Zubaida Mustafa

Ms. Zubaida Mustafa is a seasoned development professional with over 15 years of extensive experience in the full lifecycle of project design, processing, and implementation. Her career has been defined by her pivotal roles in multi-sectoral sovereign policy reform programs and projects, with a specialized focus on aligning implementation with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) guidelines and frameworks. She brings a nuanced understanding of both government procedures and the operational requirements of international development partners, which enables her to navigate complex policy landscapes and ensure successful project outcomes.

Ms. Mustafa has cultivated a deep expertise in ADB’s operational systems, with hands-on experience in project administration, procurement, environmental and social safeguards, financial management, and compliance with ADB’s accountability mechanisms. Her tenure in ADB’s field offices has further solidified her practical understanding of on-the-ground project delivery and monitoring, particularly in high-pressure environments with strict deadlines for multiple sectors such as Governance, Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources and Human and Social Development. Her proficiency spans a wide array of ADB lending modalities, including investment projects, policy-based lending, results-based lending (RBL), multi-tranche financing facilities (MFF), emergency assistance, grants, and technical assistance. 
While Ms. Mustafa's work has primarily focused on development initiatives in Pakistan, her expertise also extends to projects in Georgia, the Philippines, and Mongolia, particularly during her tenure with ADB’s Accountability Mechanism, Philippines.

She holds dual Master’s degrees—one in Political Science with a focus on International Law, local government and public administration in Pakistan, and the other in Strategic Planning and Project Management from Edinburgh Business School, Scotland.