Delwar Hossain recounts his personal experiences as a participant in Bangladesh's Managing at the Top 2 (MATT 2) program, financed by the U.K.'s Department for International Development. As both a ministry secretary and a MATT 2 participant, he provides a step-by-step account of the participant experience in this training and development program for senior civil servants as well as reflects on the application of knowledge gained in the program to the workings of government offices. Hossain makes recommendations for improving and expanding the program, including expanding the pool of eligible participants, adding a master's or Ph.D. component for a select few and broadening the selection of countries visited by those in the second stage of the program. Hossain advocates for the continuation of MATT 2 and expresses optimism that outside funding would help the program continue past its 2013 end date.
At the time of this interview, Delwar Hossain was the secretary of the Ministry of Land in Bangladesh and a past participant in the Managing at the Top 2 (MATT 2) program. A career civil servant, he worked in a number of government ministries.