Dr. Irfanullah is a part-time visiting research fellow of the Center for Sustainable Development (CSD) of ULAB. Over the past 19 years, he has evolved from being an algal taxonomist to an aquatic ecologist, from a conservationist to a development practitioner. At the current stage of his evolution, Dr. Irfanullah finds his niche in nature-people-knowledge nexus. Over these years, he has developed interest in and understanding of natural resource management, environmental governance, climate change adaptation, disaster risk management, technological innovation, and poverty alleviation – all focusing on human well-being.
Dr. Irfanullah has worked for and have been associated with many national and international environmental, development, learned, and research organizations, donors, and government agencies in different capacities. He is also associated with many peer-reviewed journals, learned societies, funding agencies, and knowledge and professional networks. He helps his organizations with strategic direction and expert opinion; influencing policies and practices; planning, managing and ensuring quality of programmes; and fundraising and financial management.
Dr. Irfanullah brings in expertise in creating, capturing and communicating knowledge; testing and promoting new ideas; and facilitating collaboration and network. He and his co-workers have so far published 35 research papers; have authored, edited and contributed to more than 45 books and other publications; and have written more than 75 articles and thought pieces on diverse topics − from freshwater ecosystems to climate change adaptation to poverty-technology link to wildlife conservation to research communication. As a research enthusiast, Dr. Irfanullah collaborates with researchers, journal editors, and pertinent national and international agencies for improving research system.
PhD in Biological Sciences (Aquatic Ecology); 2004; the University of Liverpool, UK.
MSc in Botany (with thesis in Hydrobiology); 1995 (result in 1999); University of Dhaka; 1st class (1st position).
BSc in Botany (with Honours); 1994 (result in 1997); University of Dhaka; 1st class (1st position).
PROFESSIONAL CAREER
Past Positions:
- Programme Coordinator, IUCN Bangladesh (14 Dec 2014−29 Nov 2018)
- Head, Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Programme, Practical Action Bangladesh (Apr 2013−Dec 2014)
- Team Leader, Reducing Vulnerability and Natural Resource Management Programme, Practical Action Bangladesh (Oct 2009−Mar 2013
- Acting Programme Coordinator, IUCN Bangladesh (25 Aug−30 Sep 2009)
- Senior Programme Officer, IUCN Bangladesh (Jan 2006−Sep 2009)
- Head-in-charge, Species Conservation & Protected Areas (SCPA) Unit, IUCN Bangladesh (Aug 2005−Sep 2009)
- Programme Officer, IUCN Bangladesh (Jul−Dec 2005)
- Technical Editor, IUCN Bangladesh (Jan−Jun 2005)
- PhD Researcher, the University of Liverpool (Sep 2001−Oct 2004)
- Assistant Programme Officer, IUCN Bangladesh (May 2000−Sep 2001)
AWARDS, GRANTS AND OTHER RECOGNITIONS:
- Participant, ‘International Visitor Leadership Program’ (IVLP) of the Department of State, US Government, 27 Sep−17 Oct 2014.
- Recipient, Commonwealth Scholarship to do PhD in the UK, Sep 2001–Oct 2004.
- Recipient, INASP Small Grants to participate in an International Summer School (Oxford), 6−18 Jul 2014.
- Recipient, Netherlands Fellowship to participate in a short course (Bangkok), 24 Oct–11 Nov 2008.
- Recipient, book prizes and scholarships of the University of Dhaka for outstanding results in the BSc (Honours) (1997) and MSc (1999) examinations.
CONSULTANCY AND OTHER SERVICES (reverse chronologically arranged):
- Documentation Consultant, Training and Technology Transfer (TTT), for the workshop entitled ‘Updating the Action Plan to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 15 (Life on Land)’ organized by Bangladesh Forest Department, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change under SUFAL project (Jan 2018)
- Technical Reviewer, of the proposals for the Forum of the IUCN World Conservation Congress, Hawai'i 2016 (Oct−Nov 2015)
- Team Leader and Natural Resource Management Expert, Study on the 'Community Based Adaptation in the Ecologically Critical Areas through Biodiversity Conservation and Social Protection Project' (CBA-ECA Project) of Department of Environment, Bangladesh, conducted by IUCN Bangladesh (May−Jun 2015)
- Chief Investigator, 'Impact Monitoring Survey on Wetland Biodiversity' under GIZ-funded Wetland Biodiversity Rehabilitation Programme (WBRP) (May 2015−Mar 2016)
- Member of IUCN Bangladesh Team, ‘To Assist the DoE in Updating and Mainstreaming of NBSAP and Preparing the Fifth National Report to CBD’, assigned by Department of Environment; contributed to i) Fifth National Report to Convention on Biological Diversity and ii) Identification, Evaluation and Prioritization of Technologies for Biodiversity Conservation in Bangladesh (Dec 2014−Feb 2016)
- Consultant, Refurbishing Citizen's Action Plan 2050 under the Mangroves for the Future (MFF), assigned by IUCN Bangladesh Country Office (May−Jun 2014)
- Expert Editor, Pro-poor Slum Integration Project’s (PPSIP) Environmental Management Framework (EMF), assigned by Climate Change and Environmental Research (C3ER), BRAC University (Feb−Mar 2014)
- Compiler, DFID SHEAR Early Warning System & Risk Assessment Case Studies. Evidence on Demand – Climate & Environment, Infrastructure and Livelihoods; UKaid/ DFID, UK (Nov 2013).
- Expert Reviewer, IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report (AR5): Working Group II (Climate Change 2014: Impact, Adaptation, and Vulnerability); to review the Second Order Draft (Mar−May 2013) and the First Order Draft (Jun−Aug 2012).
- National Environment Specialist, Asian Development Bank (ADB), TA-6422 REG: Mainstreaming Environment for Poverty Reduction (Sep 2012−Apr 2013; 2.5 person months); to update ADB’s Bangladesh Country Environmental Assessment and Bangladesh Climate Change Implementation Plan.
- Expert Opinion, Bangladesh Environment and Climate Change Outlook, Department of Environment, Government of Bangladesh (2011).
- Expert Opinion, Biodiversity National Assessment and Programme of Action 2020, Department of Environment, Government of Bangladesh (2010).
- Technical Editor, IUCN Bangladesh (Jan−Jun 2005, full-time) under the Sustainable Environment Management Programme (SEMP, Community Based Haor and Floodplain Resource Management Components 2.2.1./A & B) of the Government of Bangladesh funded by UNDP; to provide editorial support and to facilitate the project publication process.