George Sarkar

Development and humanitarian professional with 32+ years of experience in programme management, grants acquisition, resource mobilization, advocacy and communications, and organizational leadership. Skilled in securing institutional funding, developing competitive proposals, managing donor relations, leading cross-functional teams, and delivering inclusive programmes in disability inclusion, DRR, climate change adaptation, WASH, livelihoods, child protection, and emergency response. Successfully contributed to mobilizing over USD 32 million in donor funding and building strategic partnerships with governments, UN agencies, INGOs, Press and Journalists' Associations, Organizations of Persons with Disabilities, and local NGOs.

Committed to advancing sustainable, inclusive, and evidence-based development through innovation, accountability, and collaboration.

Programme Development and Fundraising Manager - Centre for Disability in Development (CDD) - Savar, Bangladesh

(2024-04)

• development of competitive grant proposals and concept notes on Gender Equality, Disability Inclusion, DiDRR, DiCCA, Disability-Inclusive WASH, Economic Empowerment and inclusive infrastructure
• identification of funding opportunities and partnership development with bilateral, multilateral, corporate and philanthropic donors
• organizational capacity assessments (OCA) and implementation of organizational development (OD) plans
• donor engagement, proposal coordination, grant negotiations, due diligence and compliance management
• development of resource mobilization systems, grant management and partnership coordination
• due diligence submissions with Humanity & Inclusion (HI), CARE Bangladesh, Plan International, Save the Children, Civic Engagement Fund (CEF) and MDF Consulting Group
• establishment of CDD's Programme Development and Fundraising function
• preparation of 16 major grant proposals and concept notes, mobilizing approximately BDT 57.72 million
• development of strategic partnerships with CARE Bangladesh, Centre for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP), United Finance PLC and GFA Consulting Group GmbH
• strengthening institutional sustainability through donor-funded organizational systems and support functions

Independent Contractor - EU Tech Chamber - Dhaka, Bangladesh

(2024-03 - 2024-04)

• development of competitive grant proposals for European funding programmes
• coordination of proposal development with the CEO and multidisciplinary teams
• partnership development with European universities and research institutions
• negotiation and coordination of institutional collaboration agreements
• development of successful proposals in Agri-Data-Space, Waterborne Transport and Fresh-net
• establishment of strategic partnerships supporting EU-funded research and innovation projects

Grants Proposal Writer - Together For Nepal - Jashore, Bangladesh

(2024-02 - 2024-06)

• grant proposal writing and concept note development
• coaching staff on proposal development and donor compliance
• identification of funding opportunities and donor mapping
• coordination of multidisciplinary proposal development teams
• donor engagement and partnership development
• establishment of relationships with eight prospective donor agencies
• preparation of proposals on Child Protection, Agriculture, Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Plastic Recycling and Environmental Sustainability

Grant Proposal Writer | Organizational & Fundraising Strategy Creator - Up-Work - Jashore, Bangladesh

(2023-09)

• fundraising consultancy and grant proposal development
• preparation of organizational strategies and fundraising plans
• English–Bangla and Bangla–English translation
• development of PowerPoint presentations, digital communication materials and multimedia content
• professional video editing using Filmora
• development of Facebook and Instagram fundraising strategies
• production of promotional media content for book publication

Manager-Grants Acquisition and Management, Communications and Advocacy - World Vision Bangladesh (Rohingya Crisis Response) - Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh

(2022-06 - 2023-09)

• leadership of end-to-end grant proposal development and donor submissions
• coordination of multidisciplinary proposal, finance and programme teams
• donor reporting, communications and grant compliance
• financial monitoring and grant budget management
• partnership management with UN agencies, government authorities and international organizations
• representation in donor coordination meetings and strategic forums
• preparation of approximately 57 grant proposals, contributing to USD 32.84 million in funding
• representation with WFP, UNICEF, UNESCO, FAO, UNHCR, RRRC and World Vision Support Offices worldwide
• development of a three-year strategic plan for the Rohingya Crisis Response
• translation and publication of 5,000 copies of Man of Vision into Bengali

Manager - Donor Relations - World Vision Bangladesh and World Vision United States - Khulna, Bangladesh

(2020-10 - 2022-06)

