Bangladesh Agricultural University

Southeast University

Northern University, Bangladesh

National University | Bangladesh

The Springfield Centre for Business in Development, United Kingdom.

SGS United Kingdom 

International Institute of Environment and Development, United Kingdom 

Country Director, Bangladesh at Land O'Lakes Venture37; Program Management, Agribusiness, Market System & Value Chain Development Expert!

Activities Performed: 
•	Design a project on “Setting up Business Ecosystem for Youth & Women Entrepreneurs
•	Support the fundraising and new business development functions of the Max Foundation 
•	Set the annual fundraising targets in coordination with the Country Director, Head of Program, and Finance 
•	Develop a list of donors including bilateral and multilateral donors, foundations, and companies whose policies and practices are in line with Max Foundation’s mission and vision 
•	Identify potential partner organizations, both local and international, and Civil Society Organizations, and private sectors that align with the organization’s mission and objectives.
•	Collaborate with the program team to draft project concept papers/proposals, submit them to potential donors. 
•	Create partnerships to respond to RFPs and contribute to consortiums aimed at developing project proposals.

Skills: Donor Mapping, Fund Raising, Entrepreneurship, WATSAN, Adaptation to Climate Change, Agriculture

Max Foundation

Business Development and Partnerships Advisor

The Cadmus Group

Consultant- Environmental and Social Compliance for USAID Portfolio

Assignment Title: Assessment and redesign of the project - PRO-ACT Bangladesh- Resilience Strengthening through Agri-Food Systems Transformation in Cox’s Bazar (UN FAO would be the implementing partner).
•	Conducted a comprehensive revision of the Description of Action (DOA) of the Project Document
•	Revised the logical framework, indicative work plan, Theory of Change, and detailed activities. 
•	Reviewed the focus considering the effectiveness and sustainability of the project 
•	Put emphasis on the Agri-food sector benefiting the local host community of Cox’s Bazar 
•	Put emphasis on climate-smart technologies in agriculture, watershed, and landslides management
•	Strong collaboration with government institutions (e.g., Department of Agriculture Extension)
•	Submitted a robust DOA of the PROACT which includes SMART LogFrame, WorkPlan, Theory of Change

European Union

Consultant- Project Assessment and Design

Assignment Title: Support the IESC team in preparation for the proposal for the USAID Bangladesh Feed the Future Inclusive Access to Finance Activity. 

•	Supported the Request for Information (RFI) response in the capture phase.
•	Provided advice and collected background information on relevant stakeholders to meet with in person/virtually. 
•	Provided pertinent background information and collected existing reports & assessments related to the Activity. 
•	Suggested a range of beneficiaries and key points of access for potential program interventions. 
•	Scheduled in-country meetings with stakeholders, counterparts, and other identified stakeholders.
•	Selected potential local partners for the Activity, including locally registered NGOs and/or consulting firms.

IESC

Consultant- Project Proposal Development

Amentum/PAE (Pacific Architects and Engineers) is implementing the Feed the Future Bangladesh Agricultural Infrastructure Development project with a view to improving agricultural infrastructure in order to increase the availability of quality and safe agricultural produce for domestic and international markets. My overall responsibilities are as follows:
•	Guide and supervises the Design & Quality Manager, Operations Manager, Office Administrator, Agribusiness Advisor, and Operation & Maintenance Specialists in the implementation and monitoring of the project.  
•	Supports the Chief of Party (COP) in program execution and oversees all program administrators. 
•	Manage the site selection process, and relationships with the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), and sub-district as well as district administrations
•	Maintain a strong functional network & actively liaise with, contacts within relevant GoB authorities, at policy, administrative and operational levels, jointly monitor and follow up on program implementation and evaluation.
•	Oversees local government, agriculture community engagement, and operation & maintenance capacity building for market facilities, water & sanitation, rural roads, and irrigation & drainage systems. 
•	Work closely with LGED and BWDB on rural roads & market center improvement; flood control & protection of river bank erosion; construction of barrages, regulators, sluice gates & embankments, etc. 
•	Monitor and advise on the status and trends in the legal, policy, and institutional framework for the market center, irrigation & drainage, water resources management (e.g. drinking water supply & sanitation), adaptive delta management (e.g. food security & nutrition, climate change, coastal management, river erosion control) 
•	Engage private sectors in cool chain/cold storage establishments and women-friendly water & sanitation system development in the market centers and roadsides

