ZARRISH ZIA, MA

Policy & Governance Analyst, Beyond the Manifesto

Governance Implementation · Public Accountability · Policy Analysis

Zarrish Zia is a legislative and policy analyst whose work examines how institutional systems, political commitments, and governance realities shape public experience and community outcomes.

ABOUT ZARRISH

Zarrish is a legislative and policy analyst focused on governance implementation, public accountability, and the relationship between political decisions and lived community outcomes. Her work centers on examining how institutional systems, policy commitments, and governance realities shape public experience across diverse communities.

Born and raised in Karachi, Pakistan, Zarrish developed an early interest in governance, civic inequality, and public accountability through grassroots advocacy and policy engagement. She built her foundation in international relations and civic leadership at SZABIST, Karachi, where she served as Network & Linkages Representative on the Student Council, led TEDx SZABIST, and participated in an AIESEC international exchange program in Lithuania.

She also contributed to violence prevention research at Never Forget Pakistan, helping develop a long-term terrorism and violence database supporting legislative policy reporting and public awareness initiatives.

Having lived and worked across multiple international contexts, Zarrish brings a cross-cultural perspective to governance systems, civic institutions, and public policy implementation. Since relocating to the United States, she has expanded her work across reproductive health, education equity, legislative analysis, and governance research through work with institutions including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Urban Leaders Fellowship.

She holds an MA in International Studies & Diplomacy from SOAS, University of London, and a BSc in International Relations from SZABIST.

At Governance & Evidence Review, Zarrish contributes governance-centered analysis through the Beyond the Manifesto series, examining the relationship between political promises, institutional realities, policy implementation, and public outcomes.