• donor relationship management with major and mega private donors in the USA
• preparation of donor reports, impact stories, presentations and stewardship materials
• photography, videography and impact documentation
• planning and hosting donor field visits
• donor communications and grant stewardship
• production of more than 20 impact stories
• contribution to mobilizing approximately USD 2.5 million in private donor funding

Regional Field Director (Senior Leadership Team-SLT member of World Vision Bangladesh) - World Vision Bangladesh - Mymensingh, Bangladesh

(2020-06 - 2020-09)

• strategic leadership of 14 Area Programmes, three grant projects and more than 200 staff
• supervision of HR, Finance, Supply Chain, MEAL, Communications, Security, Administration and Government Relations
• fundraising, grant management and donor reporting
• liaison with government ministries, Print and Electronic Media journaists' associations, and NGO Affairs Bureau (NGOAB)
• stakeholder engagement with donors and government authorities
• mobilization of GBP 100,000 from UK Aid for emergency flood response
• leadership of humanitarian assistance reaching approximately 5,000 families within 45 days
• strategic phase-out of three Area Programmes

Manager- Donor Relations - World Vision Bangladesh and World Vision United States - Khulna, Bangladesh

(2012-02 - 2020-06)

• donor stewardship and relationship management with major private donors
• preparation of donor communications, reports and impact documentation
• planning and coordination of donor visits to Bangladesh
• photography, video production and impact storytelling
• fundraising support and donor engagement
• design of the Donor Hosting RACI Matrix adopted across 11 countries under the Every Last One Campaign
• coordination of 33 donor visits to Bangladesh
• production of over 200 impact stories
• contribution to mobilizing approximately USD 4.28 million from private donors

Area Development Programme Manager (ADP Manager) - World Vision Bangladesh - Netrakona & Khulna, Bangladesh

(2006-09 - 2012-02)

• leadership of multidisciplinary education, health and livelihood programmes
• programme design, budgeting and donor reporting
• community consultation and participatory planning
• donor liaison, media and journalists engagement, and government coordination
• programme monitoring and quality assurance
• establishment of 120 Early Childhood Development Centres serving 3,600 children
• establishment of six community-based organizations with 3,600 women
• facilitation of community savings exceeding BDT 6 million
• government registration of community organizations

Programme Officer - World Vision Bangladesh - Mymensingh, Bangladesh

(2004-01 - 2006-08)

• planning, implementation and monitoring of community development programmes
• project design, budgeting and donor reporting
• community mobilization and organizational capacity building
• coaching of community-based organizations
• stakeholder coordination and partnership management
• leadership of eight community-based organizations with approximately 16,000 women members
• support to 15 secondary schools through educational materials and school furniture

Development Programme Organizer - World Vision Bangladesh - Kaliganj, Gazipur, Bangladesh

(1996-04 - 2003-12)

• implementation of community development and sponsorship programmes
• project planning, budgeting and monitoring
• organization and strengthening of community-based organizations
• leadership, literacy, bookkeeping and financial management training
• government liaison and donor reporting
• establishment of 50 savings groups involving approximately 1,500 women
• delivery of leadership, literacy and financial management training
• educational support for approximately 1,500 students under child sponsorship programmes

Project Manager - World Vision Bangladesh - Jashore, Bangladesh

(1994-03 - 1996-04)

• leadership of multidisciplinary education, health, economic development and sponsorship teams
• management of community microcredit and village savings programmes
• project planning, budgeting and donor reporting
• community consultation and participatory programme design
• donor hosting and stakeholder engagement
• government liaison and partnership management
• leadership of three primary schools in partnership with the Roman Catholic Church
• support for 15 teachers and approximately 800 primary school students through education and sponsorship initiatives

Master of Social Science (MSS) - Social Science (Political Science) - Anandamohon College, Mymensingh, Bangladesh (under the National University of Bangladesh) (2005-07 - 2007-09)

Bachelor of Arts (BA) - Arts and humanities - Notre Dame College, Dhaka, Bangladesh (under the Dhaka University, Bangladesh) (1989-07 - 1992-09)

Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSC) - Arts and humanities - Notre Dame College, Dhaka, Bangladesh (under the Dhaka Board, Bangladesh) (1987-07 - 1989-06)