Hasib Hakimzay

Hasib Rahman Hakimzay is a results-driven development practitioner with a Master of Public Policy in Economics and Development from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP), National University of Singapore (NUS). With over eight years of experience in project management, finance, and policy development, he has held key roles, including Director of Fiscal Policy at Afghanistan’s Ministry of Finance from 2020 - 2022. He is trained in designing and conducting Research and Evaluations (R&E), Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA), and Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIA) with a strong interest in development finance, particularly in advancing financial inclusion.

By Hasib Hakimzay

Research

Trust in Transition: Afghanistan’s Hawala System in Crisis and Recovery

Afghanistan’s hawala system plays a critical and evolving role in the country’s financial ecosystem. Since August 2021 its role has only expanded as trust in the banking system faltered. Although hawala faces local competition and international skepticism due to transparency concerns, it remains a vital financial tool. The paper suggests that stakeholders should deepen engagement with hawala networks, support their regulation and formalization, and explore innovative partnerships to advance financial inclusion.