Bangladesh Country Representative

• Jan 2023 - Present

Bangladesh Member Support Liaison - Local Coalition Accelerator (LCA)

• Aug 2022 - Dec 2022

It is an international position based in Bangladesh to provide support to the Sundarban Coalition which is an initiative under the Local Coalition Accelerator (LCA) programme model of the Share Trust that aims to support local and national organizations that are engaged in community-led development in the coastal area of Bangladesh. The #LCA is a new initiative of the Share Trust and Warande Advisory Centre to support Global South (GS) LNOs to lead in the design and execution of large-scale systems change, and directly access the significant bilateral and multilateral financing that is currently channelled almost exclusively to and through UN or INGO vehicles. The LCA aims to build the infrastructure to shift greater funding and power to local actors, while also changing donor processes and systems to be more equipped to accompany and complement community-driven initiatives.Hence, This project supports the development of more resilient, “disaster-ready” communities over 3 years in coastal Bangladesh (the Sundarban region), through a coalition of 16 local non-governmental organizations (NGO) and civil society organizations (CSO). This initiative is a partnership that facilitates coalition building to demonstrate the strength of a locally rooted coalition as they lead programme design and delivery and receive direct funding from major donors and philanthropy. The Local Coalition Accelerator (LCA) Sundarban Coalition was designed in 2021 as a partnership between the LCA/Share Trust, the Start Fund Bangladesh (SFB) and the 4 coalition lead agencies. Show less

IDIA's Global Innovation Advisor, International Development Innovation Alliance

• Mar 2023 - Present

The International Development Innovation Alliance (IDIA) is a unique collaboration platform that brings together the senior leadership from the innovation teams, labs, and departments of some of the world's leading development agencies. This is a collaboration platform managed by a Secretariat from the not-for-profit organization Results for Development, based in the US. (See details: https://www.idiainnovation.org/) As a Global Innovation Advisor, my responsibility is to contribute my global-south insights and experience to both IDIA strategy (through Principals’ meetings), and the 2022/23 Spoke activities noted above. Engagement will typically be structured around discrete tasks/roles including (but not limited to) targeted pieces of research; keynote presentations; advisory consultations; tool/framework development; and event participation or moderation. That is a part-time role that I have in addition to my full-time employment with ShareTrust Inc. (US). https://www.idiainnovation.org/ Show less

Founder

• Aug 2020 - Present

The Ecofeminist Platform of Bangladesh intends to adopt an eco-feminist perspective for collective actions in Bangladesh pertaining to climate action and the environmental movement since 2020. Ecofeminism emphasizes the interdependence of all living things. Ecofeminism has equal roots in the environment and women's liberation. Ecofeminism strives to analyze and enhance the arguments of both the feminist and environmentalist movements. Hence, the platform will investigate the intersection of gender and nature, especially how binary concepts inaccurately define opposing groupings, attributing excessive importance to one grouping and promoting hierarchical thought. Women should thus have their opinions heard at all levels and actively participate in the formulation of environmental and climate change-related policies, programme and action plans. The platform will strive to create a venue for think tanks to initiate gender-sensitive discussions on climate action and social justice. From a feminist standpoint, we want women to play a prominent part in the revolution of climate justice and social rights, while also stressing the new values that should form the foundation of this future society. This platform seeks to inform the people about the intersection of climate justice and environmental conservation while influencing national and international discussion and discourse to ensure the global narrative of the climate movement. In addition, this platform will contribute into education, research support to the development sector and accelerate the young climate movement and enhance grassroots climate initiatives, especially those of indigenous women, who have been at the forefront of combating climate injustice and safeguarding their rights. Show less

Consultant - Advancing Gender in the Environment (AGENT) Project

• May 2021 - Present

As a Consultant, I am responsible for research examining gender-based violence (GBV) in environmentally stressed regions in the country and supporting the national Assessment on Interlinkages of Gender Equality and Climate Change in Bangladesh; Providing technical support to Policy Expert, Team Leader/ Gender Expert, Climate Change Expert to undertake situation analysis to determine the country needs, priorities, current climate change policies, and capacities in mainstreaming gender into climate action for national assessment report; providing support in organizing around 8 (eight) consultations or peer meetings among relevant stakeholders representing government, national research institutions, statistics bodies, academia, civil societies, and others about the preparation of national assessment report; supporting in collecting data/information on the state of gender equality and climate change both at the national level and in the selected sectors (i.e. water, agriculture, health, forestry, infrastructure, power, transport, industry, and waste management) for national assessment report while generating date for GBV-ENV case study. Show less

