
Arefa Hossain Antora
Public Health Specialist
Highest degree :
Masters
Field of study :
Public Health
Location :
Bangladesh
Citizenships :
Bangladeshi
Experience :
14 Year(s)
Countries :
Bangladesh
Gender :
Female
Sectors :
Public Health
Humanitarian
Humanitarian Aid & Emergency
Sexual and Reproductive Health
Program Management
As a passionate and committed public health professional with over 14 years of experience, I have built my career at the intersection of sexual and reproductive health (SRH), family planning (FP), maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health (MNCAH), and humanitarian response coordination. My journey has taken me from urban and rural communities to global coordination platforms, working with respected organizations such as UNFPA, Pathfinder International, MSF, FIGO, and OGSB. I’ve led complex, multi-country programs, coordinated with ministries of health and global health actors, and advanced technical strategies that drive health system resilience and equitable access to quality SRHR services, even in fragile and emergency settings. I bring a deep understanding of the policy-to-practice continuum, with expertise in program design, technical leadership, strategic partnerships, and evidence generation. I hold a Master’s in Public Health, am pursuing a second Master’s in Policy and Governance, and am continuously driven by a commitment to equity, rights-based approaches, and strengthening local leadership. I am currently exploring opportunities where I can contribute to shaping sustainable, inclusive health systems through innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence. Let’s connect if you’re working on advancing SRHR, humanitarian health, or integrated RMNCAH programs — or if you believe that every individual, no matter where they live, deserves dignified, accessible healthcare. I'm confident in what I do and always go above and beyond to satisfy my clients while keeping organization’s goals in mind. I have proven throughout my career what I can create.
RMNCAHiE Working Group Coordination Officer
Afghanisttan
UNFPA
September 2024
-February 2025
Under the overall guidance of the Representative and direct supervision of the Humanitarian Coordinator, the RMNCAHiE WG Coordination consultant shall perform the following duties and responsibilities, but not limited to: Coordination ● Support the SRHiE Specialist to convene, facilitate and coordinate the RMNCAHiE WG in Afghanistan ● Working closely with other members of health cluster, and other relevant humanitarian coordination bodies, ensuring discussions are participatory, results oriented and well-documented. ● Assist in actively promote national actors’ membership in the RMNCAHiE WG with support from SRHiE Specialist ● Maintain the profile of the RMNCAHiE WG and ensure strong representation of community engagement needs and priorities in inter-sector fora (e.g. ICCG, HCT, intra Health cluster, other clusters, or equivalents, etc.). ● Participate in the different humanitarian coordination forums such as working group and cluster meeting including the AAP WG, A&Y WG,GBV SC ● Support in the development of 2024 RMNCAHiE WG Work Plan and Strategy Document at national and sub-national levels ● Assist in development of a 4Ws (who does what, where and when) matrix on RMNCAHiE WG related activities with input from each of the clusters/sectors. ● Active support in facilitating the development of RMNCAHiE WG strategy action plan that reflects the assessed needs, with objectives and indicators, through consultative and inclusive processes – including the views of national NGOs, UN agencies, and other relevant stakeholders. ● Coordinate the inclusion of appropriate RMNCAHiE indicators in joint needs assessments and stand alone RMNCAHiE WG assessments, as well as in the response monitoring framework. ● Coordinate with AAP WG community-based monitoring of feedback mechanisms to ensure that they accurately reflect RMNCAHiE preferences and the changing context. ● Coordinate RMNCAHiE WG related performance monitoring and recommend corrective action where and when needed.
Manager Urban Family Planning Services
Dhaka, bangladesh
Pathfinder International
September 2020
-December 2023
The Manager provides technical assistance and direction to implementation of family planning interventions in urban slums by the DGFP through selected implementing partners. Collaborates with Shukhi Jibon project team to strengthen and expand accessibility and availability of family planning services in Dhaka, Mymensingh and Chattogram city corporations. Coordinating and collaborating with the DGFP, UNFPA, MOLGRD&C and City Corporations, monitors quality FP services delivery program interventions to urban poor. S/he ensures that the project activities are designed as per results of FP needs assessment in the project areas and agreed by the DGFP, UNFPA, MOLGRD&C and implementing partners. The position supports implementing partners in preparing project reports, assists DGFP in progress review and documentation of project activities. Regularly checks and audits project expenditures as per FP services protocol. S/he frequently travels to the field, monitors and evaluates program activities in the project areas. The position is based in the DGFP and assigned to Pathfinder’s Accelerating Universal Access to Family Planning (AUAFP) project in Bangladesh. AUAFP is a five year multi-million dollar project funded by USAID. Urban interventions of the project are performance based financing in collaboration with UNFPA and DGFP. The project aims to strengthen and expand access to quality family planning services in urban slums in major cities through a collaborative health system capacity building partnership with the government of Bangladesh, specifically through a flexible implementation model led in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, including the National Institute of Population Research and Training, Directorate General of Family Planning, Directorate General of Health Services and the Ministry of Local Governments, Rural Development and Cooperatives.
