Sara Wahedi

Sara Wahedi is the CEO of Civaam and the founder of Ehtesab, Afghanistan’s first civic-technology startup. Her work focuses on developing responsible AI and digital infrastructure for fragile and conflict-affected settings, particularly focused on healthcare, education, and access to justice. Through Ehtesab, she pioneered real-time civic alert systems in Afghanistan, helping keep civilians informed and safe in the absence of functioning institutions. Since its launch, it had sent over 250,000 alerts. Wahedi advises international organizations, UN agencies, and governments on AI, civic technology, crisis governance, and the protection of 'Access to Information' as a fundamental human right, as outlined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. She is a Global Ambassador for Women for Women International and serves on the Board of Fast Forward 2030 at University College London. Her work has been recognized by TIME Magazine as a Next Generation Leader, MIT Technology Review as a Leading Innovator Under 35, Forbes 30 Under 30, and the BBC’s 100 Most Influential Women. She is currently completing a Master of Public Policy at the University of Oxford and consults as a technology specialist for the Oxford Institute of Technology & Justice.