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Safaath Ahmed Zahir

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Safaath Ahmed Zahir
ސަފާތު އަހައްމަދު ޒާހިރު
Zahir in 2022
Born
Addu City, Maldives
Alma materMonash University
University of Nottingham
Known forWomen's rights activist
Political partyMaldivian Democratic Party (2016–present)

Safaath Ahmed Zahir (Dhivehi: ސަފާތު އަހައްމަދު ޒާހިރު) is a Maldivian women’s rights advocate, globally recognized for her work on women’s empowerment and civic leadership. With over 11 years of experience, she is the Co-Founder and Executive President of Women & Democracy (W&D), a leading women’s rights NGO in the Maldives.

W&D has directly benefited over 12,000 women through programs in political participation, domestic violence support, civic education, and economic empowerment. The organization operates through coordinators in all 20 geographic atolls and is widely respected as a leading grassroots movement.

Zahir is one of the most internationally decorated civil society leaders from the Maldives, with honors including the Queen’s Young Leader Award, UN Young Leader, Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia (in 2017), and AACSB Influential Leader Award.

Biography

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Ahmed was born and raised in Addu City, Maldives.[1] She has a degree in banking and finance from Monash University's Malaysian campus in Subang Jaya, as well as a master's degree in finance and investment from the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom.[2][3][4] She worked for a time as a financial consultant.[3]

Ahmed returned to the Maldives to co-found and lead Women on Boards, a non-governmental organisation that promoted gender diversity in the workplace through the provision of development workshops, scholarship programmes, and advocacy campaigns in order to have more women on corporate boards in the Maldives. Through Women on Boards, Ahmed co-authored the Gender Equality Manifesto, which the organisation lobbied politicians and other leaders to formally pledge to implement.[2][5][6][7]

In 2016, Ahmed established Women and Democracy, a non-governmental organisation that expanded on the scope of Women on Boards by aiming to increase female representation in policy and decision making, including within the political sphere. It also supported female victims of domestic abuse by establishing a helpline and providing counselling services. Through Women and Democracy, Ahmed completed political empowerment workshops on all 20 Maldivian atolls.[2][5][6]

In 2016, Ahmed received the Young Leaders Award from the Queen's Commonwealth Trust for "taking the lead in transforming the lives of others and making a lasting difference in her community". She was given the award by Elizabeth II at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace on 23 June 2016. That year, Ahmed was also selected by the United Nations as among 17 youth activists named as leaders in achieving its Sustainable Development Goals, in recognition of her work empowering women in the Maldives.[4][8][9]

In 2017, Forbes named Ahmed as among its 30 Under 30 Social Entrepreneurs in Asia.[8] That same year, she attended the International Youth Forum in China, representing the Maldives.[10]

In 2019, Ahmed announced her candidacy to serve as president of the Maldivian Democratic Party's women's wing; she ultimately placed second to Rozaina Adam.[3] On 22 August, the President of the Maldives, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, announced that Ahmed would be joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a communication strategist, having previously worked as an assistant director in the President's Office.[2][3][11]

During the COVID-19 pandemic in the Maldives from 2020, Ahmed led a campaign to provide menstrual products to female emergency workers and volunteers, as well as to quarantined and isolated women during lockdowns.[6]

In 2025, the Asia Society named Ahmed as one of that year's Next Generation Fellows, marking the first time a Maldivian had been selected.[12]

Political Activism

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Zahir is an ardent supporter of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and is active in its political activities, frequently attending party rallies. In 2019, she announced her candidacy to serve as president of the MDP's women's wing, ultimately placing second to Rozaina Adam.[13]

On 22 August 2022, the President of the Maldives, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, announced that Zahir would be joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a communication strategist at deputy minister level, where she led communications, advised on international partnerships, and served as the ministry’s official spokesperson.[14][15]