Member of Naripokkho

• Dec 2011 - Present

As a ‘Member’ of Naripokkho, I have been working for the advancement of women's rights and entitlements and building resistance against violence, discrimination, and injustice. I am responsible to provide strategic and technical guidance to the team in designing and implementing Naripokkho’s Annual Action Plan, contributing to research, Campaign and advocacy works; capacity building of staffs and volunteers on feminism, gender justice, and women’s rights; safeguarding in the workplace; Leading virtual influencing work; Managing Social Media Platforms; and Movement Building (i.e. strengthening ‘Durbar Network’), etc. Naripokkho is a 110-member women’s activist organization working for the advancement of women's rights and entitlements and building resistance against violence, discrimination and injustice since 1983. Since its founding in 1983, Naripokkho has conducted numerous activities related to Women’s Rights and Violence Against Women (VAW) in Bangladesh, which include campaigns, cultural events, training, research, lobbying and advocacy. Show less

Research Officer

• Dec 2011 - Jun 2012

I have worked with the World Bank Funded project “Bangladesh: Gender, Social Protection and Human Right” with Naripokkho, which is responsible for providing advisory services to Women For Women for Baseline survey on the current status of violence against women and the local situation and to COMMUNiCA preparing training material to better meet VAW client needs in 40 District Hospitals and 20 Upazilla Health Complex. This project is undertaken by the Multi-Sectoral Programme on Violence Against Women- joint initiative of the Governments of Bangladesh and Denmark under the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, commissioned by World Bank.Area of Work: Sadar Hospitals, Police Stations, different unions of Habiganj, Kuliarchar (kishoreganj), Jessore, Pirojpur, Jhalakathi, Bagherhat, Manikgaj,Gazipur, Borura upazilla (Comilla), Feni ,Chandpur, Khagrachori, Tangail and Narayanganj.Major Responsibilities: Participation in preparation of the research design; Preparation of the research tools; Provide training on qualitative research methods; Monitor and evaluate the research of other implementing organizations; Guide data collection and data analysis by other partner organizations; Maintain regular correspondence with project partners ***Naripokkho is a membership-based women's activist organization in Bangladesh working since 1983 for the advancement of women's rights and entitlements and building resistance against violence,discrimination and injustice. Show less

Research Partner

• Dec 2022 - Apr 2023

International Consultant, Adviser –Gender and Climate Change

• May 2022 - Dec 2022

Local Consultant – Evaluator (Bangladesh)

• Apr 2022 - Jun 2022

As a consultant, I am the in-country research manager (Bangladesh) supporting, overseeing, and undertaking quality assurance of all teams and research in Bangladesh as part of The Catalystas Consulting's External Evaluation of Start Network’s activities under the fund received by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs between 2019-2022 hereafter: ‘the Dutch Unrestricted Funding’. As a consultant, I am the in-country research manager (Bangladesh) supporting, overseeing, and undertaking quality assurance of all teams and research in Bangladesh as part of The Catalystas Consulting's External Evaluation of Start Network’s activities under the fund received by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs between 2019-2022 hereafter: ‘the Dutch Unrestricted Funding’.

International Consultant - Safeguarding Trainer

• Jun 2021 - Sep 2021

To strengthen BD local partners capacity on Safeguarding through capacity building trainings and development of improved action plan particularly for humanitarian response context (i.e. Rohingya Response at Cox’s Bazar) To strengthen BD local partners capacity on Safeguarding through capacity building trainings and development of improved action plan particularly for humanitarian response context (i.e. Rohingya Response at Cox’s Bazar)

Gender Justice and Social Inclusion Coordinator

• Apr 2020 - Apr 2021

With Gender Justice and Social Inclusion Programme to lead country team to Eliminate Gender Based Violence and address protection issues in regular development programmes and humanitarian crisis.Oxfam's Gender Justice and Social Inclusion programme strives to ensure women, marginalized people with different social identities have equal rights, fundamental freedom, access to dignified work, democratic participation and live in an environment of respect, justice and diversity through deploying transformative strategies align with feminist principles, a key driving principle of Oxfam in Bangladesh.I am providing technical support in designing and implementing of the gender justice and social inclusion thematic programme in line with Oxfam Country Strategy (OCS), and Country Operating Model (COM), Creating strong synergies with different programmes (Economic Justice and Resilience, Climate Justice and Natural Resource Rights, DRR and Humanitarian Response), Rendering technical and methodological support to country programmes in gender inclusion and transformative leadership, Designing new business model in collaboration with the Business Development and Program Quality team to identify new funding sources and generate concept notes and proposals in line with the gender thematic strategies; Managing development and humanitarian projects related to Gender Based Violence (GBV) and protection etc. Show less

