Idrees Malyar

Water Resilience Tracker Director

Idrees Malyar is a distinguished professional with over a decade of experience in water resources management, climate resilience, and environmental policy. As the Water Resilience Tracker Director at the AGWA, Idrees leverages his extensive experience and strategic vision to support the global initiative to better integrate water into national climate planning through strategic partnerships and direct engagement with governments.

His career has spanned roles as a government official and as a member of international organizations such as the United Nations, European Union, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and USAID. Notably, Idrees has served as an Advisor and then Member of Afghanistan's Water Negotiations Committee, playing a crucial role in transboundary water negotiations with neighboring countries.

Throughout his career, Idrees has held pivotal roles, including Deputy Minister for Policy and International Affairs at Afghanistan’s National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) and Assistant Resident Representative and Head of the Environment and Climate Change Division at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Afghanistan. In these positions, he advanced Afghanistan’s climate change agenda, promoted sustainable water management, and secured substantial funding from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

Idrees has been an influential figure in international engagements, representing Afghanistan at COP25 in Madrid, Spain, and collaborating with major environmental funds and global partners. His work has provided him with a deep understanding of water resources management, international negotiations, and environmental challenges in Afghanistan, Central Asia, and South Asia.

Idrees holds a Master’s degree in Water Resources Policy and Management and a Graduate Certificate in Water Conflict Management and Transformation from Oregon State University (OSU). He has also been recognized as a Fulbright Scholar, and his research has focused on transboundary waters and climate change adaptation.