Rita Das Email & Phone Number

Dhaka, Bd

Gulshan, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Advocate for Women’s Political EmpowermentExperienced in integrating women into the political mainstream, collaborating with political factions and the election commission. Skilled in developing and implementing women’s political empowerment programs, engaging with political entities, media, and civil society organizations to assess and address educational needs.Proficient in creating training modules on campaign oversight and gender-aware political reporting, and leading sessions on supportive internal party environments, gender-aware journalism, and campaign management. Strong networker, building connections with journalists to promote gender-aware political coverage.Expert in maintaining relationships with donors, media, alliances, parliamentarians, political figures, and NGOs. Experienced in organizing events, formulating policies, and working closely with communications departments to develop and execute project communication strategies. Adept at generating reports, manuals, and instructional content, and facilitating training sessions and seminars.Committed to developing inclusive policies, examining legal frameworks to address women’s empowerment challenges, and creating concept notes, policy briefings, and training modules. Skilled in designing training manuals for political leaders and coordinating civic education campaigns.

Dhaka, Bangladesh

Experienced professional with a proven track record in enhancing the capabilities of non-profit organizations and mobilizing efforts against early marriage. Skilled in developing and producing training content, organizing and conducting training sessions, and providing technical assistance to partners. Expertise in formulating policies, monitoring programs, and offering guidance on the Gender Transformative approach. Proficient in creating training modules, guidelines, and strategic documents, and leading initiatives for gender equality and feminist leadership.Technical Skills:• Training Development: Expertise in creating comprehensive training manuals, modules, and PowerPoint presentations tailored to various audiences.• Program Monitoring & Evaluation: Proficient in using diverse tools and participatory methods to monitor and supervise programs, ensuring desired outcomes.• Policy Formulation: Skilled in reviewing laws and policies to develop modules, briefing notes, and concept papers.• Project Management: Experienced in formulating Annual Work Plans, budgets, and restructuring activities for large-scale programs.• Documentation & Reporting: Adept at composing ToRs, correspondence, briefing papers, and detailed reports for various stakeholders.• Gender Transformative Approach: Proficient in developing and implementing strategies to alter social norms, foster inclusion, and enhance agency and position.• Technical Assistance: Providing guidance and support to partners for smooth execution of field activities and maintaining regular coordination.• Survey & Monitoring Tools: Skilled in developing survey forms and monitoring tools to accelerate program implementation.

• Conducted comprehensive desk research and situation analysis to identify external drivers of safeguarding risks in Cox’s Bazar and the humanitarian response context of Bangladesh.• Analysed trends in sexual and gender-based violence, child abuse, social norms, community attitudes, power imbalances, and vulnerabilities of minority groups, including the refugee population.• Reviewed national policies, laws, and justice systems related to SEA and assessed perceived or actual risks in reporting safeguarding allegations to local authorities.• Assessed internal safeguarding risks in RI programs, including recruitment and onboarding processes, safeguarding capacity of partner organizations, and community engagement modalities.• Conducted data analysis to identify trends and compiled a report on key safeguarding risks and vulnerabilities in RI’s current programming.

Undp Bangladesh Country Office

Conducted needs assessments, field tests, and developed training manuals for local authorities, contributing to capacity-building strategies.Enhanced skills of key personnel from Bangladesh Police, NLASO, and Department of Youth through targeted training programs.Managed training agendas, logistics, and communication with trainers; developed Project Implementation Plans and various work plans.Advocated for gender parity within UNDP, implementing measures to eliminate bias and discrimination; conducted workshops on gender issues and human rights.Monitored and evaluated capacity-building initiatives using M&E tools, SWOT analysis, surveys, and interviews.Created educational content and guides, including training manuals, flow charts, FAQs, and legal information in both Bangla and English.Established a District Training Pool, leading Training of Trainers sessions for local government officials.Collaborated with government divisions and ministries to facilitate over 2000 trainings for Union Parishad representatives, empowering 30,000 stakeholders.Contributed to the design of training modules and communication plans for pilot projects.Achievements:Successfully developed and implemented training programs that improved the capacity of over 30,000 stakeholders.Played a pivotal role in advancing gender equality within UNDP, leading to a more inclusive and respectful workplace.Created comprehensive training materials that have been widely adopted and praised for their clarity and effectiveness.Established a robust District Training Pool, significantly enhancing the training capabilities of local government officials.Facilitated the integration of Village Courts, positively impacting local governance and access to justice.