Convener of Women’s Forum at Oxfam in Bangladesh

• Feb 2019 - Apr 2021

I am leading Women’s Forum with a vision of an inclusive environment that recognises and nurtures the strength and potential of women where everyone can work with dignity, have equal opportunity to grow and contribute; and encourages the space for debates and dialogues of feminism to express their desire, emotions and freedom of choice; and promotes a feminist perspective to operationalise new OCS. My mission is to work with female colleagues to identify and challenge all forms of gender discrimination, safety-security issues, and generate feminist alternatives to address those challenges. To note, Women’s Forum is a major change agent to diversity development and improvement of work culture - focusing on strengthening the voice of its female employees and helping them to create strategic alliances with an aim to establish a non-discriminatory, non-abusive, and healthy working environment. Show less

Member of Change Enablers Team at Oxfam in Bangladesh

• Jun 2019 - Aug 2020

Change Enablers’ team is a strategic team formed to contribute in Oxfam’s Change Process to bring transformative changes – by ensuring feminist principles are strongly reflected in New Country Strategy, Country Operating Model. As a founding member of Change Enablers’ team, I contributed at the initial stage of developing the TOR, highlighting the roles of individual members as well as the representatives of Staff Association (OSAB) and Women Forum (WF). Along with the other members of Change Enablers’ team, I played an active role in the roll-out of "Oxfam Country Strategy (OCS)" and "Country Operating Model (COM)" processes among all staff level in Country office and sub-offices with the support of the Country Leadership Team (CLT) & Change Consultant. One of the major responsibilities out of my individual contribution as a staff of Oxfam that I have occupied myself is in the representation Women’s Forum in the Change Enablers’ team. Last but not the least, at the final stage of change process, I supported the management & the Change Consultant in programme-wise individual roles’ competency analysis to derive into the finalized organizational chart. Show less

Senior Economic Justice & Resilience Programme Officer

• Feb 2018 - Apr 2020

I have worked with Economic Justice and Resilience programme with a special focus on "Localising SDGs". I have managed European Union's fund which is 1.6 million EUR. The ultimate goal of the project, “Enhancing the Participation of Community-based Organizations (CBOs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Democratic Governance in Bangladesh”, funded by the European Union and being implemented by Oxfam and Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), is to ensure that the development in Bangladesh is inclusive and sustainable which will be achieved through a democratic practice of social accountability through the local authorities (LA) and local government (LG) representatives and enhanced participation of the Community-based Organizations (CBOs) and the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). Show less

Senior Programme Officer - Women and Climate

• Jan 2017 - Feb 2018

I was the core team member of DRR and Climate Justice programme of AAB that works with marginalized and vulnerable communities and helps them to identify the risks they face, their vulnerabilities to natural disasters, and understand their capacities to cope better. Core Areas of work include: Building community resilience through defending commons, diversified and adaptive livelihoods and making institutions responsive and accountable in rural and urban spaces; Strengthen leadership of women and young people to lead humanitarian response, recovery and preparedness that contributes to resilience; Facilitate social justice movements for environmental justice, including climate justice at all levels. Hence, I have designed and implemented Programme, Project, Campaign and Advocacy initiatives; Conducted research and ensured proper knowledge management systems in place; Managed research-based projects: 1) Technical and operational lead of Women’s Resilience Index Project Funded by AUSAID (2015 – 2018); 2) Regional Researcher (Lead) of ‘Loss and Damage’ Project funded by APN Japan (2017 – 2018); Designed and facilitated research for evidence generation and provide technical support ; Capacitated and promoted Grassroots Women’s Leadership in DRR, resilience and climate movements ; Promoted Synergies between women rights, resilience and climate justice; Built and maintained effective and working relationship with relevant agencies, CSO representatives, networks, platforms and media at national level ; Assisted in fundraising and resource mobilization activities; Co-led Green Action agenda of AAB; Supported Feminist Leadership Forum of AAB; Provided support to another AA Country Programme in resilience programming; Rendered humanitarian response and technical support to Humanitarian Action ;Provided support to AAB and other country programmes on protection issues of women as a member of International and National EFAST (Emergency Fast Action Support Team). Show less

Programme Officer-Women & Climate

• Jan 2015 - Dec 2016

Core team member of Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Justice Unit of ActionAid Bangladesh.

Associate Programme Officer

• Mar 2014 - Dec 2014

Core team member of Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Justice Unit of ActionAid Bangladesh.

Regional Lead Researcher - Loss and Damage Project

• May 2017 - Jan 2018

Managed multi-country project and developed community led assessment methodology on Loss and Damage. A toolkit has been developed to assist community and development practitioners to assess loss and damage vis-a-vis different hazards and impact scenarios (focus on sea-level rise, floods and salinity intrusion ocean salinization in Bangladesh, Myanmar, Vietnam, Nepal and Cambodia). The methodology supports to integrate L&D perspective into resilience and lead to develop ways to address L&D by combining scientific evidence and impact scenarios, with existing efforts at the community level. The project was funded by Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN), JAPAN Show less

Resilience Officer (Community)

• Sep 2016 - Dec 2016

Secondment Opportunity to scale-up Women's Resilience Index Project in Vanuatu. Secondment Opportunity to scale-up Women's Resilience Index Project in Vanuatu.

