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Rizwana Akhter

21/C Zigatola E-mail: rxakhter@yahoo.com; Phone: 880-258613664 cell: 01715-894283, 01713-094481

Summary of Professional Skills

I am a senior management professional with 15 years experience in Bangladesh development sector particularly in education, food and livelihood security and governance projects at International NGOs of which 6 years experience is exclusively as Program Manager with substantial research, communications and knowledge management experience at multi-donor funded integrated Education program. Project management skills include financial oversight, result based project management and competency based management of project staff and team members, monitoring and evaluation (including development of qualitative/quantitative indicators), excellent research and writing skills demonstrated in different study report, policy documents, learning materials, knowledge/communications products, progress reports and project proposals; networking with external partners, including CSOs, Media (both electronic and print), NGOs, development partners and government agencies; well conversant on different development issues, MDGs and other different internationally agreed development priorities and frameworks; youth leadership, career counseling, development of self help groups, empowerment of farmers, women and indigenous people and total community led development, event management, good interpersonal, negotiation and influencing skills; experienced team player; computer literate (word-processing, PowerPoint Photoshop Adobe and Internet).

Specialties: Programme Managment, Planning, Knowledge Management, Communications, Research, Material Development, Training and workshop design, Policy Analysis/Advocacy, Strategic Communications and Negotiation, Report and Proposal Writing, Youth Development LinkedIn Profile Link: https://bd.linkedin.com/in/rizwanaakhter

Summary of work experience Programme Manager-BRAC Education Programme (August 8, 2010 to till now), BRAC Manage and implement two youth development programs i.e. Medhabikash (Promoting Talents) a Scholarship program for 3000+ meritorious but underprivileged students to access post Secondary Education as well as oversee Chhatrabandhu that provides after school free education support to 67,000 underprivileged students at secondary level through 40,000 volunteers which joint budget exceeds Tk. 17 Crore (USD 2179487). Facilitate the process of forming Medhabikash Alumni Association with first 200 graduates. Undertake various efforts including strategic communications at various level to make better synergy between Medhabikash and Chhatrabandhu and other Post Primary Basic and Continuing Education (PACE)’s programs such as Mentoring, Multipurpose Community Learning Centre, Computer Aided Learning, Secondary Schools’ teachers’ training, Head Teachers’ Management Training, Material Development for Teachers Training and Secondary Schools, Partnership with different Government Departments and projects such as Ministry of Education, Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE), Secondary Education Sector development Project (SESDP), Teaching Quality improvement (TQI-SEP), SEQAEP. Prepare Periodical Progress Reports, Donor Query reports, Analytical documents on the programs/innovations, content editor of project documentary, contribute in different internal publications BEP E bulletin, Communications Bulletin etc. Experience in event management 2 National Level Education Summit for Medhabikash Scholarship recipients and graduates in Dec 2010 and April 2015 along with different career related seminars and 1 National Level Career Fair on April 2014.

Senior Programme Manager-Civic Engagement Paribartan-Driving Change Project (July 27, 2009 to March 13, 2010) Transparency International Bangladesh Strengthened M&E of CE Division and Staff better understanding on Integrity pledge (IP) and till March 10, 2010 15 IPs have been signed with Local government and Primary schools for quality pro-poor, gender sensitive, inclusive governance and service delivery. Planned, coordinated and implemented project activities including Event Management for awareness campaign, policy advocacy to promote national and local social movement against corruption in three sectors Local Governance, Education and Health. Assist the Director in policy formulation, program direction and strategic planning including HR planning, Staff supervision and development, designed capacity building training material for staff, members of

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Committee of Concerned Citizens (CCCs) and young volunteers of Youth Support and Engagement (YES) in 36 districts and facilitated training/workshop in 36 districts.

Technical Coordinator-Learning and Monitoring, EC NSA Project, (April 16 2009- July 26, 2009) CARE Bangladesh Developed standards and guidelines for project’s PM&E in line with CARE impact measurement and learning system, designed baseline and developed tools, developed MIS for project monitoring, developed communication strategy and information flow guidelines, training and orientation on these guidelines and tools for staff, use of information and information documentation, Facilitated articulation of learning and convert it to knowledge under all four results and for piloting and innovation team, publication of knowledge products i.e. brochure, newsletters, booklet etc.

Technical Coordinator-Knowledge Management Food Security for Sustainable Households Livelihood Security (FoSHoL-CARE) CARE Bangladesh (August 1 2007- April 15 2009) Developed project’s standards and guidelines for information flow, use of information and information documentation, Facilitated articulation of learning and convert it into knowledge under all four results and for piloting and innovation team, publication of knowledge products i.e. brochure, newsletters, booklet etc. Undertook or led 3 qualitative studies in the project, Provided communication support to field and Head office for promoting knowledge sharing and learning, Organized events ( press conference, fair, workshop, learning sharing session) jointly to showcase project’s achievements, content editor of 2 project documentaries and drama sequel on project achievements, Prepared 3 Annual Progress Reports and 4 Interim Progress Reports and submitted to European Commission, Prepared Project Final Completion Report, Contributed regularly in FoSHoL website www.foshol.org, Maintained regular communication with IRRI and other partners and media (both electronic and print).

