Maiwand Rahyab is the founder and CEO of Resilient Societies, an emerging Canada-
based global initiative dedicated to protecting civic space and empowering democracy
advocates and human rights defenders operating under authoritarian regimes or in exile.
Based in Ottawa, Resilient Societies advances inclusive platforms such as the Resilience
Network and the Global Civic Space Summit, working to restore voice, agency, and
relevance to civil society actors confronting repression and transnational threats.
Prior to relocating to Canada, Maiwand held senior leadership roles with the National
Democratic Institute, Counterpart International, and served as the inaugural Executive
Director of the Afghanistan Institute for Civil Society. He also served as a Commissioner
with Afghanistan’s Independent Administrative Reform and Civil Service Commission
and later led NDI’s democracy programs in Kyrgyzstan. His insights on civil society,
democratic resilience, and exile politics have been featured in the Ottawa Citizen, Montreal
Gazette, The Diplomat, and other leading publications.
A Fulbright Scholar and Chevening Fellow, Maiwand holds a Master of Public
Administration from Middlebury College and has conducted research on human rights
protections at the University of Birmingham. He is also an Asia Society Fellow, and has
spoken at high-level forums including the UN General Assembly, King’s College London,
the Wilson Center, and the U.S. Institute of Peace. Drawing from lived experience and
global expertise, he brings a compelling voice to urgent debates on civic space, democratic
backsliding, and the future of exile activism.