This summer, I worked with USAID Bangladesh’s Office of Education. While in Dhaka, I supported a wide education portfolio including projects on foundational literacy and numeracy, upper secondary education, disability-inclusive education, and teacher training and professional development. Alongside leading the programmatic design of a major teacher education activity, I conducted a gender analysis to inform the design of an upper secondary education activity. There, I facilitated focus group discussions and key informant interviews with teachers, principals, and regional education officers in Chattogram.

My summer internship allowed me to hone my operational skills in project management and design while also developing my sector-specific knowledge of international education challenges. I also had the opportunity to engage with various other technical units, including the State Department’s Public Diplomacy Section. My time at USAID/Bangladesh was extremely insightful as I prepare to join USAID’s Foreign Service as an Education Officer upon graduation from GHD.