Suman Chowdhury Mony

BFP: What do you do?

SCM: I’ve been working at Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) for four & half years as an Officer (MIS Analyst). PKSF is an apex organization (not for profit) established by the Government of Bangladesh for poverty alleviation through employment generation and is one of the biggest microfinance organizations in Bangladesh.

In addition to this, I am an active development worker and blogger on many international blogging societies and institutional sites where I get to share my views and thinking with others on a range of development issues. I am an active member of Business Fights Poverty and a Featured member of pro-act.org (an e-community of the World Bank Institute).

BFP: What is the best part about your job?

SCM:One of the best parts of my job is monitoring the workings of our Management Information System (MIS) and using the findings to motivate my colleagues to do their work more efficiently. I always enjoy going on field tours, where I monitor our countrywide micro credit activities, collect and preserve data as well as preparing Microfinance situation reports with our Partner Organizations (POs).

BFP: What have been your greatest challenges?

SCM: As an MIS Analyst my greatest challenges are ensuring the effective collection of real data from our POs who work on poverty alleviation through micro finance and thoroughly analysing the collected data and producing reports for future actions.

Poverty alleviation through microcredit is tough but fruitful work, if it is implemented in a systematic and borrower-friendly way. Accurate and precise data analysis are an essential part of poverty alleviation through microcredit.

Aside from my day-to-day role as a development worker, as a blogger it is my continuous challenge to express and spread my thinking and views to others and to learn from initiatives that are transforming lives.

BFP: What advice, would you give to others?/ What is the secret of your success

SCM: “In my childhood, when I was small, my legs were little, my field of vision was inadequate, but now I am growing up, my eye sight is plentiful, the little path which was so far for me then, now it is in the vicinity of mine… If I try, I can cross the line…and it is the secret of my success”.

During my lifetime, so much of what I have learnt and achieved is down to my willingness to always learn more, even now my learning process continues. Believe in whatever you do. Aim to learn and gather as many experiences as possible. I would also recommend finding a mentor, someone who is experienced, whether he or she is the superior or subordinate, without any hesitation.

Eagerness to know and learn – I believe self learning makes everyone confident. I have always believed that self learning and self confidence is the key to success.

BFP: If someone wants to do what you do, where should they start?

SCM: If you are interested in working in MIS or Data Analysis, you must be well educated, with an interest in IT-based work and also be a natural analytical thinker. I’d recommend taking a related degree or course. Gathering the data is only part of the role, you need to know how to use that data, for it to have value.

To be a good development worker and blogger everyone should ensure they gain the relevant industry knowledge and experience. Also, read around the key issues – the blogs and articles of good bloggers and writers.

BFP: Finally, what do you hope to get out of being part of the BFP community?

SCM: Business Fights Poverty brings together and connects some renowned and expert professionals, development workers, entrepreneurs, businessmen, thinkers, learners, bloggers and article writers. Everyone can share their views, experiences, new ideas and learn from others. I hope it will continue to grow and add even more resources and play a vital role in world development work.