Deputy Chief of Party, USAID | BAIDP (Bangladesh Agricultural Infrastructure Development Program)

Assignment Title: Developing the strategic guidelines for climate financing, and multilateral climate funds, considering possible linkages between climate financing post-COVID-19 agricultural developments.
Produced a report with less than 30,000 words which includes the following:

•	Incorporated the main projects and programs of the last five years of funding for climate change.
•	Summary of the country’s climate change vulnerability related to the agricultural sector and food security;
•	Identified areas for potential climate change and agricultural projects funded by climate financing sources;
•	Produced a step-by-step guide for applying for climate financing for each of the 5 financial sources;
•	Conducted a national training workshop for the government and other relevant officials to present the guide and provided hands-on training on how to prepare climate finance project proposals.
•	Submitted the final report and approved by the Project Coordinator of UN DESA.

United Nations (NYC, USA)

Consultant- Climate Finance (UN Index No: 10188590)

To increase productivity and profitability in the agriculture sectors, Land O’Lakes Venture37 is implementing USAID-supported 5-year-long "F2F Food Safety and Quality Program" in Bangladesh, Egypt, and Lebanon to address the important issues of food safety and quality with highly qualified US volunteers. The program assists and trains agribusinesses, processors, associations, and institutions on good agricultural, veterinary, and manufacturing practices to improve the local food safety protocols and quality assurance systems from “field to fork” and also export markets.  As the Country Director, my performing activities are: 
•	Lead, manage and motivate the Farmer to Farmer (F2F) country team in Bangladesh and manage all in-country technical and program operations 
•	Establish and implement focused annual and quarterly work plans, with the goal of delivering the excellent implementation of program activities and timely deliverables
•	Establish and maintain key stakeholder relationships. Serve as the main local representation of Land O’Lakes for the F2F program to the Government, USAID, and local partner and peer organizations.
•	Identify and form relationships with volunteer host organizations (ag-focused NGOs, businesses, universities, public/private sector), and determine their organizational needs/strategies. Identify strategic technical needs and co-create scopes of work for impactful volunteer assignments
•	Effectively manage all financial and administrative aspects of this USAID project including HR, regulatory compliance, logistics, reporting, procurement, monitoring, and evaluation.
•	Identify opportunities for enhanced business-to-business cooperation with the US and other countries in areas like market linkage, wastewater treatment & industrial water management, etc.. 
•	Oversee Monitoring and Evaluation Manager to ensure a strong PMP is in place and being implemented, including the timely and accurate collection of baseline and results in data collection.

Land O'Lakes Venture37 (US based international organisation)

Country Director and Country Representative, Bangladesh

USAID Feed The Future Asia Innovative Farmers Project, a USAID Regional Development Mission for Asia (RDMA) initiative to discover, develop, and disseminate agricultural innovations throughout SE Asia. Based in Bangkok, the project has established innovation networks in Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Nepal. Across the region, the project is establishing an innovation ecosystem, facilitating market-driven technology transfer, lowering technology trade barriers, and supporting youth entrepreneurship in agriculture. As the Country Director, my performed activities are: 
• Facilitating Agribytes, an agricultural innovation community for Bangladesh, that directly connects with other communities in Cambodia, Nepal and Thailand.   
• Expanding Thailand-based EnerGaia to Bangladesh to provide women smallholders with opportunities to grow and sell spirulina at a pre-agreed price to Energaia Co. 
• Providing support to customize eFishery’s automatic feeder from Indonesia to the Bangladesh market through technical and market validation for engaging smallholders as customers.  
• Testing the commercial distribution of Pest Exclusion Net (PEN) houses through creative financing models to allow farmers to purchase the technology. 
• Providing validation supports (technical, manufacturing, distribution, consumer) to the tech4farmers challenge winning entrepreneurs to grow the market for their innovations 
• Providing regional opportunities to the agricultural innovators, entrepreneurs and other leaders to foster South-South knowledge exchange in working with SAARC, ASEAN, APSA
• Reducing the market barriers through policy advocacy and accelerate the regional and national networks/associations for quicken innovation transfer
• Managing country-based monitoring and evaluation/data collection, local consultants 
• Providing timely quarterly and annual reports and work plans 
• Managing country based project staff and administrative and financial issues

