Hand in Hand Afghanistan Organization
Hand in Hand Afghanistan (HIHAO) is a not-for-profit and non-governmental organization registered with the Ministry of Economy of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (License # 890; 21 December 2006). HIHAO promotes women’s economic empowerment to deliver higher incomes, greater mobility, and increased decision-making power for vulnerable Afghan women. Since 2020, HIHAO has increasingly pivoted to providing humanitarian support to households most at risk of food insecurity. Headquartered in Mazar-e-Sharif, we have helped 50,000 women and men beat the odds and succeed as entrepreneurs since 2007, running profitable enterprises that stand the test of time.
Objectives
- Support unemployed, poor and vulnerable women, men and young people to secure entrepreneurial opportunities that enable financial resilience, provide sustainable employment, and increase diversified income
- Ensure women, men, young people and children who are affected by conflict, who are IDPs, returnees, or who are from underserved host communities in need of humanitarian assistance have access to food, potable drinking water, sanitation facilities, and have good hygiene awareness, health and education services, so they can create and grow livelihoods that enable income generation.
- Ensure that affected individuals have access to healthcare services, including the provision of nutritional support for malnourished children and mothers.
- The disaster-prone communities can access natural and other disaster risk reduction training.
Vision
HIHAO’s vision is an Afghanistan where all citizens have access to good quality and comprehensive services, where their fundamental rights are met without discrimination on the grounds of gender or ethnicity.
Mission
HIHAO’s mission is to enable disadvantaged communities to determine their own development and enhance their livelihoods, increase social cohesion, reduce violence and promote peace. HIHAO provides assistance to victims of the humanitarian crisis, to protect their lives and dignity.
Governance
General Assembly
General Assembly is the key decision-making body of the Organization. The General Assembly comprise of “Board of Directors” and “Executive Team” of the organization. The General Assembly normally meets every three years but shall be held sooner whenever seems necessary by the Board and management team. It makes key decisions of the organization, including the election of a new Board of Directors. The key decisions are then followed through by the board in-between general assembly meetings.
The board chairperson chairs the General Assembly and provides her/his report at the meeting. Members of the assembly then reject or approve the chairperson report, pass motions on new decisions to be adopted, vote to adopt decisions which will be implemented and followed by the board until the next General Assembly meeting. The General Assembly will undertake to monitor the Board effectiveness in carrying out its duties on regular basis.
Board of Directors
HIHAO is committed to good governance and follows recommended best practices. The HIHAO Board of Directors is the governing body chaired by Mr. Najibullah Samim, with a mission to guide and take strategic decisions for the organization’s long-term future and oversee its financial affairs, while holding its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to account.
No staff members are voting members of the Board though the Board and the CEO work in close partnership. The Board composition covers essential skills, knowledge to complement that of the staff, and it pays particular attention to issues of security, fraud and corruption. Hand in Hand International has an ex officio seat to bring international experience and create a fiduciary link to donors.
Najibullah Samim is currently serving as the Chairperson for Hand in Hand Afghanistan. He was the former CEO of Harakat Afghanistan and the Afghanistan Microfinance Association (AMA). Previously, he worked as Managing Director of the Microfinance Agency for Development and Rehabilitation of Afghan Communities (MADRAC). He has also served as a Board member and chairman of AMA for many years. He has more than 20 years of working experience in the field of Development out of which 12 years are in the field of Microfinance. He is currently working as a freelance consultant.
Mr. Samim obtained his MBA degree from Preston University in 2002 and his B.Sc. degree in Civil Engineering in 1997. He has represented the organizations he has worked with at many international conferences and forums. He has been a board member of the South Asian Micro-entrepreneurs Network (SAMN) since its inception in 2008 and is currently serving as its Vice Chairman.
Email: najib.samim786@gmail.com
Amalia has worked in international development for more than 12 years, specializing in financial inclusion and supporting rural livelihoods. Prior to joining Hand in Hand, she was Head of Financial Sector Development at Nathan Associates, overseeing the organization’s portfolio of financial sector-focused work.
Amalia has collaborated and provided guidance for a variety of institutional and corporate contributors, including DFID, SIDA, FSDA, Access to Finance Rwanda, Mastercard Foundation, Barclays, and Deutsche Bank. She spent several years at the OECD and in the UK financial sector, as well as working at Plan International UK. She graduated with a bachelor’s in economics from the University of Cambridge and a master’s in international affairs from Columbia University.
