Anahita Saymidinova holds a Bachelor’s in International Relations from Russian-Tajik University in Dushanbe, and a Master’s in Politics and Security from OSCE Academy in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Ms. Saymidinova is a member of the Political and Prosperity team at the British Embassy in Dushanbe, Tajikistan where she works on Bilateral Project budgets. She also conducts analyses of political, security, economic, and social development in the region, and covers gender and cultural issues at the Embassy. Ms. Saymidinova acts as a liaison for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant stakeholders in the diplomatic community. During her Fellowship year, she plans to study urban planning and design in the United States so that she can apply these skills to the development of Dushanbe.