Cricket
Azman Chowdhury
Head Of Business Development And Fundraising
Summary
Widely experienced program development and bid management practitioner who has operated in diverse operational, management and
implementation roles in cross cutting and core sectors with significant technical and strategic input. Azman’s experience of
working for leading INGOs, implementing programs and for donors, guiding them with strategic inputs, has given him deep
understanding about expectations from both ends. Operational and policy related functional roles on Program Development,
focusing on market system development, research and economic development combined with wide experience of both the delivery
and management of technical assistance, donor relation and government engagement are his major strengths. He gained
his skills through over 15 years of hands on experience on program development, bid management, financial planning,
implementation plan and monitoring and evaluation in WaterAid,
Swisscontact, Practical Action and the Australian High Commission Dhaka.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
2
2
years of post-secondary education
2
2
Languages
Work History
Head of Business Development and Fundraising
WaterAid
Dhaka
08.2021 - Current
- Experienced and focused bid development, program design, business development and fundraising specialist responsible for a fundraising target of GBP 2 Million per financial year.
- Successfully developed, coordinated and delivered bids worth GBP 14 Million in the current financial year
- Won and handed over winning bids valued over GBP 5 million between FY 2020-21 and 2021-22
- Nurturing a funding pipeline of approximately GBP 12 Million for the upcoming financial year.
- Highly experienced in drafting persuasive proposals for donor grants of varied value.
- Skilled in telling the right story efficiently, convincingly and realistically to evaluators
- Work closely with the finance team to develop realistic budget for proposals
- Develop partnerships and consortium with INGO partners for program delivery and with universities (e.g. University of Liverpool, University of Sussex) for research projects
- Thorough understanding of various types of donors and well established network within SDC, SIDA, FCDO and EC.
Business Development Manager
WaterAid
Dhaka
04.2020 - 08.2021
- Track potential funding opportunities and collect donor and opportunity related information (intelligence) in advance for preparation and making bid/no bid decision
- Build rapport with potential donors and commercial suppliers, both in-country and abroad.
- Explore possibilities for partnership/consortium with other INGO/prime for approaching multi-sectoral grants
- Engage in the preparation of concept notes/project proposals and donor/consortium agreements for both competitive and unsolicited opportunities; and contribute in narrative reporting as required
- Maintain grant related documents such as proposal, contract document, approval evidence etc both on and offline and follow up grant compliance and reporting.
Technical Advisor - Market System Development
Swisscontact
Dhaka
07.2019 - 04.2020
- Develop key economic sector strategy in partnership with local government for pilot phase project
- Design private sector focused intervention and execute action plans as per log- frame targets
- Translate Market System Development concepts aligned with Local Economic Development theory to design localized systemic change action plan
- Develop concept notes and result framework to justify transition from pilot phase to actual phase action
Lead contributor in Project Document design. - Develop Terms of Reference, budget and manage consultants
Senior Program Manager – Performance and Quality
DFAT, The Australian High Commission
Dhaka
02.2018 - 03.2019
- Maintaining over-sight across performance and quality aspect including Program Fund Planning and Monitoring & Evaluation of the Australian Aid Program
- Monitoring and Evaluation focal point of DFAT Bangladesh with responsibility of analyzing Aggregate Development Result and Result Framework of Strategic Partnership Agreements
- Planning annual budget spending, developing program fund plan and develop pipeline budget planning
- Contract management and supervising program life cycle of multiple investments totaling AUD 70 Million annually
Manager, Policy Practice and Programme Development
Practical Action
Dhaka
02.2017 - 02.2018
- Ensure bids, projects/awards acquisition during the Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis
- Support the regional and global head office with quarterly and annual fund raising plans, targets, gap analysis and projected earnings.
- Collaborate with like-minded partners to lead the promotion of Market Development Forum Bangladesh
Coordinate proposal development plans and grant application for USAID, DFID and EU - Co-design research projects with University of New South Wales on safe access of water for women in climate vulnerable hotspots
Manager-Cross Sectors Local Agri-business Network
Swisscontact
Dhaka
08.2016 - 02.2017
- Develop proposal for additional funding of CHF 1 Million after presenting result oriented achievements in an extension phase
- Ensure appropriate consultation in the development of plans and budgets (including consultation with the Group Head, and operations team
- Maintain excellent working relationship with the government and private stake holders and ensure alignment with MSD program strategy
- Represent the program as part of senior management team in all relevant internal and external platforms.