Qualitative Researcher

• Aug 2012 - Oct 2013

As a Qualitative Researcher, I lead qualitative research of the multi-country project titled “EquiNaM” which is an ESRC - DFID funded project that aims to build evidence to support an equitable improvement in newborn and maternal health in Asia and Africa. I co-lead qualitative research of the Perinatal Care Project (PCP), which is a collaborative project of the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh (BADAS), Women & Children First (UK), and University College London Institute for Global Health, UK, which aims to improve maternal and newborn health in rural areas in Bangladesh. The project is being implemented in 18 Unions under 6 Upazilas of 3 Districts (Bogra, Faridpur, and Moulvibazar) since 2002 and covers around 534,000 populations. Women and under-5 children’s health were incorporated in the intervention during the scaling up of the project in 2008. I was responsible for the research design, tools development, and implementation; conducted training on research methodology with the data collectors, scientific analysis of qualitative data (By Nvivo), and reports writing. I also maintain regular correspondence with the field manager, and other members of the qualitative research team (University College London, and Project partners from India, Nepal, Malawi). Co-author of the ‘Exploring the equity impact of a maternal and newborn health intervention: a qualitative study of participatory women's groups in rural South Asia and Africa’ published in 2019 by Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health) Co-author of the Reaching the poor with health interventions: programme incidence analysis of seven randomised trials of women's groups to reduce newborn mortality in Asia and Africa 2015, by Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health (Online ISSN 1470-2738) Co-presenter of research paper at the International Workshop on " New Evidence Supporting Equity in Newborn and Maternal Health in South Asia" at Kathmandu, Nepal from 7-10 May 2014 Show less

Research Assistant

• Aug 2011 - Nov 2011

As a Research Assistance, I conducted research titled “Gender Impacts of Climate Variability and Climate Events in Bangladesh” supported by Oxfam Australia & Monash University (Australia). I provided substantial support to the development of research tools, organized and conducted Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), In-depth Interviews (IDIs), and Focus Group Discussion (FGDs), conducted Participation Observation, facilitated community discussion to prepare Hazard Calendar, Social Mapping. Ensure data quality. Conducted systematic data cleaning and processing (verbatim transcription, translation, data coding) using Atlas ti. Provided support in the preparation of the research report. Overall research project coordination and ensure effective communication with stakeholders. Area of Work: Gaibandha (Sadar, Sundorganj),Satkhira(Shamnagar,Munshiganj ), Borguna(Sadar) http://www.odvce.monash.edu.au/oxfam/index.html Show less

Research Investigator

• Sep 2011 - Sep 2011

Research Investigator in a project “Baseline Survey on FGW in Standard Group in Bangladesh (Gap Inc. P.A.C.E) Program 2011” Conducted by The Nielsen Company Bangladesh Ltd at Gazipur,Dhaka. Major Responsibilities: • Develop research tool (in a group) • Conduct 200+ structured interview. Research Investigator in a project “Baseline Survey on FGW in Standard Group in Bangladesh (Gap Inc. P.A.C.E) Program 2011” Conducted by The Nielsen Company Bangladesh Ltd at Gazipur,Dhaka. Major Responsibilities: • Develop research tool (in a group) • Conduct 200+ structured interview.

Research Investigator

• Jul 2010 - Aug 2010

Research Investigator on Formative Research for Communication and Training Needs including Mapping of Existing MNCH services, Programs and Personnel related to pilot for Testing Delivery Mechanisms for Newborn vitamin A supplementation (NBVAS) in Bangladesh Conducted by RTM International (Research, Training and Management) and executed by MI Period: 03 weeks (July -August 2010), Area of work: Pirojpur (Sadar and Showrupkathi) Major Responsibilities: • Develop research tool (in a group) • Conduct In-depth interview • Moderate FGD and Note Taking • Organize Interviews(FGD and II) • Transcribe the data • Indexing • Report writing. Show less

Quality Control Officer - Research

• Jun 2010 - Jul 2010

Quality Control Officer in the Project “Endline Survey of Community-Based PNC (Post Natal Care) Study in Bangladesh” conducted by NIPORT (National Institute of Population Research and Training) . http://www.niport.gov.bd/ Area of Work: Nilphamari (Kishoriganj and Dimla ) Major Responsibilities: • Assist in the coordination of Research Activities • Conduct Structured Interview • Monitor and evaluate the research of other • Observation • Communicate with field research groups as well as government and NGOs personnel. Show less