Winrock International (US based international organization)

Country Director, Bangladesh

Activities Performed: 
•	Developed and lead the country’s strategic plan for the economic development sector (on-farm & off-farm) in alignment with the regional and global strategies and priorities 
•	Managed market/value chain development initiatives by following market work better for poor approaches  
•	Designed economic development projects, value chain assessments, and baseline and evaluation studies.
•	Led a peer action-learning group of committed staff to review, adapt, and pilot new economic development programming tools and models (ultra-poor graduation, value chain development, youth employment, etc.)
•	Strengthened the capacity of partner NGO staff and lead farmers on modern production and management practice of different fruits and vegetables
•	Conducted national and regional level advocacy on economic justice for women and policy issues
•	Supported WVB to review technical standards and capacity-building practices, to ensure local-level staff is oriented, trained, and supported according to Economic Development Competency Framework 
•	Supported the program team to Identify and build collaboration with potential market actors, agro entrepreneurs, dealers, retailers, and lead firms, and link them with the producer groups 
•	Supported to program team for budget preparation, program implementation, monitoring, and evaluation

World Vision International Bangladesh (US based international organization)

National Advisor- Economic Development

Chevron USA funded Village Development Organization Strengthening Project (VDOSP):
•	Performed overall leadership and management responsibility of the Village Development Organization (VDO) Strengthening Project; developed and maintained overall project strategies & interventions 
•	Designed and implemented Capacity Building initiatives for the VDOs and partner NGOs
•	Designed and implemented Capacity Building initiatives for the project and partner staff
•	Designed the monitoring system and procedures as per DCED standards; ensuring quality and timely monitoring activities; aggregating impact and outreach as per the log frame targets.
•	Designed and implemented procurement and administration rules/procedures; ensuring compliance and good governance; supporting the procurement of fixed assets and services
•	Developed and implemented international standard financial management, including internal audits and internal controls, and timely financial reports.
•	Managed Human resources (#10): recruiting staff; updating HR information; managing staff benefits; managing salary structure and staff appraisal.
•	Ensured overall compliance with the requirements of Chevron USA and Swisscontact-Zurich

Swisscontact

Team Leader

Activities Performed: 
• Provided project start-up and leadership support to the program team and Chief of Party for the $15m USAID-funded Agro-Inputs Project in Bangladesh (a component of Feed the Future, a US presidential initiative to reduce poverty and hunger). 
• Supervised and provided technical assistance to 2 Agro Inputs Supply Chain Advisors and 2 Field Coordinators (with 12 Field Officers) in planning and implementation of the project activities
• Made MoU/contract with the national and multi-national inputs supply companies (#5) for the training of retailers on agronomic practices, safe use of pesticides, and business management with the view to improve agribusiness supply chains and promotion of embedded services  
• Facilitated inputs supply companies (#5) for establishing Demonstration Plots (#500) and Farmers Field Days (#1500) to promote quality agro-inputs and related advanced technologies 
• Facilitated the creation and expansion of an association of privately owned Agricultural Input Retailers (AIRN) and expand access to market linkages 
• Established specialized demonstration plots (#50) in collaboration with other USAID FTF partners and input companies to promote high-value nutritious crops and technologies
• Designed and monitored the sub-awards, matching grants, and guaranty credit facility to boost up the business of retailers with a “seal of quality”. 
• Assisted project management to design M&E systems including indicators, and Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (PMEP) in accordance with USAID standards. 
• Developed Quarterly and Annual Work plans; and progress reports as per USAID requirements

CNFA (US based international organization)

Senior Agribusiness Advisor, USAID | AIP (Agro Inputs Project)