Eva has worked in international development for over 20 years, specialising in fundraising and programme development for women’s economic empowerment. As Manager of Programmes and Institutional Fundraising at Hand in Hand Germany she is responsible for institutional fundraising and programme design for Hand in Hand activities across Eastern Africa and Afghanistan. Previously, she advised civil society organisations and think tanks as an independent consultant, focusing on grant applications, project design, and donor engagement.
Eva has worked with a range of international partners, including German political foundations, international charities and a wide range of Asian NGOs. Previously, she held senior roles at the Friedrich Naumann Foundation’s offices in Brussels and Singapore. Eva holds an MA in Southeast Asian Studies from the University of Singapore and a BA in English and German from the University of London.
Email: emaaten@hihinternational.org
Dr. Qamaruddin Maqsoodi joined Hand in Hand Afghanistan’s Board of Directors in August 2022. He is joining HIHAO with more than 35 years of extensive work experience in the NGO and government sectors. He is currently working as the Senior Remote Manager for ACBAR’s Twinning Program. He previously worked as a cluster manager for a World Bank-funded project and has long been involved with organizations such as BRAC, Save the Children, and Halo Trust.
Dr. Maqsoodi has obtained his Master’s degree in International Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid from the Kalu Institute, Humanitarian Aid Studies Center in Spain. He has completed his medical studies at the Tashkent Medical University in Uzbekistan.
Email: rm1twinning@acbar.org
Professor Dr. Habibullah Mahboob joined the development sector with a solid foundation in strategic leadership and academic excellence. With over 17 years of extensive experience, he has held progressively senior managerial and leadership roles across various international organizations, focusing on program development, project management, and socio-economic advancement. Throughout his career, Dr. Mahboob has contributed to major national and international initiatives, leading business development services, research and surveys, and capacity-building efforts with a results-driven mindset. His commitment to excellence, combined with a clear vision and ability to manage complex tasks, has made him a key player in delivering impactful and sustainable development programs.
Dr. Mahboob holds multiple advanced academic degrees including a Ph.D., MBA, MPA, MSc in Leadership, and is also PMP certified. His qualifications are complemented by exceptional technical skills in rural and community development, alternate livelihood initiatives, project planning and budgeting, monitoring and evaluation, and professional writing. He is known for his analytical capacity, strong interpersonal and leadership skills, and a customer-focused approach. His blend of academic depth and field-based expertise enables him to drive innovation, build resilient teams, and achieve long-term impact.
MANAGEMENT
The overall operation of Hand in Hand Afghanistan is managed by Chief Executive Officer/Country Director in close cooperation with Program Manager, Chief Finance Officer, Branch Offices Coordinator, Sr. Capacity Development Officer, and Sr. Monitoring and Evaluation Officer.
Dr. Hekmati joined HIHAO in the capacity of Program Manager in September 2013 and he has been working as Executive Director since July 2022. He has come to the organization with his 15-year experience of leading and managing community development projects inside and outside Afghanistan. Before joining HIHAO, he worked for the Afghan Red Crescent Society, Medicines Sans Frontiers, the World Health Organization and the Management Sciences for Health, and the University Research Co.
Dr. Hekmati received the Exceptional Performance Award for the Health Care Improvement Project in 2012 from the University Research Co, Bethesda, USA. He graduated from Balkh Medical University in 1998 and completed a one-year Improvement Advisor Professional Development Program in Accra, Ghana, by the Institute of Healthcare Improvement, USA, in 2011.
Email: khekmati@handinhand.org.af
In May 2023, Habib Aminpoor joined the team at Hand in Hand Afghanistan Organization, assuming the position of Fundraising Manager. His experience and comprehensive understanding of humanitarian projects have made him an invaluable asset to the organization. Habib joined various national and international NGOs, accumulating eight years of valuable experience in program management and program development since 2015. His expertise in these areas has enabled him to understand humanitarian projects.
With a strong academic background and professional experience, Habib pursued a Bachelor’s in Economy from Balkh University in 2014 and an MBA in Leadership and Management from Kardan University in 2018. Additionally, he undertook professional training in Humanitarian Programming by WFP, SADI by CAFOD, and Data Analysis by Asia Foundation, further enhancing his knowledge and expertise.
Abdullah Faizy joined HIHAO in February 2015 as a Project Assistant, bringing with him over nine years of experience with national and international NGOs in Afghanistan. Within just six months, his strong performance earned him a promotion to Project Manager, a role he held from September 2015 until the first quarter of 2025. Over nearly a decade at HIHAO, Mr. Faizy consistently managed multiple projects with dedication and professionalism. His outstanding performance, commitment to quality, and effective communication with partners and donors recently led to his promotion as the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Manager.
