George Nokrek
Senior Team Leader-Livelihood & Financial Inclusion
Dhaka
Summary
Agile and adaptable staff leader with stellar work history, motivational approach and upbeat nature. Specialties include program development, management, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation in the areas of Livelihood development, Access to finance, Women’s economic empowerment, Entrepreneurship development, and Credit & Cooperative management.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Team Leader
CARE Bangladesh
Dhaka
12.2018 - Current
- Administered and contributed to the design, and development of livelihood recovery strategy for extremely poor and poor households in remote char and deep haor areas including leading the livelihood assessment study
- Enabled diversified livelihood options for 18000 HHs through facilitating the business plan development including proper selection guidance, offering market-oriented business skills and follow-up business counseling in coordination with the multi-purpose cash transfer team
- Developed implementation strategy of financial inclusion intervention to ensure small business capital and financial literacy to the unbanked and hard-to-reach people through the Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) model
- Initiated discussion with the Bangladesh Central Bank to include VSLA model as a vehicle of financial inclusion tools for the unbanked people
Project Coordinator
Oxfam GB
Penjikent
03.2018 - 12.2018
- Reinforced the relationship with the lead consortium and other consortium partners helped to improve coordination and increased the organization’s reputation
- Maintained high-level liaison with government counterparts for lobbying and advocacy for promoting the project approach
- Established 200 fruit producer groups and ensured capacity building on modern farming techniques and food processing including linkage with inputs suppliers and buyers.
Lead Consultant
Oxfam GB
Kulob
01.2017 - 02.2018
- Designed and developed context-specific program implementation strategy and managed to roll out the program
- Set up the MIS in collaboration with Oxfam PMEAL, managed and coordinated the MIS on regular basis to track the project performance and reporting
- Initiated and successfully tested the Community Based Trainer (fees paid by the community or voluntary) model to reduce cost, rapid scale-up and long-term sustainability
- Led the technical team to design and develop a training video which equipped the mobilizers and volunteers with visual aids to enhance learning and ensure quality and self-replication beyond the project.
Programme Manager
TARANGO
Dhaka
06.2014 - 12.2016
- Led and coordinated with 4-5 project leads to develop quarterly and annual work plans, and budgets and regularly tracked the progress.
- Developed and drafted programmatic strategic plans, periodically reviewed the operational plans and accordingly coordinated with Director and CEO.
- With the close guidance of the Director and CEO, led the project team to develop and contribute to the preparation of significant numbers of new project proposals and concept notes for existing and potential new donors, of which at least 50% of proposals and concept notes have been accepted and win the bid.
Project Coordinator
TARANGO
Dhaka
04.2013 - 05.2014
- Supported and built the capacity of the project team and partners, to design, implement, monitor and evaluate the project
- Provided leadership and strategic guidance to form 172 Jute Growers and Producer’s associations, at sub-district and regional levels as an active platform for 4500 smallholder farmers to raise their voices, of which, at least one sub-district jute growers’ association attained Government registration under the Society Act.
- Promoted voluntary group savings accumulating over 240,000 USD, which resulted in initiating IG activities at the group level, and protected distress sales.
- Organized and coordinated several national-level policy advocacy's and dissemination workshops with Government, INGOs and local stakeholders, including the final project dissemination workshop.
Programme Coordinator
Aga Khan Foundation
Patna
11.2009 - 11.2012
- Set up an efficient program administration system at 4 Implementing Partners and managed the partners including institutional capacity building.
- Introduced the first Village Savings and Loan Associations to India both in the rural and urban setup, forming 1,800 groups consisting of over 35,000 members, at the globally lowest member acquisition cost of less than $20.
- Effectively tested the use of local fee-based trainers of CBSG, and developed 72 community trainers to scale and replicate the model
- Introduced Financial Literacy training to the CBSG members to enhance household financial management.
- Effectively influenced the state-led SHG (Self Help Groups) model to adapt key features of CBSGs.
Project Coordinator
TARANGO
Bogra
07.2006 - 10.2009
- Conceptualized the program, set up and successfully executed a new project, ever first tested the VSLA model in Bangladesh in a challenging environment.
- Customized and translated the VSLA guide book from English to Bengali; created 100 VSL groups in remote sand Island (Char) comprising of 2500 members.
- Upon successful of the pilot project, Chars Livelihood Program (CLP) introduced VSL program at core program areas with 10 selected Implementing Partners, and TARANGO was awarded to provide technical support on VSLAs to the selected IMOs.
- Developed institutional capacity on VSLA for 10 Implementing Partners.
- Over the years, created 900 VSL groups in the remote Char areas comprising over 18000 members. Later on Chars Livelihood Program considered VSLA as one of the core components.
Education
Master’s - Business Administration, Project Management
Sikkim Manipal University
2012
Skills
- Team capacity building and Leadership
- Project Management
- Financial Planning, oversight and management
- Strategic and Programme development
- Conflict prevention and resolution
- Curricula development & Training Facilitation
- Critical analysis and problem-solving
- Excellent writing, communication and presentation skills
- Cross-culturally adept and gender sensitive
Languages
Bengali
Native language
English
Advanced
C1
Hindi
Elementary
A2
Timeline
Senior Team Leader
CARE Bangladesh
12.2018 - Current
Project Coordinator
Oxfam GB
03.2018 - 12.2018
Lead Consultant
Oxfam GB
01.2017 - 02.2018
Programme Manager
TARANGO
06.2014 - 12.2016
Project Coordinator
TARANGO
04.2013 - 05.2014
Programme Coordinator
Aga Khan Foundation
11.2009 - 11.2012
Project Coordinator
TARANGO
07.2006 - 10.2009
Master’s - Business Administration, Project Management
Sikkim Manipal University
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