Project Development Officer-Documentation Food Security for Sustainable Households Livelihood Security (FoSHoL-CARE) CARE Bangladesh (January 1 2006-July 31 2007) Developed communication strategies for FoSHoL-CARE, Designed tools and developed appropriate format and guidelines for data collection on 600 farmer groups’ activities, Facilitated the data collection process at the field level, Ensured questionnaires, guidelines for data collection are updated as per feedback, Contributed periodically with project news in FoSHoL-Website (www.foshol.org) by IRRI, Published 5 newsletter (FoSHoLer katha) on field issue in quarterly basis and posters, brochure on project activities, Made regular communication with project staff (PM, TCs, other PDOs, FOs &FTs), and regular communication with coordinating agency and subcontractors’ contact persons for successful extension and implementation of documented learning, Assist TC-M&E in M&E activities (data analysis, report editing etc.), Prepared periodic reports on project progress and submitted to European Commission, Built a professional relationship with the media people both electronic and print.

Customer Care Representative- National Business Ordering Department (NBO) AT&T WEST Corporation Reno, Nevada USA (September 24 2001 to August 12, 2005) Completed over phone and online orders for mobile services, mobile phones and accessories as well as activation and trouble shooting.

Project Development Officer-Monitoring and Evaluation Integrated Food Security Program (IFSP) CARE Bangladesh (October 14 1999 to August 8 2001) Completed 2 scheduled M&E surveys, Designed tools and techniques of data collection Prepared/ updated questionnaires, guidelines for data collection, arranged to develop all necessary M&E related software in collaboration with MIS section. M&E Data analysis and processing, report writing, Identified training needs of project staff on M&E, developed training curriculum, Maintained liaison with LGRD, Upazila officials and Union Parishad, Completed Case Study on a Upazila’s Governance (includes Methodology development, Case finalization, data collection and report preparation), Gathered and updated project data (activities achieved as per plan and expenditure of project) to report in quarterly and Annual Portfolio Information (API).

Research Officer –Research and Documentation Cell-Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association (April 2 1997 April 30 1999) Completed 1 research/study on social issues (Including Muslim and Hindu law) that affecting women and children human rights, Documented of daily relevant news on women and children issues and other

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human rights and legal matters from 7 national dailies, Written 4 articles for bulletin and newsletters, took part in awareness building and raising events towards women rights and empowerment emphasizing on gender relationship, power and sensitivity, Attended different workshops, seminars and conferences on women, children rights or legal matters and written reports for office record, worked as Interpreter for foreign delegates from donor agencies, embassies and universities during their visit, prepared preliminary report on project evaluation.

Technical Skills Advanced skills on

Computer MS Word, Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS Producer, VoxProxy, Camtesia, Snagit, Photoshop Adobe, SPSS, Hyper Studio Media and Inspiration.

Fascimile, Internet

Creative writing skill in English and Bangla Proposal Writing, Monitoring and Evaluation tools development, Training, statistical analysis, behavioral change communication and knowledge products

Website where Project success stories are posted: Success story on Medhabikash graduate http://blog.brac.net/2014/05/when-perseverance-pays-off/,

Success stories on Medhabikash graduates at The Daily Samakal by journalist http://www.esamakal.net/?archiev=yes&arch_date=19-11-2013 http://education.brac.net/medhabikash www.foshol.org; Academic study report: Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Individual Productivity. (CTL 744 Summer 2004)

Education

MSc Counseling and Educational Psychology, Emphasis on Information Technology, University of Nevada, Reno. Started on Fall 2003 and Graduated on May 16, 2005. Summa Cum Laude

MSS. Sociology, Dhaka University, 93-94, 1996(exam held) 2nd Class.

BSS. Sociology, Dhaka University, 90-93, 1995(exam held) 2nd Class.

HSC Humanity, Dhaka Board, 90, Holy Cross College, 1st Division.

SSC Humanity, Dhaka Board, 88, Agrani Balika Biddayalaya, 1st Division.

Languages:

English Fluent in both speaking and writing Bangla Native Three professional (Supervisors) non-relative referees name and contact information are mentioned below:

References

1. Didarul Anam Chowdhury Project Director Libraries Unlimited British Council 5 Fuller Rd, Dhaka

Tel: 09666-773377 Cell:01819659091 Email:didaranam@yahoo.com Note: He was my direct Supervisor from August 2015 to June 30,2016 as Programme Head, BRAC Education Programme(BEP)

2. Munmun Salma Chowdhury Chief People’s Officer-HR BRAC International

BRAC 75 Mohakhali, Dhaka Floor-7 Dhaka 1212 Tel: 9881265 ext:3890 Cell:01556-631160 Email:

munmun.chowdhury@brac.net

3. Md. Sohorab Hossain Secretary Ministry of Education

Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

Building#6, Floor#17th &

18th, Bangladesh

Secretariat,

Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh.

Tel:880-2-9576679

Cell:01787-661661