Rima Karim
Mississauga,ON
Summary
Development professional with 13+ years’ experience in the areas of safeguarding, gender equality and inclusion and project management across large, complex organizations spanning Asia, Africa and Europe. Results-driven and efficient in high pressure environments working with diverse teams separated geographically.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Head of Safeguarding and Organisational Culture
BRAC International
09.2023 - Current
- Lead the process of strategy, framework and tools development to assess employee engagement and satisfaction;
- Oversee the introduction and implementation of initiatives that promote diversity, equity and inclusion, grounded in organization’s values, organizational DNA and strategy; Advance staff wellbeing and satisfaction by developing and mainstreaming new resources and indicators;
- Lead the development of annual budgets, strategic priorities and ensure staffing / focals/ champions;
- Develop new tools, indicators and processes to ensure policy development, policy compliance, including through sourcing and supporting consultants;
- Conduct policy-related training and refreshers for staff capacity development;
- Conduct programme visits in country offices to review policy compliance and ensure the implementation of mitigation plans against identified gaps;
- Provide data on various demographics for management decisions on affirmative actions to be implemented
- Safeguarding responsibilities remain as stated below.
Head of Safeguarding
BRAC International
10.2022 - 08.2023
- Lead the organisation’s safeguarding department including annual strategic planning and budgets, staffing, policies for all country offices and conduct regular visits to country office programmes to assess compliance; Integrate safeguarding in programme design, implementation and monitoring to ensure we do-no-harm; Assess safeguarding audit review findings to evaluate the safeguarding climate and address gaps quarterly; Conduct sensitive investigations related to SEAH ensuring risk assessments and survivor support; Ensure case management is completed in a timely, confidential manner following a survivor-centered approach; Ensure safeguarding risk mitigation plans are developed and functional for country offices; Report safeguarding cases and updates to the Board and notify donors of incidents reported as part of compliance; Technical supervision of safeguarding staff of 09 country offices in East Africa (Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, and Rwanda), West Africa (Sierra Leone and Liberia) and Asia (Afghanistan, Myanmar and Philippines); Lead capacity development initiatives (global focal points meetings, investigation training and immersion visits); Ensure safeguarding is integrated in HR policies and processes and conduct country office visits to review.
Head of Gender and Safeguarding
BRAC International
07.2021 - 09.2022
- Provide technical leadership on gender equality and social inclusion mainstreaming in development programs in the Africa and Asia regions including supporting proposal development, programme implementation and monitoring including multi-country gender analysis to update programming;
- Conduct Safeguarding and GESI reviews of programs and organizational systems through field visits;
- Lead the implementation of organizational safeguarding policies for country offices in the Africa and Asia regions by developing strategic plans, budgets, establishing new Safeguarding departments in country offices, orienting Safeguarding staff through immersion visits and developing an SOP for donor reporting;
- Implement the organization’s first online safeguarding incident reporting system for case management;
- Develop an online resources hub for the Safeguarding teams of all country offices as part of capacity building.
Gender Learning and Development Coordinator
CARE Bangladesh
04.2017 - 06.2021
- Conduct capacity development workshops on Gender Equity and Diversity (GED) and Protection from Sexual Harassment, Exploitation and Abuse (PSEAH) for staff, partner organizations and volunteers at refugee camps;
- Conduct rapid gender analysis as part of humanitarian response and training on Gender in emergencies;
- Advise on policy and procedure as per prevailing laws in case management and conduct sensitive investigations related to sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse (SEAH) using a survivor-centered approach;
- Spearhead the Development Trainee Program for Women – a graduate scheme exclusively for women;
- Achievements: Conducted a Rapid Gender Analysis for the Rohingya refugee influx in September 2017 as part of CARE’s first response team; worked in the humanitarian response programme in December 2017 to establish Women and Girls Friendly Spaces (WGFS) at the refugee camps and coordinating with the GBV sector; contributed to the Rapid Gender Analysis for Cyclone Amphan in Bangladesh with other humanitarian actors (including UN Women, Oxfam and Christian Aid).
Senior Manager – Talent Management
BRAC International
03.2015 - 04.2017
- Support HR teams based in Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan and Sierra Leone on policy and procedures development; performance management; international transfers; budgets and organizational structures; Support international staff recruitment; talent sourcing using local and international channels and recruitment database management; annual staff forecasting in coordination with programs; and talent pool creation;
Team Leader – Talent Management
BRAC International
03.2013 - 02.2015
- Project lead of BRAC International’s pilot Young Professionals Programme, a multi-country recruitment initiative for fresh graduates - responsible for budget and stakeholder management, program design in coordination with country offices, design and operationalization of a new in-house e-recruitment software, monitoring performance and retention and executing a 6-month global training program.
Senior Online Project Manager
World Trade Group
09.2010 - 12.2012
- Manage and produce bespoke lead generation webinars for geographically dispersed clients in Europe, North America and Singapore, from being based at London headquarters - responsible for entire product lifecycle – from defining project goals with clients, driving e-marketing and social media marketing campaigns, coaching speakers, video post-production, client’s promotional website modifications, and results reporting.
Education
Masters in Development Management & Practice -
Institute of Governance Studies, BRAC University
Bangladesh01.2016
MSc International Human Resource Management & Employment Relations -
Queen Mary, University of London
United Kingdom01.2010
Skills
- Problem-Solving
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Flexible and Adaptable
- Critical Thinking
- Calm Under Pressure
- Active Listening
- Friendly, Positive Attitude
International Experience
- United Kingdom
- Bangladesh
- Uganda
- Tanzania
- South Sudan
- Liberia
- Sierra Leone
Training And Qualifications
- Gender Scholar Level 1 Certification in Rapid Gender Analysis, 2020, CARE International and the Geneva Learning Foundation
- PSHEA Investigation Training, 2018, CHS Alliance and CARE USA
- Training of Facilitators on Gender Equity and Diversity, 2018, CARE International UK
- PRINCE2 Project Management – Foundation & Practitioner Certification, 2013, ILX Group Plc
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Bengali
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Head of Safeguarding and Organisational Culture
BRAC International
09.2023 - Current
Head of Safeguarding
BRAC International
10.2022 - 08.2023
Head of Gender and Safeguarding
BRAC International
07.2021 - 09.2022
Gender Learning and Development Coordinator
CARE Bangladesh
04.2017 - 06.2021
Senior Manager – Talent Management
BRAC International
03.2015 - 04.2017
Team Leader – Talent Management
BRAC International
03.2013 - 02.2015
Senior Online Project Manager
World Trade Group
09.2010 - 12.2012
Masters in Development Management & Practice -
Institute of Governance Studies, BRAC University
MSc International Human Resource Management & Employment Relations -
Queen Mary, University of London
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