Bangladesh Country Office, Gulshan-2,Dhaka, Bangladesh

Program Management and Leadership:• Led the formulation of program strategies, providing comprehensive management, administrative, and financial support.• Facilitated knowledge building and sharing within the program unit, fostering a collaborative environment.• Conducted reviews of action plans, budgets, and partner reports, ensuring alignment with program goals.• Led field visits to monitor progress and quality of partner-implemented programs.• Managed donor relations, ensuring high-quality reporting and program standards.• Coordinated with partners to implement programs effectively.• Developed and led the creation of quarterly, monthly, and annual reports, AWP, and budgets for events and activities.Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) and Technical Leadership:• Oversaw programs using M&E tools and participatory approaches, providing technical leadership to achieve intended project results.• Contributed to developing a gender-sensitive manual for the police department.• Led and provided technical support to three non-profit partner organizations.• Ensured evidence-based policy advocacy and raised awareness through the drama ‘Seven (7)’.Policy Advocacy and Strategic Networking:• Reviewed and internalized high court guidelines to prevent violence against women in academic institutions.• Activated and led sexual harassment prevention committees in public and private educational institutions.• Engaged teachers and students in compliance with high court guidelines.• Enhanced the capacity of non-profit private sectors.• Fostered strategic networking with four Vice-Chancellors of public and private academic institutions.• Established and led a platform engaging media celebrities, journalists, human rights activists, academia, and private sectors for policy-level changes and CEDAW practice.

Election Comission

• Strengthened Electoral Personnel Capabilities playing a crucial role in significantly enhancing the capabilities of electoral personnel under the Election Commission of Bangladesh. • Successfully facilitated BRIDGE (Building Resources in Democracy, Governance, and Elections) training sessions, which are internationally recognized for their effectiveness. These sessions have directly contributed to the professional growth and preparedness of electoral personnel.• Coordinated and organized numerous workshops and training sessions, resulting in a marked improvement in the skills and knowledge of electoral personnel. These initiatives have ensured that the personnel are better equipped to handle electoral processes.• Co-facilitated over 30 ToT BRIDGE sessions, significantly enhancing the skills and knowledge of electoral personnel. This has led to a more robust and capable training framework within the Election Commission.• Conducted Specialized Workshops: Co-facilitated three specialized workshops on BRIDGE, focusing on electoral work, skills, and knowledge. These workshops, organized in collaboration with UN Women and UNDP, have had a profound impact on the participants, equipping them with essential skills and insights.Needs Assessment and Monitoring:• Conducted Comprehensive Needs Assessments: Conducted thorough needs assessments for the Electoral Training Institute (ETI) of the Election Commission of Bangladesh, identifying critical areas for improvement. This has ensured that training programs are tailored to meet the specific needs of the electoral personnel.• Monitored Capacity-Building Programs: Monitored various capacity-building programs, ensuring that electoral officials performed their duties in compliance with the Representation of the People Order (RPO). This has led to a more transparent and effective electoral process.

Dhaka, Bangladesh

• Played a pivotal role in reviewing policy papers and facilitating policy advocacy on critical issues such as WTO agreements, labor laws, and globalization. My contributions have been instrumental in developing both strategic and operational plans. I have crafted comprehensive policy briefs and meticulously prepared weekly, monthly, and annual work plans. Additionally, I have developed project implementation guidelines, monitoring tools, training modules, session plans, handouts, and various relevant reports.• One of my significant achievements includes enhancing the capacity of over 20 trade unions, with a particular focus on empowering women leaders. I have provided extensive training on labor laws and regulations, the Compensation Act, codes of conduct, negotiation and bargaining techniques, WTO agreements, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and workers’ rights in alignment with ILO conventions.• Furthermore, conducted thorough reviews of WTO agreements, labor laws, and policies related to workers’ and trade union rights within the RMG sector. My role also involved monitoring and evaluating capacity-building programs, including training sessions and workshops. I ensured adherence to principles, practices, and procedures by utilizing M&E tools, SWOT analysis, guidelines, questionnaires, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), observations, and site visits before and after the programs.

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