Zuhra Halimova is an executive in the field of international development and inclusive growth with over 25 years of professional experience in the Eurasian region and beyond. She was executive director of the Open Society Foundation in Tajikistan for 20 years, managed national reform projects, promoting human rights and the rule of law, transparency and accountability, digital transformation, business development, and reforms of public services, engaging government and development agencies, civil society organizations, media, and think tanks using a participatory approach to engage in inclusive social, economic, and governance reforms. She has been awarded a Certificate of Appreciation from the United Nations Asian and Pacific Training Center for Information and Communication Technologies for Development/Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNAPCICT/ESCAP) in recognition of her contribution toward supporting ICT human capacity development in Central Asia.
Zuhra is currently a strategic advisor at Women in Digital Transformation (WinDt LLC) and senior advisor of the Kazakhstan-based CAPS Unlock policy center, as well as a member of the Transition Assistance Group of the Institute for Integrated Transition (IFIT), advising countries on reforms regarding policy, institutional, and regulatory conditions that govern the digital transformation and investment climate in the region. She is a member of the C5+1 expert group. She also worked as a consultant with USAID Digital Ecosystem Country Assessment, WB Digital CASA, and Internews Greater Internet Freedom Project/Ranking Digital Rights, as well as the EU, GIZ and Demos Helsinki.
Zuhra holds a master’s degree in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University with a focus on international security and a master's degree in Oriental studies from Tajik State University. She is an alumna of the Leadership Academy for Development (LAD) of the Stanford Center for Democracy, Development and Rule of Law (CDDRL), Stanford University, and Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) and Harvard Kennedy School - NESA/NDU Executive Education Programs, Leadership and INSEAD-OSF Global Leaders Executive Education Program.
