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).  The Minister's 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.

Minister 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)