Barmak Pazhwak

Program Officer, Grant Program

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Contact

Please submit all media inquiries to interviews@usip.org or call 202.429.3869.

For all other inquiries, please call 202.457.1700.

Languages: Dari, Pashto

Countries: Afghanistan, Pakistan

Barmak Pazhwak came to USIP from the U.N. Development Program where he was the senior international adviser to the Minister of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, government of Afghanistan. Before that, he was director of program development and faculty with Southwestern University and Global College where he developed the international development curriculum and taught courses. He has 18 years of experience in the design and management of humanitarian relief and socio-economic development programs with NGOs, government and the UN system in Afghanistan, in Central and South Asia and the Great Lakes region of Africa.

He holds a B.S. in economy and management of agriculture from the University of Kabul in Afghanistan, and a master’s (with distinction) in rural social development from University of Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom.

Publications & Tools

February 2012 | Grant Highlight by Barmak Pazhwak

Pakistan's southern city of Karachi is increasingly rife with ethnic and sectarian violence. Endemic violence affects youth in particular, as they learn to use hostile action as the principal way to resolve conflict.  Education plays a primary role in the attitudinal development of youth, but Karachi schools have yet to teach Pakistani youth how to effectively handle and mitigate local conflict.

Countries: Pakistan | Issue Areas: Education, Training, Youth and Peacebuilding
September 2011 | Grant Highlight by Barmak Pazhwak

Working in partnership with local civil society organizations, the U.S. Institute of Peace utilizes cost-effective approaches to model and field test practices that develop the capacity of local media to build public support for peace and reconciliation, while mitigating potential conflicts.  

August 2011 | Grant Highlight by Barmak Pazhwak

The U.S. Institute of Peace is committed to cost effective strategies that leverage the capacity of local organizations and empower others to mitigate conflicts.  Recognizing the power of media as an instrument with enormous potential to affect public attitudes and perceptions, the Institute has worked globally to promote best media practices that strengthen tolerance and mutual understanding.

July 2011 | Grant Highlight by Barmak Pazhwak

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province of Pakistan, increased insurgent militancy has created a vicious cycle of violence, hostility and fear that has entrapped the population, particularly the youth.  While communities struggle to cope with violence and the spread of extremism, the school system offers limited opportunities for students to build the skills needed to challenge extremist ideologies and develop constructive approaches to conflict resolution.

June 2011

Experts from the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) are closely following developments in Afghanistan, Pakistan and U.S. policy. In a series of reports and interviews, they cover a wide range of issues.

May 2011 | Grant Highlight by Barmak Pazhwak

Decades of war in Afghanistan have undermined the legitimacy of the government and have decimated the capacity of local conflict resolution and mediation systems.  In the absence of functioning state institutions, generations of young people are largely deprived of educational opportunities and meaningful employment prospects. In rural villages, this is exacerbated by the resettlement of refugees and IDPs, causing a rise in the number of conflicts between individuals and communities over access and rights to scarce commodities.

Countries: Afghanistan
May 2011 | News Feature by Jeremy Moore

The war in Afghanistan has had a negative effect on Afghan children, who have been exposed to extreme levels of violence and often see aggression as the primary means to resolve conflict.

Countries: Afghanistan | Issue Areas: Education
February 2011 | Grant Highlight by Barmak Pazhwak

Does poor governance promote extremism?  With the support of USIP, the Governance Institutes Network International (GINI), a Pakistani non-governmental organization based in Islamabad, will conduct surveys of 2,000 adults in three areas to explore potential links between misgovernance and radicalization and gain insight into the supply-side dynamics of misgovernance.

Countries: Pakistan | Issue Areas: Security Sector Reform/Governance

Events

November 10, 2011

On November 10, 2011 USIP presented a screening of “The Boy Mir: 10 Years in Afghanistan” just ahead of the 10th anniversary of the Bonn Agreement. The screening was followed by a question & answer session with the film’s director, Phil Grabsky.

February 25, 2011

The "Fruit of Our Labor" is a collection of Afghan short films that bring to life ordinary Afghans' efforts to address their challenging social and economic conditions.  The films present a fresh view of Afghanistan; stories of ability, need, and survival. Join us for a screening of several of these films.

PLEASE NOTE TIME CHANGE: This event will now begin at 3:00pm EST and not 2:30pm EST.

October 20, 2010

This event will bring together a distinguished panel of current USIP grantees to discuss motivations and grievances of the insurgents in Afghanistan and in Pakistan, feasibility and challenges of negotiations with Afghan insurgents, and the perceptions of Pakistani youth about the future of their country.