Though my carreer in NGO/Development sector goes back to few decades, I was in break period after my assignment with Interact Worldwide (will write about that assignment). Some of my friends knew that i was looking for some consultancy assignments based in Bhubaneswar but was prepared to move around the projects in the country. One day I received a call from one of my friends asking if I was interested to take up an assignment – ‘General Systems Advisor – India’ – overall in charge of Administration, HR, Logistics, Grants all those fields in addition to the prime task of ensuring smooth closure of Concern Worldwide operations in India..
I was called for an interview with Country Director and few Programme Managers and Finance Head. This assignment was primarily to ensure smooth closure of Concern Worldwide Country programme in India. As Team Lead my role was to make sure all the documents are in place both hard copies and also digital copies in folders and as per the CWW international guidelines we need to update them on the progress of the work. This work was in addition to the HR, Admin, Logistics and Grants responsibilities.
It took me few days to understand CWWs work and familiar with documents, staff and programmes. It was tough assignment as it was time bound assignment of around one year. Getting document from project partners was one of the difficult tasks as there are some projects getting CWW funding for long time and the other difficult was the documentation narrative and financial reports for emergency relief programmes as because of the nature of work at times getting documents from beneficiaries by the concerned organisation was difficult.
Staff were very friendly and it did not take much time to be close with them. In addition to the above, the ongoing programmes were also taking place during which observance of World Aids Day at XIM, Bhubaneswar, Disaster relief and rehabilitation related workshops where MPs from Bangladesh participated.
During the year we had Team Building away from office – this was organised at Puri Holiday Resort – a beautiful resort at the outskirts of Puri with all amenities and access to sea beach. The food very good and lot of fun at the end of each day of the review and team building exercises.
We spent some time in the beach and at night we had fun games, songs, male wearing sarees for modelling and a woman hold hand of male person and take them to the stage… it was really funny. Also given few minutes time partner need to make me wear a saree.. then we go around for modelling and the judget (staff only) select first second third etc…
It was a great time at Concern WorldWide based in Bhubaneswar,cOdisha, India