Talat Mahmud
About Talat Mahmud
Talat Mahmud serves as the Program Director for Humanitarian Programs at Sesame Workshop in Bangladesh, focusing on Early Childhood Development initiatives. With extensive experience in education and humanitarian response, he has held various roles at Save the Children and collaborated with multiple organizations to enhance educational interventions in crisis settings.
Work at Sesame Workshop
Talat Mahmud has served as the Program Director for Humanitarian Programs at Sesame Workshop since 2020. Based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, he oversees initiatives aimed at enhancing educational interventions in humanitarian settings. His role includes expanding partnerships with various stakeholders, including donors, UN agencies, INGOs, NGOs, and the Government of Bangladesh. He focuses on prioritizing Early Childhood Development activities within humanitarian responses and serves as the focal point for Sesame Workshop's humanitarian initiatives in the country.
Education and Expertise
Talat Mahmud has a diverse educational background. He earned a Master’s of Social Science (MSS) in Economics from the University of Dhaka between 1988 and 1991. He also holds a Diploma of Education from Lund University, where he studied Child Rights and Classroom Management from 2005 to 2006. Additionally, he completed a Master of Education (M.Ed.) and Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) at the Asian University of Bangladesh from 2009 to 2012. He attended the Education Quality and Leadership Course at Harvard University in 2015.
Background in Humanitarian Programs
Talat Mahmud has extensive experience in humanitarian programs, particularly in education. He worked with Save the Children in various capacities, including as a Program Director for the SHIKHON program in Dhaka and as a Senior Technical Advisor for the Education in Emergencies program during the Rohingya Response in Cox's Bazar. His roles have spanned multiple countries, including Laos, where he served as the Head of Education Sector and Senior Education Technical Advisor.
Achievements in Early Childhood Development
Talat Mahmud led the implementation of a significant Early Childhood Development project titled 'Play to Learn,' which received $100 million in funding from the Lego Foundation. This initiative aims to enhance educational opportunities for children in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. He collaborates with organizations such as BRAC, IRC, and New York University to strengthen educational interventions in humanitarian settings and oversees financial management and compliance for the project.