afghan-land.org -

Mr. Zia Astana - Founder and Executive Director - has worked with international organizations, diplomatic missions and donor funded projects. He worked as land titling director, team leader, program manager and coordinator with USAID/LTERA project from June 2005 to September 2009 and was Protocol Officer and Secretary to the Ambassador of the republic of Korea in Kabul from September 2003 until June 2005. He took an active part in the drafting of the new land policy which was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on September 2007. He also organized two high-profile study tours – one in Europe and in India – which offered over 25 Afghan members of Parliament, mayors and other high-ranking officials the opportunity to understand how other countries have been addressing land-related issues.

He has worked closely with the Supreme Court of Afghanistan, the Municipality of Kabul, the Ministry of Urban Development, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG) and the Afghan Geodesy and Cartography Head Office (AGCHO) on the clarification of ownership rights of over 60,000 vulnerable families in Kabul, Mazar, Kunduz and Taloqan cities. He has a Bachelor of Business administration from Maryam University.

Ms. Noor-ul-Nesa Hameedi - Founder and Deputy Executive Director - is a gender specialist and graduated with a degree Islamic laws and studies. Since 2004, she has been working with the local communities of Districts 6 and 13 of Kabul, the Municipality of Kabul and Amlak of the Ministry of Finance to clarify and resolve property disputes in the area. Under her supervision, 108 property dispute resolution boards have been established and over 500 disputes have been resolved. As part of the USAID/LTERA project, she oversaw more than 150 staff members.