University of Dhaka

Notredame College

Jahangirnagar University

Market Systems & Private Sector Development Consultant

Founded an international consultancy firm to provide services to donor agencies, international development organizations and consultancies in design, implementation and delivery of multiple projects/programmes. Its primary functions include i) strategic and management support in project design, development and implementation; ii) result measurement, monitoring and evaluation; and iii) qualitative and quantitative research. Its focus is on inclusive economic growth, impact investment, increased employment, agriculture, urban poverty and industrial development.

Econou Consultants OÜ

Director

The LED aims is to create a positive impact by creating an environment and adaptive management practice by the Municipalities by understanding and addressing the gap in its function, in generating an energetic and inclusive local economic stimulation by initiating a “territorial change management initiative”. The objective of the assignment is to conduct field research to develop business solutions integrated in the local economic development context of the selected municipalities that reach rural and urban customers with sound business plans that will optimize social impact in the local economy.

Swisscontact

Private Sector Development Consultant

Strengthen team capacity of Shomoshti project on Market Systems Development as well as provide backstopping support to CARE Bangladesh in conceptualizing and designing M4P/ MSD initiatives. Actively take part in the process of making strategic decisions and provide technical support to the project’s intervention in dairy, crab, micro-health insurance, agri-finance and livestock insurance. Support program MRM in developing appropriate tools and techniques for monitoring the project implementation and impact assessment in compliance with Donor Committee for Enterprise Development (DCED) standards. Provide active support in writing semester and annual reports in light with donor’s recommendations.

CARE Bangladesh - Shomoshti Project

Market Systems Adviser

Provide consultancy service to IFAD in conducting an in-depth field research and developing a business case for Halal meat in Ethiopia. The outcome of the business case will create linkages between IFAD investments projects (new and/or ongoing) in the target country, potentially in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), World Bank Group. It will create viable and sustainable business linkages between small scale producers and private sector actors. Working closely with the IFAD country team (notably the Country Director and Country Programme Officer), IFC focal points as well as relevant partners in the target country.

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

Business Case Development Consultant

Support BIF to learn from its work in Ready-Made Garments and Bamboo sector and provide clear and compelling learning material to use in its closing event with key stakeholders in Myanmar. These materials and events will enable all concerned to reflect on how working with BIF has supported its partners to make a significant change in practice that has opened the way to pro-poor market-wide systemic change, identifying what systemic changes have occurred and why they are significant. This will encourage programme partners to continue to embed the changes in their businesses, and other facilitators to support and amplify the change in future.

Business Innovation Facility

Learning Consultant

Established distribution for Kawasaki motorcycles in Bangladesh. Developed entire business process, internal and external operations, financial and accounts management system, sales and dealership strategy for a $2 million business, which contributes to its future vision. Worked with parent company in Japan so that the business is complaint with Kawasaki’s global strategy and business values.

Asian Motorbikes Limited (Kawasaki Bangladesh)

Business Management Specialist

Brought in the business to turn around the revenue stream for DataNet’s Swaziland operation. Identified a new revenue stream for the business and streamlined the product portfolio for the market. Managed more than 60 staffs, supplied tailor made software to government agencies like Swaziland Revenue Authority (ASYCUDA based Customs and Revenue collection and management system), Ministry of Home Affairs (Police Emergency Support system), Ministry and Finance (Digital interface for all financial institutions to collect and manage loans provided to government employees) and local and international businesses (Enterprise Resource Planning, Payroll Management, Small Business Accounting System, etc.). Part of DataNet's core leadership team contributing to its global business strategy and execution.

DataNet

Country Head

Worked across the MDF, Fiji program that includes 4 technical/implementation units, Result Measurement and Admin & Finance. Worked on a unique SME incubation and impact investment strategy that offers a long-term growth and employment through business development support for innovative small and community-based businesses in Fiji for the first time. In PNG led country team during its inception phase in development and execution of innovative partnerships with large, medium and small businesses and enterprises that include logistics and connectivity, digital payment systems, agri-processing and market linkages. Negotiated efficient cost sharing agreements, ensuring relevance with program strategy, inclusive business growth and poverty reduction through job creation, increased income opportunities and Women Economic Empowerment in PNG. Ensured capacity building for the local team and established basic systems for the program to grow on. Represented the program to donors and public/private stakeholders.

Market Development Facility (MDF)

Market Development Specialist / Senior Market Development Adviser

Assessed grant proposals competing for a US$45,000 grant provided by the Japanese Government for scaling up development innovations. The proposals addressed issues regarding health, education and environment and offered sustainable and scalable solutions to them. The proposals were from 3 countries and were assessed based on innovativeness, social impact, scalability, local ownership, risk and resource management, financial sustainability and replicability.

