Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Berlin - Federal Republic of Germany

Ambassador Yama Yari currently serves as The Ambassador and extraordinary of I.R. Of Afghanistan to the Federal Republic of Germany. Most recently served as the Minister of Transport (2018-2020), Minister of Public Works (2017-2018),
He also served as founder and Director General of the National Procurement Authority (2014-2017).

•    Member of the High Economic Council (2014-2020),
•    Secretariat-General of the National Procurement Commission (2014-2017),
•    Senior Advisor at the Afghanistan Railway Authority (2013-2014)
•    Advisor to the Minister of Public Works (2012-2013).

As a reformist Minister in the Afghanistan Government’s Cabinet, his strategic vision and leadership, resulted in the biggest administrative and governance reform that led to the restructuring of Afghanistan’s transport sector; where five entities, namely the Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Transport, Civil Aviation Authority, Railway Authority and Traffic Authority were merged under the new umbrella of Ministry of Transport (MoT).

In his capacity as the Minister of Public Works, his fundamental reforms resulted in an exponential increase in efficiency and budget execution rate of 97.5% for the first time in 17 years. Service delivery, accountability and transparency are the key pillars of his leadership.

In September 2014, Mr. Yari was assigned to the Administrative Office of the President, to spearhead the public procurement reform initiative. This led to the creation of the National Procurement Authority (NPA), the National Procurement Commission (NPC), and the National Procurement Institute (NPI), three of the most successful reform initiatives undertaken by the Government.  

As the inaugural Director General of NPA, he successfully brought and implemented essential reforms encompassing legal framework, strategy, policies, mechanisms for capacity development, transparency and accountability within the procurement system that resulted in financial savings of more than USD 200 million.

As an Advisor to the Minister of Public Works, and later as the Senior Advisor to the Afghanistan Railway Authority (ARA), he played a central role in the creation, establishment and development of the ARA where it became a member of the International Union of Railways (UIC) and the Organization for the Cooperation of Railways (OSJD).

Prior to serving in Afghanistan, he worked as a civil and structural engineer in the United Kingdom with internationally reputable companies such as the Waterman Group, Capita Symonds and Crossrail.

In 2016 Mr. Yari was awarded the High State Medal of Honor by President Ghani in recognition of his valuable services and achievements in public sector reform and his efforts in the fight against corruption.

Integrity Watch Afghanistan (IWA), the most credible civil society organization in the country, named Mr. Yari the Anti-Corruption Champion of the Afghanistan Government in 2018. Mr. Yari’s efforts & collaboration with IWA led to Afghanistan’s membership of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) in 2016/17, an international platform advocating for civic space and cooperation between government and the civil society.

Prior to serving in various capacities in the public sector as a Government official, he worked in the private-sector as the CEO of ENGCO engineering consultancy firm, and as a civil & structural engineer in the UK at Capita Symonds, London Crossrail and Waterman Group (2006 & 2012).

Ambassador Yari was born (1982) in Herat, Afghanistan, where he completed his primary and secondary education. He went to the United Kingdom in 1999 where he completed his tertiary and higher education.
Ambassador Yari holds a Master of Science Degree in Engineering & Business Management from the renowned Imperial College London, and a Bachelor of Civil Engineering (First Class Honours) from the University of Brighton, UK. He was the recipient of the Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE) Prize for his outstanding performance in Civil Engineering studies.