Activities Performed: 
• Developed and managed country strategy (yearly $30m) and provide technical expertise in Employment and Income, including skills development and SME market development with a yearly budget of $15m. 
• Portfolio development in the field of Employment and Income domain under Swiss Government Cooperation Strategy; defined and reviewed respective objectives and actions of the Skills and Market development
• Identified #5 new projects and managed their implementation through partner organizations (multi-lateral donors, international and national NGOs, public and private sector organizations) according to the standards for Project Cycle Management  
• Organized and conducted partners’ capacity building initiatives in organizational development, vocational education and training, skills development, MSME development and promotions
• Pro-actively participated and represented Swiss Government Development Cooperation in local consultative group, market development forum and skills development network’ dialogues. 
• Maintained liaison with the high-ups of NGOs and private sector organizations; Ministry level government officials and donor/development partners to stay update on country investment plan and government priorities. 
• Ensured mainstreaming of gender, disaster risk reduction and community based adaptation to climate change in project development and management 
• Prepared proposals for new project phase, credit proposals and phase end reports.

The Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh

Programme Officer- Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)

Activities Performed: 
• Guided 10 Programme Coordinators and devised strategy and interventions to stimulate MSME development, youth employment and agriculture sector development programs 
• Successfully managed 4 projects namely: i) $3m participatory agriculture development; ii) $2m vocational skills development and youth employment; iii) $2m microenterprise development; and iv) $3m strengthening dairy value chain. 
• Assessed the community needs & demand and accordingly prioritized them in consultation with the people; and developed the project proposal and negotiate with the donors for acquisition. 
• Conducted market assessments and connected youth with Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) providers, employers and financial institutions. 
• Developed formal partnership with the agro input companies, large processors and traders to establish functional business linkages with the small producers in view to improve product quality, service provision and market access. 
• Provided technical assistance and organization development support to partner NGOs/Cooperatives for promoting flexible microfinance services and livelihood interventions.
• Conducted participatory market research, inputs market survey, stakeholder analysis, social survey, and developed cluster-based producers’ profiles.
•	Supported partner NGOs/CBOs for identifying their marketing chain and creating linkages (rolling the process) between producers and traders/processors/wholesalers/retailers.

Plan International (UK based international organization)

Advisor- Microenterprise and Business Development 

Activities Performed: 
•	Designed strategies and managed the SDC ($3 million) Partnership for Agro-product Development and Market Access (PADMA) project 
•	Designed strategy, and interventions and led the SDC-funded ($9 million) Sustainable Access to Agroforestry Knowledge, Technology and Information (SAAKTI) project 
•	Supervised 10 Technical Advisors, 20 partner NGOs, and 7 government institutions for strengthening the local service provision and market access for the poor in 17 districts/56 sub-districts in Bangladesh
•	Assessed, designed, and managed value chains namely vegetables, handicrafts, horticulture, poultry, duck, dairy, medicinal plant, fishery, and spices 
•	Supported value chain actors (input sellers, producers, traders) and strengthen business development services for a pro-poor and inclusive business environment. 
•	Developed partnerships with the national and multinational companies/processors to improve affordable service provision and functional market linkages (input and outputs)
•	Supported partner NGOs/CBOs for identifying their marketing chain and creating linkages (rolling the process) between producers and traders/processors/wholesalers/retailers.
•	Formulated marketing strategies and plans to assist the network of SMEs to identify and introduce affordable processes and technologies, and assisted SMEs in developing smooth marketing channels for their produces
•	Capitalized on experiences, documentation, and preparing monthly, bimonthly, quarterly & annual progress report on the overall performance of the projects.

Helvetas  (Switzerland based Foundation for International Development)

