Mr. Sayed Rahim Mosavi
Founder and Former Executive Director, NSDO
(2011–2021)
Background
Mr. Sayed Rahim Mosavi is the visionary founder and former Executive Director of the New Way Social and Development Organization (NSDO), a civil society organization based in Afghanistan. His leadership of NSDO spanned from 2011 to August 2021, during which he steered the organization from its humble beginnings to national prominence with dedication, foresight, and unwavering integrity.
Mr. Mosavi founded NSDO in 2011 in Kunduz province, under extremely limited and challenging conditions. With minimal resources but a deep commitment to social change and community development, he laid the foundation for what would become a key development actor in Afghanistan. Over the course of 15 years, through tireless effort, honesty, and sacrifice, he transformed NSDO from a small grassroots initiative into a respected and effective organization operating in 12 provinces of Afghanistan.
During his decade of leadership, Mr. Mosavi played a pivotal role in organizational development, establishing strong internal systems, governance structures, and strategic policies that ensured the organization's long-term sustainability. Under his guidance, NSDO designed and implemented over 50 projects, serving thousands of beneficiaries in sectors such as education, health, livelihood, governance, and emergency response. At its peak, the organization operated with a professional team of over 200 employees, reflecting his capacity to build and manage large, multidisciplinary teams with efficiency and purpose.
A cornerstone of Mr. Mosavi's success was his expertise in fundraising and resource mobilization. He consistently secured financial and technical support from a range of national and international donors, enabling NSDO to expand its geographic and programmatic reach. His understanding of donor priorities, combined with his ability to craft compelling proposals and maintain trust-based relationships, proved critical to the organization's success.
Mr. Mosavi was also instrumental in partnership building, forging collaborative relationships with UN agencies, international NGOs, government institutions, and local civil society organizations. His professionalism, transparent leadership, and diplomatic approach helped position NSDO as a credible and reliable partner within Afghanistan's complex development and humanitarian ecosystem.
His legacy is defined by vision, lasting impact, and the creation of enduring institutions. The values, systems, and networks established under Mr. Mosavi's leadership continue to shape the direction and success of NSDO today. He remains an inspiring figure for his contributions to civil society and community empowerment in Afghanistan.