Profile of Dr. Abdun Noor
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Dr. Abdun Noor
Former Lead Institutional Development Specialist, Central Policy Vice Presidency (CPS), World Bank.
Profile of Dr. Abdun Noor
Dr. Abdun Noor, the current Coordinator of CMIDP at [email protected]. The CMIDP is located in Potomac, MD, USA 20854.
Dr. Abdun Noor has devoted his entire professional life of 45 years to foster development among least developing countries of Africa, Asia, Middle East, Latin America and Caribbean; of which 35 years were from the World Bank. Abdun has earned his PhD in Educational Administration from Michigan State University (1965); and studied at Graduate School of Education of Stanford University (1987). He joined the World Bank in 1970.
Dr.Noor’s development contribution encompasses five distinct dimensions of work. First, Abdun has managed long-term capacity development and institutional policy reforms both at international and national levels.
In early eighties, Abdun served as the lead Institutional Development Specialist for Central Policy Vice Presidency (CPS) of the World Bank; and articulated the role of national central policy agencies for decentralized planning, policy and decision-making levels. Abdun has led the World Bank’s Institutional Development and Capacity Building assistance program on education and manpower development for Iran and Saudi Arabia (1974); and contributed to the design of their programs of higher education, adult literacy, and teacher training and manpower development. Abdun has served as the Institutional Development Advisor, as a counter-part to the Minister of Higher Education in Ethiopia and helped in designing the plan for development of institutions of higher education of Ethiopia (1985-87). He has led to the preparation of the educational and manpower development program of the First Five Year Plan of the Governments of Bangladesh (1973), and the Fourth Five Year Development Plan of Pakistan (1968).
Second, Abdun has engaged in institutional policy reforms and in analytical research work for educational and manpower development across 30 least developing countries. As a young policy planner during early seventies, he has articulated for the World Bank its policy initiative on “Education and meeting of Basic Human Needs”(1977); also for the UNESCO he has written a think piece on “Managing Adult Literacy Programs”, which also became his key note presentation at the Arusha International Literacy Conference convened by the Unesco (1984). Abdun has advanced the cause of grass-root development by the civil society, articulated the role the NGO’s could play to discern that contribution, and within the World Bank organized and directed the first tripartite high level meeting of Clients, NGOs, and The World Bank representing 12 east and south African countries at Nairobi in 1983.
Third, Abdun conducted extensive project management and project implementation operational work, including design, implementation, management, and evaluation of human resources development, and poverty alleviation projects across the globe from seventies to nineties. Functioning as a Divisional Portfolio Manager of the World Bank assisted projects in the East African Region during nineties; Abdun has overseen the “drive for implementation results” of about 30 human resource development projects worth US$ 3 billions.
Fourth, Abdun has carried out design and delivery of innovative learning and training events on The World Bank’s Operations and Portfolio Management for senior staff of the World Bank; Islamic Development Bank; European University of Peace; and Austrian Study Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution and for Arab Bank for Development of Africa from 1994 till now. He has assisted preparation, and facilitated delivery of more than hundreds of learning events across the Globe.
And finally, recognized as a Playwright, and Novelist in his country Bangladesh and abroad, Abdun has carried out his creative writings throughout the period of 1952-2007. Abdun’s writings reflect the internationalism of his life and span the globe. The first novel, Pegasus (1980), is based on the life of Guyana. The second novel, ”Shunno Brittoy” -The Empty Circle (1990) is based on the life of expatriate immigrant Indians sub continentals residing in USA. The third novel, Uttaraan, Transition of A Married Women (2003) is based on midlife crisis of a modern Bangladeshi in her own land, and is currently planned for a serialization play by a satellite TV channel. During 2005-2006, Abdun has published an epic novel, “ Bicholito Somoy” – The Uncertain Time-, of over thousand pages in two volumes, covering rise of Bengali nationalism during the period of 17th century India. The publisher is Magnum Opus. The novel has been acclaimed as the Best Publication for Fiction for Year 2005.
In addition, Abdun has written many plays, which were broadcast over TV Channels in Bangladesh, were translated and staged abroad. His English play “Quest” had been staged and repeatedly performed in Washington DC. Furthermore, as a live Public Television Broadcaster, Abdun continues to compare discussion forums on culture and development for different TV channels of Washington DC and Bangladesh.