Niaz Kandhir

Niaz Kandhir is an experienced electoral specialist currently serving at UNDP since November 2022, holding positions as Chief Technical Advisor and Electoral Analyst. Previously, Niaz was the Head of Policy and Advocacy at WaterAid from May 2020 to October 2022 and acted as a short-term election expert for UNOPS in October 2021 during a significant UN Election Monitoring Mission in Iraq. Niaz has held key roles in various organizations, including Chairperson at Indus Cultural Forum, Parliamentary Strengthening Advisor at Development Alternatives Incorporated, and Governance Adviser for DFID. Niaz's extensive experience includes advocating for electoral reforms in Pakistan and monitoring international elections, with a focus on democratic governance and human rights. Academic credentials include a Master’s in Human Rights and Democratisation from the University of Sydney, a Master of Science in Mass Communication from Allama Iqbal Open University, and a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Sindh.