Mr. Faizy holds a bachelor’s degree in economy from a private university in Mazar-e-Sharif. Throughout his career, he has also successfully completed several professional training programs, including Project Cycle Management, Project Design and Proposal Writing, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL), Advanced MHPSS and GBV Treatment Protocols, Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP), Protection Mainstreaming, Safeguarding, and other capacity-building opportunities. Before joining Hand in Hand Afghanistan, Abdullah Faizy worked as a Master Trainer with the National Solidarity Program (NSP) in Samangan province. He also served with BRAC INGO for nearly six years, holding the positions of Regional Manager and Regional Accountant Officer.
Email ID: projectmanager.mazar@handinhand.org.af
Sama Sahari joined Hand in Hand Afghanistan in mid-July 2017. She has a BS in Finance from one of the country’s private universities. She also obtained a diploma in banking and finance.
Sama has 16 years of experience working as a member of the administration and finance team with implementing partners of well-known national and international organizations in various donor-funded projects such as those of the World Bank, US State Department, UNDP, DFID, DANIDA, Canada Fund, GIZ, Australian Aid, and The Global Fund.
Sahari had the privilege of working as an honorary board member with the Afghanistan Family Guidance Association and Khorasan Charity.
Email: cfo@handinhand.org.af
Hasibullah Salimi joined Hand in Hand Afghanistan as Enterprise Specialist in March 2013 with more than 14 years of working experience with national and international NGOs in Afghanistan. In 2015, his role expanded to include responsibilities of the capacity development unit and in 2019 he was promoted as Capacity Development Manager. He has been working as Program Manager since 2021.
Before joining Hand in Hand Afghanistan, he has managed business development and livelihood projects as well as administrative roles with Mercy Corps, GIZ, CARE International, the Hanns Seidel Foundation, and the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment.
Salimi holds an MFA from the joint program of Balkh University and Notre Dame University through the University Support and Workforce Development Program (USWDP) of USAID.
Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azmai joined Hand in Hand Afghanistan Organization as a Project Manager in May 2024, bringing with him two decades of experience in managing and implementing development and emergency projects. His role at HIHAO builds on a distinguished career across various national and international organizations, including War Child UK, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, and Chemonics International. He has held multiple leadership positions such as Humanitarian Response Program Manager, National Value Chain Development Specialist, and Program Manager, contributing significantly to program design, scaling, monitoring, and capacity building. His expertise spans agriculture development, water resource management, business development, and humanitarian response, making him a valuable asset in fostering sustainable community resilience.
Mr. Azami holds a Master’s degree in Water Resources Management from Hakem Sabzevari University, earned in February 2023, and a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture from Herat University, completed in December 2005. He has also enhanced his academic proficiency with a certificate in English Academic Writing from the Afghan American University in August 2015. His strong academic background complements his professional skills, enabling him to deliver evidence-based, results-oriented solutions in complex development settings. His commitment to empowering communities is reflected throughout his career, where he has led efforts to improve livelihoods and promote sustainable practices.
Email: Danida.pm@handinhand.org.af
Mr. Mohammad Kazim Khaki is a seasoned development professional who joined Hand in Hand Afghanistan in 2007 and has since played vital roles in multiple donor-funded projects. Currently involved in The Red Gold Project to improve Afghan livelihoods through saffron cultivation, he previously served as Project Manager for the Emergency Assistance Project funded by UNOCHA and FAO in Kunduz and Samangan (2021–2022). His long-standing tenure with Hand in Hand Afghanistan includes managing GIZ-funded poultry and livestock projects (2019–2020), coordinating branch offices under an EU-funded initiative (2013–2019), and leading mobilization efforts across provinces (2008–2011). Mr. Khaki also held coordination and management roles with CHA and served with international health organizations such as MSF and MSH in earlier years.
Mr. Khaki holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness from Kabul University (1987) and has completed over a dozen specialized trainings and certifications from reputable agencies including FAO, DACAR, Johanniter International, USAID, and GIZ. His expertise spans project and team management, SME development, emergency response, protection mainstreaming, safeguarding, gender, and advocacy. Mr. Khaki brings over three decades of multi-sectoral experience to the field, combining technical know-how with community-driven approaches and a deep commitment to sustainable development.
Memberships
Hand in Hand Afghanistan is a member of the following coordinating bodies:
Agency Coordination Body for Afghan Relief & Development (ACBAR)