Nuzhat Imam

I possess over fifteen years of dedicated experience in climate change and disaster resilience. In partnership with local and national governments, and diverse non-state actors in Global South, I have implemented and managed innovative and complex projects/programmes for the UN, as well as leading international and national non-governmental organizations following result-based management approach. 

Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Specialist

Consultant

Asian Development Bank (ADB)

May 2024 - Present

I have been conducting Climate Risk and Adaptation Assessment (CRA) for the project Strengthening Capacity for Livable and Resilient Cities as an International Consultant.

Climate Change and Gender Expert

Consultant

Sustenable Institute

Apr 2022 - Present

I have been involved in the following projects: (i) integrating SDGs, climate change, and STEAM education for schoolchildren in Colombia; (ii) promoting gender equality within the mining and energy sectors in Colombia and Panama; (iii) enhancing the capacity of tertiary-level students on sustainable urban transportation across Latin American countries; and (iv) organizing a learning visit for Mongolian government delegates to Ontario focused on sustainable forest management and mining, involving experts from both government and non-government sectors.

Skills: Proposal Writing · Research Skills · Networking · Training · Team Coordination

Project Manager

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Jul 2018 - Jun 2021

I served as the Project Manager of the Bangladesh chapter of UNDP Regional bureau for Asia Pacific’s project on gender-responsive climate finance governance. Titled as ‘Strengthening the Governance of Climate Change Finance to Enhance Gender Equality (GCCF)’, the project was built on the UNDP’s work on the governance of climate finance, initiated in 2012. Launched in 2017 and supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the project helped governments implement budget reforms that enable the delivery of gender-responsive climate change-related investments.

The position was responsible for project management activities under the guidance of the Climate Change Specialist. In doing this, I implemented and managed identified components of the programme on gender-responsive climate finance governance; provided technical assistance and capacity development to programme partners on climate-finance governance; coordinated and collaborated with other programmes and stakeholders related to gender-responsive climate finance on activities, building synergies and maximizing results; provided substantive inputs to building partnerships and resource mobilization strategies on gender-responsive climate finance governance, as well as advocated and facilitated knowledge-building and communication efforts on gender-responsive climate finance governance.

In addition to my regular responsibilities, I also performed as the ad-interim Project Manager of the Inclusive Budgeting and Financing for Climate Resilience (IBFCR) project of UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Finance, Government of Bangladesh. The project has been undertaken to rationalize the Public Financial Management (PFM) of climate finance and introduce a climate policy based focus to planning, budgeting and performance management of climate finance by implementing the Climate Fiscal Framework (CFF).

Skills: Federal Program Management · Government · Program Oversight · Research Administration

Coordinator-Capacity Building and Advocacy, Climate Change Unit

Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh (CCDB)

Apr 2015 - Jul 2016

My primary role involved leading, designing, and implementing the capacity building and advocacy component of the Climate Change Unit. I created an innovative six-month training program focused on climate change adaptation and mitigation, targeted at recent graduates and young professionals from both the non-governmental and governmental sectors. This pioneering program was conducted in partnership with Jahangirnagar University, one of the country's leading public universities. The initiative has been ongoing for eight years, with training alumni actively contributing to the fields of climate change and development.

I also offered strategic support to the 'research' and 'climate change technology park' components of the Climate Change Unit. Additionally, I led the process of redesigning the organization's website.

Skills: Training module development · Training Facilitation · People Management · Team Leadership · Business Networking

Campaign Officer, Policy and Advocacy Department

Oxfam GB

Nov 2009 - Jun 2014

As a Campaign Officer, I was tasked with implementing Oxfam International's Economic Justice (OIEJ) Campaign in Bangladesh, serving as the climate change focal point. The campaign aimed at advocating for comprehensive agrarian reform, ensuring climate justice in global negotiations, and promoting climate change adaptation. In addition to executing the OIEJ Campaign, my responsibilities extended to managing a European Union-funded South Asia regional project. This project focused on strengthening the role of Non-State Actors in climate change policy formulation in South Asia and enhancing their capacity to influence global climate change negotiations, in collaboration with civil society networks. As the gender focal point within the team, I led a 30-member consortium of NGOs active in climate change and gender issues.

My key roles encompassed facilitating popular mobilization and advocacy, managing grant partners and alliances, overseeing monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL), fundraising, financial management, documentation and reporting. I also collaborated with government line ministries and departments active in climate change and environmental protection, influenced policymakers, including parliament members, and provided capacity-building trainings to media representatives, youth groups, indigenous groups, the private sector, and development professionals on climate change.

In my knowledge management role, I developed various policy briefs, IEC materials, and other campaign materials on climate change. I also prepared result reports for both internal and external audiences, supporting the learning process to enhance programme quality by linking local climate vulnerabilities and innovations to global levels.

I successfully represented Oxfam at various global learning and policy events, including the UNFCCC negotiations as a member of the official delegation. Additionally, I led the Oxfam Staff Association in Bangladesh as its elected president.

Skills: Project Management · Knowledge Management · Alliance-building · Donor Engagement · Policy Advocacy · Stakeholder Analysis · UNFCCC negotiations · Fundraising · Cross-functional Team Leadership · Capacity Building

Programme Officer-Research

ActionAid Bangladesh

Mar 2008 - Oct 2009

As part of the flagship project focused on community-based climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, my role involved offering technical assistance to community teams in carrying out action research on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, as well as in monitoring outcomes, documenting, and communicating results.

Additionally, I initiated, edited, and published 'CLIMATION,' a bilingual quarterly newsletter focused on climate science, UNFCCC negotiations, and adaptation and mitigation actions, which has achieved considerable popularity among diverse stakeholders.

My responsibilities also included preparing policy briefs for advocacy purposes, developing concept notes, and coordinating various national-scale studies on climate change adaptation.

Skills: Copy Editing · Action Research · Report Writing · Community based adaptation · Teamwork · Research Administration

Staff Researcher, Research and Evaluation Department (RED)

BRAC  

Nov 2004 - Feb 2008

Designed research proposals, developed research tools, conducted intensive field investigations, compiled; processed and analysed both qualitative and quantitative data, wrote research reports and policy briefs and disseminated research findings. Worked extensively on Maternal and Neonatal Child Health, health finance, reproductive health, marriage transactions, youth leadership, continuing education, and youth advocacy.

Skills: Research Skills · Data Analytics · Critical Thinking · Teamwork · Research report writing

Master of Science - MS, Climate Change, Development and Policy

University of Sussex
Sep 2016 - Aug 2017
Grade: 3.7 (Merit)
Activities and societies: Chevening Society in University of Sussex

Master of Science in Climate Change and Development 

Independent University, Bangladesh
2014 - 2015
Grade: A-

Master of Social Science in Anthropology

University of Dhaka
Jul 2002 - Jun 2003
Grade: 3.8

Bachelor of Social Science in Anthropology
University of Dhaka
1998 - 2002
Grade: A-