National Family Planning Officer
Cox's bazar, Bangladesh
UNFPA
July 2018
-September 2020
Work closely with government authorities, humanitarian agencies, civil society and local counterparts for the effective provision of family planning to the Rohingya refugees and host communities. Working to supervise and implement the project "Meeting the unmet need for family planning among Rohingya refugees and host communities" -Provide technical advice to the local family planning authority in identifying priority capacity development needs of field functionaries (Districts, Upazilla and Union) to enhance the skills required for developing, monitoring and coordinating work plan/local level plans. -Ensure the quality of the project capacity building efforts are meeting the identified needs, by contributing significantly to design, management, and supervision of effective trainings, orientation sessions, quality assurance and other capacity building programs for different categories of stakeholders. -Identify the implementation modalities to work with religious leaders and local government leaders in addressing the barriers to access quality SRHR information and services. -Ensures the institutionalization of the capacity being developed. -Maintain collaborative relationships with the project counterparts/stakeholders, including the DDFP, Upazilla family planning officers, NGOs and civil society. Advocate with DGHS & DGFP officials for integration of postpartum family planning in District hospitals and Upazilla health complexes. -Maintain close rapport with the District and Upazilla Administration including the functionaries of other Ministries to ensure effective participation in all stages of project management (from planning and implementation to monitoring and evaluation), in liaison with UNFPA field officers. -Identify SRHR needs and gaps, focusing on Family Planning -Identify capacity development needs of the government and non-government health care providers and strategic Partnership building with GO, NGOs, CSOs, etc.
National Project Manager, OGSB-FIGO PPIUD Project
Dhaka, Bangladesh
FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics)
March 2015
-June 2018
Duties/Responsibilities: - Liaising regularly between the health facilities, the National Coordinator and the FIGO headquarters on project activities - Supporting the organization of training and data collection activities - Working with the National Coordinator to provide feedback on the performance of the participating hospitals and community midwives on a monthly basis - Developing budgets and monitoring overall project expenditure - Overseeing the financial procedures, providing authorisation of expenditure, and managing the National Bookkeeper - Maintaining the financial records of the project ensuring the expenditure and income is recorded correctly - Administering grant funds received from FIGO - Organising and overseeing the annual audit process - Preparation of quarterly programmatic and financial reporting to FIGO, in order to inform donor reporting - Work closely with the FIGO Project Manager to ensure objectives are achieved and project progress and lessons learned are comprehensively documented
Outreach Supervisor
Kamrangirchar, Bangladesh
MSF- Holland
April 2013
-March 2015
The Outreach Supervisor role is responsible for overall supervision and implementation of MSF-OCA Health care services at the community level, through an outreach strategy. The role focuses on coaching, supervision and management of the Outreach Team (comprised of Outreach Workers and Outreach Monitors). Specific responsibilities: 1. Follow up of activity and definition of objectives -Responsible for active participation in the Outreach Team. -Responsible for supervision, management, and planning of all outreach activities -Responsible for assisting with development of strategies (according to MSF-OCA guidelines) to improve preventative care through effective awareness raising, health education and health promotion to all beneficiaries. -Responsible for ensuring prompt and effective follow-up of beneficiaries when required eg defaulters from nutrition programme. - Responsible for management of nutrition and outbreak surveillance and screenings within Kamrangirchar community - Plays a key role in ensuring that sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) initiatives are carried out at the community level - Responsible for implementation, supervision and management of community-based surveillance according to MSF-OCA guidelines 2. Implementation of programmes - Support the development and implementation of occupational and environmental health programs and health promotion activities - Will ensure that all Outreach Team activities are performed in a manner that demonstrates respect for the individual and maintains confidentiality - Will reinforce the need for high quality, strong communication and understanding between staff and beneficiaries 3. Human resources management a. Team Composition b. Team Management c. Performance Reviews d. Ongoing Training e. Administrative Framework
Patient Liaison Officer
Kamrangirchar, Bangladesh
MSF-Belgium
November 2010
-April 2013
Principal responsibilities : • To act as a liaison person between MSF and referral hospital for the patient (Ad-din hospital). • To ensure that all MSF patients who are referred to the specific facility are provided with a professional, comfortable, transaction less and informed transition from arrival to admission or discharge. Specific responsibilities : • Receive patients at the hospital OPD who arrive from Kamrangirchar. • Explain the general benefits of treatment, the importance of finishing the treatment in the hospital. • Finish the admission procedure through the OPD department. • Explain the benefits (eg. food voucher, free treatment) which MSF will be providing to the patients to be admitted and their care takers. • Explain the patients or the care takers the administrative procedures in the hospital. • Liase with the residents, registrars, nursing and accounting staff as to the clinical/non-clinical needs of the patient. • Ensure patient is informed of any reasons for delay of admission/treatment procedures at regular Intervals. • Liase with all relevant departments (within hospital and outside) with particular emphasis on satisfying the patients needs. • Explain on arrival (or as soon as possible) all standard hospital information. • Arrange blood for transfusion from referral hospital blood bank or external organizations. • Clerical duties and processing of bill vouchers for different procedures and patient needs as required • Maintain updated knowledge on patient MSF protocol, admission criteria, new admissions, patient situation, diagnostic procedures and discharge time. • Arrange meetings with/between Ad Din Authority and MSF to talk through the services available, problems faced etc. • Preparation of correspondence/reports under the guidance of the departmental policies.
Executive Masters, Policy and Governance
Bangladesh
North South University
February 2024
-August 2025
Under South Asian Institute of Policy & Governance (SIPG) this program is intended to enhance the capacity for young professionals on public policy and governance. It aims to strengthen academic competence and professional skills among professionals from public bureaucracy, development executives, embassy officials, managers of NGOs, private sector officials in South Asian context.
Master’s Degree, Public Health
Bangladesh
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Medical University
July 2010
-January 2012
Masters in Public Health, major in Community Nutrition
Food and Nutrition
Bangladesh
University of Dhaka
June 2003
-June 2007
B. Sc. in Food and Nutrition
Higher Secondary Certificate
Bangladesh
Dhaka City College
June 2001
-June 2003
H.S.C. from the science discipline