- Design, guide and train new staff MSD tool kit for market and region-specific interventions
Principal Business Consultant
Swisscontact
Dhaka
07.2014 - 08.2016
- Design and execute MSD/M4P led interventions based on private sector-driven income/employment growth by targeting specific agriculture marketing networks.
- Lead team leader in developing strategies for the market interventions in modelling sustainable agriculture market linkages.
- Design new business models for rural business for access to finance and sell agro products in a group through Public Private Initiative.
- Conduct periodic studies as per DCED MRM Guidelines to assess quality of interventions.
- Provide in-house consultation services for Swisscontact in Nepal and Indonesia for PRISMA and SHAHAJ Project
Senior Business Consultant
Swisscontact
Dhaka
07.2013 - 07.2014
- Analyzed and interpreted data to determine any problems or areas that need improvement.
- Manage and supervise teams from co-facilitators. Mentor new recruits and junior consultants.
- Prepare Terms of Reference and manage contracts for working with partners and co- facilitators.
- Designing and testing of Monitoring and Result Measurement (MRM) system; conduct day to day MRM activities with (and without) the MRM team
- Enhance the profile of the project among donors and government to establish a strong ground for MSD approach
- Negotiate with private sector for scaling up interventions leading to increased investment at local level.
Independent Academic Consultant
Self Employed
Melbourne
02.2012 - 05.2013
- Offered friendly and efficient service to customers, handled challenging situations with ease.
- Assist first year university students with preparation of IELTS exam.
- Prepared variety of different written communications, reports and documents.
- Support students to develop assignments and projects
- Support non-English speaking students to integrate with the local culture.
Senior Communication Consultant
Swisscontact
Dhaka
08.2010 - 01.2012
- Responsible to liaise with the donor community for annual and semester reporting.
- Responsible for designing the annual reports and publication.
Design, develop and publish communication strategy. - Execute yearly communications strategic plans according to log frame.
- Direct, plan and produce documentary on the concept of Making Markets Work for the Poor (M4P).
Business Consultant
Swisscontact
Dhaka
10.2007 - 08.2010
- Identify and analyze market/sector opportunities and constraints.
- Formulate strategy and design market lead business solutions/interventions
- Pioneering and implementing Private Public Partnership in rural Bangladesh
- Implement interventions through private/public sector.
- Develop and sustain strong operational and social relationship with government
Education
MBA - Strategic Management And Leadership
Buckinghamshire New University
Buckinghamshire (Distant Learning Program) 09.2022 - Current
OTHM L7 PGD in Strategic Management And Leadership - Strategic Management
Metropolitan School of Business And Management
London (Distance Learning) 09.2020 - 06.2022
Skills
Business management and development
Interests
East Asian cuisine
Outdoors
Timeline
MBA - Strategic Management And Leadership
Buckinghamshire New University
09.2022 - Current
Head of Business Development and Fundraising
WaterAid
08.2021 - Current
OTHM L7 PGD in Strategic Management And Leadership - Strategic Management
Metropolitan School of Business And Management
09.2020 - 06.2022
Business Development Manager
WaterAid
04.2020 - 08.2021
Technical Advisor - Market System Development
Swisscontact
07.2019 - 04.2020
Senior Program Manager – Performance and Quality
DFAT, The Australian High Commission
02.2018 - 03.2019
Manager, Policy Practice and Programme Development
Practical Action
02.2017 - 02.2018
Manager-Cross Sectors Local Agri-business Network
Swisscontact
08.2016 - 02.2017
Principal Business Consultant
Swisscontact
07.2014 - 08.2016
Senior Business Consultant
Swisscontact
07.2013 - 07.2014
Independent Academic Consultant
Self Employed
02.2012 - 05.2013
Senior Communication Consultant
Swisscontact
08.2010 - 01.2012
Business Consultant
Swisscontact
10.2007 - 08.2010
Similar Profiles
Shweta Shweta null
Project/District Project Coordinator at WaterAidProject/District Project Coordinator at WaterAid
Bernice SarpongBernice Sarpong
Technical Lead - Health at WaterAid AustraliaTechnical Lead - Health at WaterAid Australia
Coumba SowCoumba Sow
STAGIAIRE EN FINANCE at WaterAid MaliSTAGIAIRE EN FINANCE at WaterAid Mali