Meet Ahmad Shakeb: global humanitarian and Friedman School alum.
Solving Big Problems, Globally: One Alum’s Journey from Afghanistan to Oxfam
Ahmad Shakeb had an impressive career, with almost a decade of experience working for some major NGOs and nonprofits in his home country of Afghanistan—the United Nations’ World Food Program, USAID, and INGOs (international non-governmental organizations). Despite all that practical knowledge, he felt there were gaps. He longed to deepen his knowledge of the theoretical underpinnings of his field, gain more international exposure, and explore the factors impacting his humanitarian aid work. He didn’t just want to get a degree, he wanted to build a toolkit to solve complex global problems.
“A colleague recommended Tufts to me. Then I did my own research, of course, and I found out that the Friedman School’s specialization in humanitarian aid was one of the best in the field,” says Shakeb.
Even when Shakeb earned a Fulbright scholarship, which would have allowed him to attend a longer program, he chose the accelerated Master of Science in Nutrition with a focus on humanitarian assistance
One of the major benefits he saw was the ability to take courses both through the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, as well as The Fletcher School at Tufts University, as well as cross-listed courses at other Boston-area universities. “We had access to all the resources at both schools, the support of staff from both schools, and the ability to take a diverse courseload.”
“Attending courses with that diverse group of students from different parts of the world and interacting with the faculty across the schools added to my experience, to my knowledge. I learned a lot,” says Shakeb.
Before enrolling in this flexible and varied program at Tufts, Shakeb was pretty focused on the on-the-ground humanitarian work in Afghanistan. After graduation, he began to see the wider picture and appreciate the factors at work—from politics and policies to economic frameworks, diplomatic ties—and how they create the landscape for humanitarian efforts. Today, he applies this knowledge as a humanitarian funding and finance officer for Oxfam America, a global organization fighting inequality to end poverty and injustice.
“My degree from the Friedman School really boosted my confidence. The experience, the exposure, was everything. The confidence that I took with me was so useful and helpful within the UN environment. I was able to contribute to policy development and to the broader program design and everything.”
Shakeb also held on to the relationships he made at the Friedman School. Key professors continued to mentor him abroad, and provide support and guidance to this day. He’s also active in a vibrant network of alumni at the Friedman School, closely connected with other former students who studied in the humanitarian assistance program. “We share ideas, experiences, and new research with each other,” he says.
For his part, Shakeb is helping that network grow. He offers advice to prospective students, helps with applications, and participates in on-campus panels at Tufts.
“Now I have a very wide and extended role where I can help my colleagues in the field and provide support where it needs be,” he says of his role at Oxfam America, where his work is touching vulnerable communicates across continents including Africa, and Asia, and South America. “My vision has expanded far from where I wanted to be in as an initial career path. This is all because of what I learned here and the network I'm part of now.”