Dr. G Shabbir Cheema is Director Asia – Pacific Governance and Democracy Initiative (AGDI) and Senior Fellow – East West Center, Honolulu, Hawaii. He was Program Director, Department of Economics and Social Affairs, United Nations (2001 – 2007), Director of Governance Division of United Nations Development Program (1995 – 2001) and Principal Adviser, Urban Management (1990 – 95).

Dr. Cheema has been Visiting Fellow at the Harvard University’s Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation. His publications include Building Democratic Institutions: Governance Reform in Developing Countries (Kumarian Press 2005) and Urban Shelter and Services: Public Policies and Management Approaches (Praeger 1987).