In 2023, she contested a parliamentary seat from the capital Malé, placing second in a competitive race, and was noted for breaking ground in the country’s male-dominated political landscape.[16][17][18] Zahir has been described by commentators as a potential future political leader.[19]

Beyond domestic politics, she has a strong interest in international relations. She served as the Asia Region Civil Society Advisory Governor to the Commonwealth Foundation, and presently serves as a board member of Give To Africa, a public charity based in California.[20][21][22]

References

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  1. ^ Ali, Ahmed (22 August 2022). "ސަފާއަތަށް ފޮރިން މިނިސްޓްރީގެ ސިޔާސީ މަގާމެއް ދީފި" [Safaath received senior position at Foreign ministry]. Hurihaa (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 22 August 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d "Safaath Ahmed Zahir". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Maldives). Archived from the original on 14 September 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d Masood, Najjah (22 August 2022). "މިއުވާން އިސްތިއުފާ ދެއްވައިފި، ފޮރިން މިނިސްޓްރީއަށް ސަފާތު" [Miuvaan resigns, Safaath to Foreign ministry]. Dhauru (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 14 September 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  4. ^ a b Mohamed, Hassan (22 August 2022). "ނައިބެއްގެ ފެންވަރުގައި ސަފާތަށް ހާރިޖީ އޮފީހުން ވަޒީފާއެއް ދީފި" [Safaath receives job at Foreign ministry at deputy minister level]. Adhadhu (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 14 September 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Safaath Ahmed Zahir". United Nations Youth Office. Archived from the original on 2025-09-14. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
  6. ^ a b c "Safaath Ahmed Zahir". Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Archived from the original on 26 July 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  7. ^ Mohammed, Mahil (2016-09-21). "ތަރައްގީގެ ލަނޑުދަނޑިތައް ހާސިލުކުރަން އދ. އިން ހޮވި ޒުވާނުންގެ ތެރޭގައި ސަފާތު" [To achieve sustainable development goals, Safaath part of youth chosen by UN]. Sun (in Divehi). Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  8. ^ a b "Safaath Ahmed Zahir". Forbes. Archived from the original on 25 February 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  9. ^ "Her Majesty the Queen to honour Safaath Ahmed Zahir from Maldives". gov.uk. High Commission of the United Kingdom, Malé. 20 June 2016. Archived from the original on 3 May 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  10. ^ Mohamed, Fathimath Shanaa (16 April 2017). "އިންޓަރނޭޝަން ޔޫތު ފޯރަމްގައި ރާއްޖެ ތަމްސީލުކުރުމަށް ސަފާތު ޗައިނާއަށް ފުރައިފި" [To represent the Maldives at the International Youth Forum, Safaath left to China]. Raajje TV (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 14 September 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  11. ^ "The President appoints a communication strategist to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs". The President's Office. 22 August 2022. Archived from the original on 22 August 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  12. ^ Azeez, Azhaar Abdul (6 September 2025). "Safaath Ahmed Zahir: First Maldivian in Asia 21 Fellows". Sun. Archived from the original on 14 September 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  13. ^ "Rozaina Adam elected as MDP Women's Wing President". PSM News. 31 March 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  14. ^ "Safaath Ahmed Zahir". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Maldives). Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  15. ^ Foreign Ministry appoints Safaath Ahmed Zahir as Communication Strategist. YouTube. PSM News. 22 August 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  16. ^ "Safaath Ahmed Zahir campaign highlights (Malé constituency)". Instagram. 25 March 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  17. ^ "Election coverage – Malé constituency results". X (formerly Twitter). 30 March 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  18. ^ "Asia 21 Next Generation Fellows: Class of 2025". Asia Society. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  19. ^ "Asia 21 Next Generation Fellows: Class of 2025". Asia Society. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  20. ^ "Commonwealth Foundation announces new Civil Society Advisory Governors". Commonwealth Foundation. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  21. ^ "Safaath to represent Asian civil society in Commonwealth". Atoll Times. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  22. ^ [Add citation for Give To Africa board membership]
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