasoned project management professional with a robust foundation in research, big-data analysis, project implementation, and sustainable development. With over a decade of cross-functional experience, he currently leads farm operations at MMIGT UAE – spearheading production planning, data-driven scouting systems, and climate-smart agricultural practices across multiple locations.

In parallel, Waheed serves as a Visiting Associate at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), contributing to initiatives in precision agriculture, environmental sustainability, and climate change mitigation – bringing his field expertise into actionable research and policy dialogue within the development sector.

He holds an MPhil in Forestry & Range Management and a BSc (Hons) in Agriculture from PMAS-Arid Agriculture University. His career began with agroforestry initiatives under the Ministry of Environment (now the Ministry of Climate Change), where he contributed to ecosystem restoration and community-based plantation programs.

At SDPI, Waheed led the high-impact National Socio-Economic Registry (NSER) survey project, achieving full field coverage across 21 districts of Punjab. SDPI remains the only institution to successfully deliver this nationwide initiative – a milestone his team accomplished through meticulous planning, real-time monitoring, and strategic coordination.

Notable Achievements & Credentials

SMBZ Agriculture Excellence Award (2024) – Honored with one of the UAE’s most prestigious agricultural awards under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Chairman of ADAFSA.

Published Researcher – Lead author of “Nutritional Quality of Kangaroo Grass Themeda triandra” and contributor to several peer-reviewed publications.

Environmental Excellence Award (2009) – Nationally recognized for impactful contributions to environmental sustainability in Pakistan.

Certified Professional in:

• Sustainable Agriculture
• Trade Policy (WTO)
• Climate Adaptation & Risk Integration (FAO, UNITAR, WWF)