Lida Nadery Hedayat is a distinguished international development expert and dedicated women’s rights activist. She currently holds the position of Associate Director at Counterpart International. Lida previously served as the Chief of Party for the Women’s Leadership Development (WLD) Program, the largest initiative funded by USAID, aimed at fostering personal growth and leadership acumen among Afghan women. Through this program, she successfully engaged and empowered over 30,000 young Afghan women.
Lida’s commitment to advancing women’s rights is further exemplified by her active involvement on various prestigious boards. She has contributed her expertise as a board member of the Afghan American Chamber of Commerce (AACC), the Afghan Women’s Network, and as a co-founder of Modern Education Development (MoDE). At MoDE, she has been instrumental in championing women’s educational rights and contributing to the organization’s mission.
Lida Nadery Hedayat holds a master’s degree in strategic public relations from George Washington University. Her intellectual prowess is also reflected in her extensive portfolio of publications focused on women’s and girls’ education, reflecting her commitment to advocating for gender equality and empowerment through education.
Lida was honored with the Vermont World Council’s 2021 Person of the Year award for her tireless efforts in promoting women’s rights and fostering peace.