On 19 November 2023, BRAC organized an orientation for all the project staff from BRAC. Staff from Dhaka and Cox’s Bazar joined the event. The purpose of the orientation was to set the stage for effective implementation of the ISEC project for the BRAC staff by providing an overview, unifying staff, and establishing coordination mechanisms. The key objectives were to orient staff on the project details, facilitate networking, delineate roles, and share some key to-dos (and not to-dos) regarding finance, communications, and HR.
The orientation brought together over 170 project staff who attended with their respective supervisors of the teams from BRAC’s Skills Development, Ultra Poor Graduation, and Gender Justice and Diversity programmes. In addition, guidance from two of the Senior Directors of BRAC, Head of Finance, Heads of Operations of skills development and ultra-poor graduation motivated the staff. Other senior officials from BRAC’s Finance and Accounts, HR and Communications departments also participated the orientation. From ILO, the National Project Manager and the National Communications Officers joined that boosted the team spirit. This inclusive mix of participants across departments, partners and roles enabled building a shared understanding of ISEC goals, strong coordination across teams, and unified direction to effectively utilize resources to improving the skills and economic opportunities in Cox’s Bazar.
The orientation achieved several critical outcomes. Staff gained a clear understanding of their roles in achieving the goal of the project and of the scope within the multi-partner project. They received valuable insights on making the interventions gender-responsive and accessible for people with disabilities. Finance, communications, and HR sessions increased understanding of procedures and policies. Idea generation, team building, and cross-program coordination were fostered.
Overall, the orientation accomplished its purpose successfully. Staff left with clarity on their roles, knowledge of operations, and a sense of unity with the larger team. Ongoing actions were identified to sustain coordination through circulation of documents, project overview sharing, and follow-up joint sessions. This will enable different partners to work synergistically for greater impact. With the overview and groundwork in place, staff are empowered to move forward together in transforming skills and livelihoods in Cox’s Bazar.