Team Leader (Chief of Party); and Advisor- Market & Private Sector Development 

Activities Performed: 
• Managed the food & nutritional security program of Femconsult & Department of Women Affairs (EU & WFP supported FSVGD program) through providing technical hands-on support to the private sector enterprises especially BRAC, policy and advocacy supports to the government and regulatory bodies in collaboration with development partners, civil societies and academician.
• Managed 10 staff and designed, implemented and monitored food aid (fortified flour); income generating activities; savings-credit management; education on nutrition practices for the improvement of household food & nutrition security of the vulnerable groups especially women 
• Monitored the wheat/fortified flour distribution centres; and checking of quality of wheat/fortified flour in the food warehouses/fortification centres in regular basis 
• Facilitated the vulnerable groups (approx. 50,000 individuals) for participatory Income Generating Activity (IGA) selection; conducted & analysed rapid market assessment and designed local resources based interventions
• Facilitated the partner NGOs for smallholders for have access to affordable inputs, production technology, processing & marketing facilitates through promotion of micro-enterprises 
• Developed public-private partnerships for intensification, diversification and value addition of the produces to increase productivity and foster innovation for enterprise development & promotion
• Conducted training needs assessments and developed training modules for on/off-farm income generating activities, and provided training-of-trainers to partner NGO staff members. 
• Organized trainings, workshops by using organizational capacity assessment tools for strengthening capacity of the local government intuitions, district/sub-district based women affairs officers’ in planning, designing and monitoring of VGD programme activities
• Managed the area office and its resources according to the rules and regulations of EC/WFP

Femconsult (The Netherlands based international organization )

Area Manager, EU/WFP | FSVGD (Food Security for Vulnerable Group Development) Program

Activities Performed: 
• Supervised12 staff and managed sponsorship funded $1m Water and Sanitation; and $2 m Community Action Projects. 
• Developed strategies and participatory approaches to collaborate with NGOs and Contractors for the installation of tube wells, latrines, rain water harvesting, iron removal plants 
• Promoted hygiene behavioural practices among poor communities/slums by using behavioural change communication materials, tools and techniques 
•	Developed strategies and participatory social development approaches within the program stakeholders for mainstreaming the disaster risk reduction and gender issues, assisted community based disaster preparedness team to reduce risk of the disaster
• Organized youths and civil society to form local risk reduction committees with local government institutions and raised fund for swift responses to emergencies including rehabilitation. 
• Managed savings & credit scheme which includes coordinate in planning, implementing, monitoring and reporting of the project activities of  enterprise and entrepreneurship development

Islamic Relief Worldwide (UK based international organization)

Projects Manager, WATSAN and Community Action Projects

Activities Performed: 
• Managed 11 staff and assessed needs and identified technologies with the business potential for the $40m USAID-funded Agro-based Industries and Technology Development Project (ATDP). 
• Managed regional office and supervised 7 staff in 5 districts. Organized technical, credit and grant programs for promotion of MSMEs in agribusiness in 8 value chains. 
• Provided technical and financial supports to 7 NGOs/associations for organizing agribusiness enterprises in product innovation & development and market access
• Collaborated with the extension agencies, research institutions and private service providers to promote business development services for the growth of agro-based SMEs
• Promoted quality agro-inputs (seed pesticides, fertilizer) in partnership with the national and multinational companies including Mallika Seeds, AB Krishi Prokolpo, Bangladesh Fertilizer Association, Syngenta and Bayer CropScience
• Worked with business membership associations (chamber of commerce and industries) to advocate policy supportive of private sector participation in SME promotion and development
• Linked agro-entrepreneurs with financial institutions to provide access to financial services to increase and diversify of product lines. 
• Helped entrepreneurs to develop links with public and private sectors to improve production, processing and market access; specific successes included linking a vegetable farmers group of an NGO (FIVBD) with the traders, which led to exports vegetables in UK.

IFDC (US based international organization)

Regional Manager, USAID | ATDP (Agrobased Industries and Technology Development Project)

Activities Performed: 
•	Managed 12 staff and supported homestead-level agroforestry in rural communities under the $15m Village and Farm Forestry Project funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
•	Developed strategy and interventions for cropland and homestead agroforestry programs in consultation with CBOs, NGOs, and government extension agencies
•	Provided technical assistance to farmers and nursery owners in crop cultivation, fertilization, irrigation, post-harvest technologies, financing, and marketing
•	Designed approaches, business plans, and business models for the promotion of MSMEs. 
•	Worked with extension agencies and farmer field schools to establish demonstration plots promoting new crop varieties and technology transfer and acquisition
•	Provided technical backstopping to the Farmer Organizations in the field of homestead management, livelihood analysis, agroforestry practices, and marketing for improving their livelihoods.
•	Developed Mother Tree Orchards (MTOs) & action research activities on mass propagation techniques and cultural management of fruit, timber, and multi-storied cropping.

Engr. Maksudur Rahman MBA, MDS