Ms. Saeedi is leading UNDP’s work on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) and UNDP’s engagement with Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) and religious actors. Before this, she was the team leader of the Prevention of Violent Extremism and led UNDP’s work on Hate Speech, which is based in New York. Ms. Saeedi also led UNDP’s work on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) and continues to champion it.
Ms. Saeedi has over 25 years of experience leading policy formulation and program design, forging partnerships with civil society organizations, FBOs, and philanthropic foundations to advance the SDGs. She has worked in various contexts in multiple countries, including as Deputy Resident Representative, in Indonesia and Uzbekistan. She supported the government in reformulating local governance in Afghanistan, resulting in a 25 percent increase in Afghan women’s leadership in the local governance structure. Additionally, she designed and managed a successful family planning project in partnership with the Ministry of Public Health and in coordination with the Ministry of Women’s Affairs.
She holds a Master of Arts in Religion and Culture from Birmingham University in the UK.