Global Development Network

Grant Application Assessor

Carried out a scoping mission for Swisscontact to assess investment opportunities in Nigeria. Met multiple stakeholders in Nigeria to understand and analyze Nigeria’s economic, political and development landscape. The objective of the mission was to inform Swisscontact if and when it should invest in Nigeria, and what should be its mid-term and long-term focus areas.

Swisscontact worldwide

Consultant, Nigeria Scoping Mission

Worked with program development team to prepare a bid for TIRTA - DFAT funded A$9.5 million program. Program’s objective is to make the irrigation as a service work for poor farmers in East Java, Indonesia and benefit 10,000 poor female and male. Conducted field scoping mission, provided strategic input in the development of business case and the bid document. Palladium later won the bid to implement the program.

Palladium: Make It Possible

Market Development Specialist

Design and delivery of capacity building to the TIRTA technical team to strengthen their understanding of M4P approach and applying them in design and implementation of interventions in the tertiary irrigation market. Worked with the Head of Portfolios in PRISMA to support sector teams in developing sector strategies, analysis of systemic constraints, intervention areas and intervention concepts maize, coconut, beef, shallot, soybean, coffee, seaweed, cassava, peanut and mungbean. Managed a portfolio of 4 subsectors in 3 provinces (East Java, East Nusa Tenggara, and West Nusa Tenggara) and coordinated the overall need for results measurement for the subsectors. Provided technical support to identification and brokering of partnerships with private sector stakeholders, designing grants and guiding teams in managing implementation of budgets. Provided strategic support to the Team Leader in intervention design and program implementation at the inception phase.

AIP-Rural (PRISMA, TIRTA)

M4P Adviser

Conducted sector scoping study of Fiji agriculture sector to compare between 11 subsectors and select potential subsectors for investment. Subsequently, led a team of three MDF staff to carry out a further in-depth study to develop sectoral strategy and identify potential areas and private sector partners to work with.

M4P Sector Specialist

financial inclusion and mobile payments) and commodity value chains (fertilizer, seeds, crop protection chemicals) in rural Nigeria, identifying potential new markets, designing appropriate interventions, and selecting private sector partners for implementation. Conducted on-the-job capacity building in M4P for technical team. Ensured the monitoring and result measurement activities are carried out in line with DCED standards for result measurement. In the 1st phase of the programme, Supported the Team Leader in the strategic leadership of the programme, mentored intervention managers on M4P approach and market facilitation, oversee the monitoring and evaluation needs and activities of the interventions, and performance management of the intervention managers. Contributed to successful completion of the programme and achievement of the target outcome. Carried out research and studies that contributed to private sector partners’ key decision making for expansion towards sustainable growth and their increased ownership of the activities. Developed a unique result-based grant structure that motivated a partner to put more effort in their expansion and ensured value for money for programme. Contributed to periodic progress reports for DFID, and into programme’s regular and periodic technical reviews.

Propcom Mai-karfi

Senior Intervention Specialist / Market Section Manager

Analysed Kano state rice sector and three interventions within it. Carried out study of Kano State Rice Value chain to analyse current status, identify key constraints and opportunities, and justify the vision and strategy in light of findings and analysis. Prepared Intervention Guides for 3 interventions with vision, strategy, result chain, measurement plan and impact prediction following DCED standards of Result Measurement.

Propcom

M4P Specialist

Development and execution of scale up plan for strategic interventions in 8 rural sectors, which utilized M4P approach to ensure greater pro-poor growth and gender inclusiveness in the target markets. Responsibilities included identification of sector constraints and opportunities for SMEs in rural markets, formulation of strategic interventions that ensures sustainable and systemic impacts, negotiation of deals with partners and management of implementation. Managed Katalyst’s implementing partnership with HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation which synchronized M4P approach and Sustainable Livelihood Approach for 5 sub-sectors. Co-designed and delivered “Market Development in Practice” training for co-facilitators, partners and new recruits. Focal person of Gender Taskforce that designed Gender Strategy Paper for Katalyst, which contributed to programme’s Poverty Strategy Paper. Member of Mid Term Review Taskforce that reviewed progress of interventions against targets set by previous donor reviews and programme Log-Frame.

Swisscontact-Katalyst

Business Consultant / Senior Business Consultant

Oversight of the client portfolio, identification of their service needs and development of their BTL marketing campaigns while ensuring consistent and quality service delivery. The portfolio included Unilever, British American Tobacco, ADNSL, etc.

Beginning Production Ltd.

Senior Client Service Executive

Managing a client portfolio that included Standard Chartered Bank, Nestle and Unilever.

Interspeed Advertising Ltd.

Client Service Executive

Development and execution of marketing communications, and strategic media plans for a client portfolio that includes Nestle, Dano, Marico, P&G and Ericsson. Major achievement was wining Virgin Drinks to add to the portfolio.

Rofiqul Rana