Originally from Bangladesh, Mainul arrived in Cambodia 10 years ago. During that time he has worked in the NGO sector. He is a graduate of Business Management and Finance, in Malaysia.

A close relationship with the partners

Mainul works closely with Oxfam's partners, supporting them and monitoring the projects. "Before 2016, each Oxfam affiliate in Cambodia worked differently, so the transition was complex for the partners. It was hard to understand and took some time due to the lack of expertise. We spent time to support and train them. Complying with the donor requirements is challenging for them. It is really essential to explain and plan the change before implementation."

A deep knowledge of the programs

It was a good opportunity but also a challenging one for Mainul to discover new programs, such as advocacy, and a new way of working; because Oxfam is not directly implementing the projects but facilitating through support and funding to partners. "That means more meetings, training and capacity building with the partners. But we have a very good relationship. At the beginning of every project, we assess the risk in terms of HR and finance together. Even in finance, the first essential thing is a good understanding of the program. Otherwise, how well can you allocate the resources? You have to understand why a partner wants to organize a workshop or needs money for new staff. You need to understand the spending. Conflicts between program and finance don't happen when there is a good understanding to support each other."

"I feel proud to work for Oxfam. It is known worldwide and has a very good reputation. The working environment is very pleasant with friendly people. The organization offers good capacity building for staff and partners"