Raisa Afsana

EDUCATION: · Tufts University (Boston, U.S.A.) – Master of Science in Economics, Graduating CGPA 3.79/4 (2009 – 2010) · BRAC University (Dhaka, Bangladesh) – Bachelor of Social Science in Economics, Graduating CGPA 3.97/4 (Valedictorian – 2006) · Advanced Level (Edexcel International Board, UK) – Pure Mathematics, General Mathematics, Accounting. Grade obtained in each course: A. Equivalent to CGPA 4/4 (Exam date: 2003) · Ordinary Level (Edexcel International Board, UK) - Pure Mathematics, Mathematics Syllabus A, Mathematics Syllabus B, Economics, Accounting, Commerce, English, Bengali. Grade obtained in each course: A. Equivalent to CGPA 4/4 (Exam date: 2001) WORK EXPERIENCE: · North South University: Senior Lecturer, Department of Economics (September 2010 – Present) Currently teaching undergraduate courses - ECO101: Introduction to Microeconomics, ECO104: Intro- duction to Macroeconomics, ECO134: Applied Mathematics I and Eco244: Applied Mathematics II · The Asia Foundation (International Donor Organization): Program Officer (July 2008 – August 2009): Data Analysis and Survey Research: Designed and developed questionnaires and provided prelimi- nary data analysis for the series of Election Perception Surveys conducted by the Election Working Group (32-member network of civil society organizations established to facilitate the national parlia- mentary elections held in December 2008). Coordinating and Networking: Coordinated program activities with satellite offices, supervised pro- gram assistants, liaised with business community and local governments and facilitated public-private dialogues on grassroots level policy issues

Report Writing and Program Evaluation: Contributed to program design, wrote project proposals, developed case studies of successes, prepared progress reports, interim and final reports for the Local Economic Governance Program

Trainings: Designed and conducted advocacy trainings for trainers and SME, trained staff in satellite offices on written communication, trained SME sector representatives on writing newspaper articles on local business issues, trained journalists on business news reporting

Project on Access to Safe Drinking Water: Developed community cost-sharing strategies for tube well installations, coordinated site-selection and mapping activities, worked with local partners for technical support on arsenic mitigation

· IDLC Securities Ltd. (Stock Brokerage Company): Probationary Officer (March – July 2008) Prepared review for foreign investors highlighting investment opportunities in Bangladesh under the existing macroeconomic scenario, along with in-depth financial analysis of returns on portfolio invest- ment within different sectors in the country. Also assisted underwriting Initial Public Offering of com- panies newly listed on the Dhaka Stock Exchange.

- - References Available Upon Request - - · Economic Research Group (Research/Consultancy Firm): Research Associate (April – July 2007) Reviewed literature on various topics, formulated hypotheses, worked with secondary data (identifying relevant proxies, data hatching, data cleaning and data analysis), co-authored publication of joint-arti- cle. · South Asian Network for Development and Environment Economics (Concern of World Bank): Research Assistant (February – July 2006) Drafted, coded and field-tested questionnaires, trained enumerators on primary data collection and data entry, designed data entry templates, contributed to data analysis and writing progress report PUBLICATIONS: · “Can Research & Development Grants Create High-Skilled Employment? An Empirical Analysis of Skilled Immigration”, Journal of Administrative Studies, Volume 4, ISSN 1999-5946, Depart- ment of Public Administration, Jahangirnagar University, (June 2011) · “Exclusion and Poverty: An Analytical Approach for Understanding Exclusion and Assessing Pro- grams Targeting the Very Poor in Bangladesh”. Jointly published by BRAC Research and Evalua- tion Division and Economic Research Group (April 2008) · Newspaper Publication: “Morsi: Pawn of a Conspiracy?”, The Daily Star, Editorial (July 2013) · Magazine Publication: “Going the Mile: A Teacher’s Homage”, Star Magazine (November 2013) · Magazine Publication: “Service-Oriented Politics”, Star Magazine (January 2014) · Magazine Publication: “Less Education, More Understanding: Bridging the Parent-Child Divide”, Star Magazine (February 2014) ACADEMIC WORK: · Undergraduate thesis titled "Happiness and Quality of Life: A Perception Based Approach to Eval- uating Women’s Health in Urban Slums" (July – December 2006) AWARDS RECEIVED: · Merit-Based Post-graduate Scholarship at Tufts University, Boston, USA (September 2009) · Chancellor’s Gold Medal (Valedictorian, 2006), Vice-Chancellor’s Gold Medal (February 2007) · Full merit-based scholarship at BRAC University · “Nation Builders of Tomorrow” award from The Daily Star for Ordinary Level results (August 2001) COMPUTER SKILLS: · Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Microsoft Access, SPSS, STATA, Microfit

EXTRACURRICULAR/ VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES: · Donated money to orphanages in Dhaka and Shirajgong in 2014 · Distributed winter clothing through Quantum Foundation in 2013 · Gave donation for arranging funerals in Chittagong Hill Tracts through Quantum Foundation in 2013 · Attended International Journal Conference on Trade, Economics and Finance (JCTEF, January 2013), held in Dubai, UAE · Attended South Asia Growth Conference, organized by the International Growth Centre, in collab- oration with London School of Economics and Oxford University (July 2012) · Attended seminar on “Analysis of National Budget for FY2012-13”, organized by Center for Poli- cy Dialogue (June, 2012)

- - References Available Upon Request - - · Attended seminar titled “Education at Primary Level: Insights from Research” organized by the In- ternational Growth Centre, in collaboration with London School of Economics and Oxford Uni- versity (March 2012) · Attended seminar on "Linking Research to Policy: Issues in Economic Growth and Development in Bangladesh", organized by Economic Research Group and the International Growth Centre, in collaboration with London School of Economics and Oxford University (December 2011) · Attended lecture on “Public Policy Issues of U.S. Banks ‘too-big-to-fail’ ” by Dr. Robert Solow, Nobel Prize Laureate in Economics and Professor Emeritus at MIT, hosted by Brandeis Uni- versity, Massachusetts, USA (April 2010) · Participated in workshop on “Economic Development and Public Policy” hosted at National Uni- versity of Singapore (April 2009) · Served as Election Observer to support the Election Working Group during the nation election taking place in December 2008 · Founding member and Vice President of BRAC University Economics Club (2004 - 2006) · Active member of Global Affairs Forum, BRAC University (GAFBU) (2005 - 2006) · Founding member of Oikos International (Dhaka Chapter), which works on promoting sustainable development (2005) · Organized relief program at BRAC University for famine victims in northern Bangladesh (Decem- ber 2005) · Tutored Ordinary and Advanced Level students (2001 - 2008)

- - References Available Upon Request - -