Curriculum Vitae
Specialisation
Enterprise Development Impact Assessment
Name
Rob Abdur
Education
BA Honours Economics (University of Rajshani,
Bangladesh) 1983
MA Economics (University of Rajshani, Bangladesh)
1984
Languages
Bangla (mother tongue)
English (excellent)
Countries of Work Experience
Bangladesh, Philippines, UK
Employment Record
2003
Team Leader, Markets and Livelihoods Programme, Intermediate
Technology Development Group, Bangladesh. Responsible for
management and implementation of sustainable livelihoods through capacity
building and enterprise development, ICT and informal sector enterprises and
Agricultural Machinery Enterprise Development project. Other responsibilities
include staff development, strategy development relevant to Markets and
Livelihoods Programme, policy advocacy, proposal writing, report writing,
liaising with donors and potential collaborative partners, and updating
knowledge on current development issues.
1998-2003
Manager, Small Enterprise Unit, Intermediate Technology Development
Group, Bangladesh. Responsible for management and implementation of a
number of small enterprise development projects along with staff
development, proposal writing, report writing, liaising with donors and
potential collaborative partners, and updating knowledge on current
development issues
1995-1998
Economic Opportunity Coordinator, Save the Children USA,
Bangladesh. Responsible for management and implementation of economic
opportunities programme and research on micro-credit, homestead
gardening, inland fisheries, skills training and micro-enterprise development.
The programme created income and employment for the poor, especially for
women.
1992-1995
Deputy Director, Jagorani Chakra, Jessore, Bangladesh.
1987-1991
Programme Co-ordinator, Jagorani Chakra, Jessore, Bangladesh.
1985-1987
Training Co-ordinator, Jagorani Chakra, Jessore, Bangladesh.
1983-1984
Programme Organiser, Jagorani Chakra, Jessore, Bangladesh.
1981-1982
Chief Reporter, The Daily Runner, Jessore, Bangladesh.
Key Relevant Experience
Bangladesh: Business Development Services
Working as lead consultant under service contract with Swisscontact/Katalyst project for five
service assessments on 1) undertaking intervention on product and market in agricultural
Machinery subsector 2) Heat treatment facility for Bogra Agricultural Machinery Cluster, 3)
Present activities of different associations working in agro-tools subsector, 4) strengthening
embedded service for retailers, wholesalers and farmers of agricultural Machinery subsector
and 5) strengthening agricultural rental services in Bogra under Swisscontact/Katalyst
Project (Swisscontact/Katalyst, 2004).
Bangladesh: Business Development Services
Working as lead consultant under service contract with Swisscontact/Katalyst project for
assessment and implementation of intervention on creating BDS market for institutional and
non-institutional training in Agricultural Machinery sub-sector under Swisscontact/Katalyst
Project (Swisscontact/Katalyst, 2004).
Bangladesh: Business Development Services
Worked as lead consultant under service contract with Research and Extension in Farm
Power Issue (REFPI), Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymenshing for conducting nation
wide survey and developing business directory of selected Agricultural Equipment
Manufacturers and Service Providers and business directory of Selected Rural Food
Processing Industries in Bangladesh (REFPI, 2003).
Bangladesh: Business Development Services
Worked as consultant under Project contract no R7811, ICTs and Growth of Peri-urban
Informal Sector Enterprises (DFID/KAR, 2003).
Bangladesh: Business Development Services
Worked as Team Leader of a research project on Farm Power Machinery Enterprise
development project under service contract with Research and Extension in Farm Power
Issue (REFPI), Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymenshing (REFPI, 2002).
Bangladesh: Impact Assessment/ Evaluation
Worked as Non-Formal Education Consultant for a Cluster Evaluation of UNDP Projects:
No.BGD/85/002, National; Literacy Programme BGD/88/040; Primary education Reform,
BGD/92/009; Education and Management (UNDP, 1994).
Bangladesh: Feasibility Study
Worked as lead consultant under service Swisscontact/Katalyst project for conducting
feasibility study to identify and select appropriate partner and provide technical support for
organising a trade fair on agro-machineries in Bogra and developing Guideline for core
implementation (Swisscontact/Katalyst, 2004).
Bangladesh: Business Development Services
Worked as lead consultant under service contract with Swisscontact/Katalyst project for
implementing various activities towards organising a Trade Fair on agro-machineries in
Bogra (Swisscontact/Kataylst, 2004).
Bangladesh: Impact Assessment/ Evaluation
Worked as Team Leader for evaluation of three projects on skill training for women, School
Enterprise Programme and Vocational Training Centre Project implemented (Christian
Ministry for Children and Youth, 2002).
UK: Business Development Services
Worked as consultants under Project contract no R8177 Private Infrastructure Service
providers (DFID/KAR, 2002-03).
USA: Impact Assessment/ Evaluation
Evaluation of Save the Children (Woman’s Saving group Programme, 1999).
Publications

Mike Albu. Jon Helin and Abdur Rob ” Diversifying rural livelihood options in Bangladesh”
Newsletter of Agricultural Research and Extension Network, ODI, 111 Westminster
Bridge Road, London SE1 7JD, UK, Newsletter no 5, July 2004.

Jon Helin, Mike Albu and Abdur Rob “ Rural Populations need non-agricultural
employment” Appropriate Technology published quarterly by Research Information ltd.
222 Maylands Avenue HemelHempsteads, Herts. HP2 7TD, UK, Volume 31, No.2 June
2004.

Mike Albu, Abdur Rob and Anisur Chowdhury “Learning to Improve Business Services
for Rural Microenterprise” ITDG’s experience of using participatory processes to
establish enduring impact assessment systems among business service providers in
rural Bangladesh, a paper presented in New Directions in Impact Assessment: Methods
& Practice EDIAIS International Conference, November 2003, Manchester University
UK.

Oliver Wakelin, M. Sohail Khan, Abdur Rob and Teodoro Sanchez “Private Infrastructure
Service Providers - Learning from Experience”, Final Report 2003

Sub-sector Analysis and Technological Change design tools for non-financial
interventions to promote small Enterprise Development, June 2000.

Block-Printed Garments In Bangladesh An Analysis of the Sub-sector, March 2000.

Cluster evaluation of three Education Sector Project.BGD/85/002, national Literacy
BGD/88/040, Primary Education Reform BGD/92/009, Education, Information and
Management, 1994.