OHYAB Working Group (WG) Guideline

Community Outreach Working Group | Youth Opportunity Working Group | Research Working Group

1. Purpose

The Working Groups of One Health Youth Alliance Bangladesh (OHYAB) will work as structured program units under OHYAB to make youth participation more organized, accountable, and impactful. These groups will help OHYAB implement its activities in community outreach, youth opportunity creation, research, advocacy, training, and One Health capacity building.

OHYAB will operate three Working Groups:

1. Community Outreach Working Group (COWG)

2. Youth Opportunity Working Group (YOWG)

3. Research Working Group (RWG)

These Working Groups will not function as separate organizations. They will work under the official authority, supervision, and branding of OHYAB.

2. Position of Working Groups within OHYAB

The Working Groups will follow a simple internal structure:

Executive Board of OHYAB
↓
Working Group Coordination Desk / Assigned Executive Board Focal Person
↓
Working Group Lead
↓
Deputy Lead and Core Team Focal Persons
↓
General Working Group Members

The Executive Board will remain the final decision-making authority. Each Working Group will have operational freedom to plan and propose activities, but all official activities, public announcements, partnerships, external communication, use of logo, and budget-related matters must receive prior approval from the Executive Board or assigned authority.

3. Size and Composition of Each Working Group

Each Working Group should ideally contain 20–30 members.

Minimum requirement:

• Each Working Group must have at least 10 active members.

• If fewer than 10 members are available, the group may operate temporarily as a Provisional Working Group until full membership is completed.

• If applications exceed 30 qualified members, OHYAB may create a Volunteer Pool or sub-teams under the same Working Group.

OHYAB should ensure diversity in discipline, institution, gender, region, and experience while forming each group.

4. Official Recognition and Function of Working Group Positions

4.1 Official Working Group Posts and Member Category

The following positions will be recognized as official Working Group posts of OHYAB:

1. Working Group Lead

2. Deputy Working Group Lead

3. Member Secretary

4. Research & Information Focal

5. Communication & Website Focal

6. Documentation Focal

7. Member Engagement Focal

General Members will be recognized as official members of the respective Working Group.

The official post holders may have their profiles published on the OHYAB website, including their name, photo, institution, short bio, and Working Group position. General Members may be listed in the internal directory, and public listing may be done only with consent.

4.2 Working Group Lead

The Working Group Lead will be responsible for overall leadership and coordination of the group.

Key functions:

• Lead the overall planning and activities of the Working Group.

• Call and chair monthly Working Group meetings.

• Assign tasks among Core Team members and general members.

• Maintain regular communication with the OHYAB Executive Board or assigned focal person.

• Submit activity proposals for approval before any official program.

• Ensure that all activities follow OHYAB’s mission, code of conduct, and official guidelines.

• Monitor member participation, performance, and discipline.

• Represent the Working Group in OHYAB internal meetings when required.

4.3 Deputy Working Group Lead

The Deputy Lead will assist the Working Group Lead and ensure continuity of work.

Key functions:

• Support the Lead in planning, supervision, and follow-up.

• Act as the Working Group Lead when the Lead is unavailable.

• Help divide tasks among members.

• Follow up with Focal Persons on assigned responsibilities.

• Support conflict management and internal communication.

• Assist in preparing monthly progress updates.

• Ensure that deadlines are maintained.

4.4 Member Secretary

The Member Secretary will manage official records, meeting notes, and internal documentation.

Key functions:

• Prepare meeting agendas in consultation with the Lead.

• Record meeting minutes and decisions.

• Maintain the list of Working Group members.

• Keep records of attendance, assigned tasks, and completed work.

• Preserve official documents in the approved OHYAB Google Drive folder.

• Prepare draft monthly and annual reports with input from other members.

• Share meeting summaries and task lists with the group after each meeting.

4.5 Research & Information Focal

The Research & Information Focal will collect, verify, and organize information needed for Working Group activities.

Key functions:

• Search for relevant information, data, reports, articles, guidelines, and news related to the Working Group’s theme.

• Verify information before it is used in campaigns, reports, posts, training materials, or research activities.

• Prepare short evidence notes or background briefs for proposed activities.

• Support content development with accurate and reliable information.

• Help identify priority issues related to One Health, AMR, zoonotic diseases, food safety, climate health, youth opportunities, and research.

• Maintain a small resource database for the Working Group.

• Support proposal writing, concept note preparation, and awareness material development.

• For the Research Working Group, assist in literature review, research topic identification, abstract preparation, and journal club material collection.

4.6 Communication & Website Focal

The Communication & Website Focal will support internal and external communication of the Working Group.

Key functions:

• Draft announcements, social media captions, website updates, and email texts related to Working Group activities.

• Coordinate with OHYAB’s central communication or website team before publishing anything.

• Collect photos, short bios, and profile information of official post holders for website publication.

• Ensure that all public communication uses approved OHYAB branding and language.

• Share approved notices with members through official communication channels.

• Support promotion of events, campaigns, recruitment, and reports.

• Maintain communication with selected participants when needed.

4.7 Documentation Focal

The Documentation Focal will document activities, outputs, and evidence of work.

Key functions:

• Collect photos, screenshots, attendance sheets, feedback forms, and activity materials.

• Prepare short post-activity documentation.

• Maintain event folders in Google Drive.

• Support the Member Secretary in preparing reports.

• Keep records of campaign materials, research outputs, opportunity bulletins, and meeting documents.

• Ensure that every activity has proper documentation before being submitted to OHYAB.

• Assist in preparing annual Working Group documentation.

4.8 Member Engagement Focal

The Member Engagement Focal will keep members active, connected, and involved.

Key functions:

• Welcome new members after selection.

• Help members understand their roles and available tasks.

• Track member participation in meetings and activities.

• Encourage inactive members to re-engage.

• Collect feedback from members about challenges and interests.

• Support fair task distribution among members.

• Maintain a friendly and inclusive group environment.

• Inform the Lead if any member remains inactive for a long period.

4.9 General Members

General Members will be the active working force of each Working Group.

Key functions:

• Attend meetings and orientation sessions.

• Participate in assigned tasks, campaigns, research, outreach, or opportunity-sharing activities.

• Support the Core Team in planning and implementation.

• Share ideas, information, and feedback.

• Follow OHYAB’s rules, code of conduct, and communication guidelines.

• Complete assigned work within the deadline.

• Represent OHYAB professionally in all activities.

• Remain active in at least one task or initiative of the Working Group.

5. Tenure

The tenure of each Working Group and its office bearers will be one year.

At the end of the term:

• Active members may renew their membership.

• Office bearers may be reappointed or replaced based on performance.

• Inactive members may be removed from the directory.

• New recruitment may be opened through Google Form.

6. Formation Process

The formation of each Working Group will follow these steps:

1. Announcement: OHYAB will publish an official call for Working Group membership through its website, social media, email, and institutional networks.

2. Application: Interested applicants will apply through an official Google Form.

3. Screening: Applications will be reviewed by the Executive Board, HR Coordinator, and assigned focal persons.

4. Shortlisting: Applicants will be shortlisted based on interest, motivation, discipline, skills, availability, and commitment.

5. Interview / Review: If required, short interviews or written motivation review may be conducted.

6. Final Selection: Selected applicants will be assigned to one Working Group.

7. Orientation: Selected members must attend an orientation session.

8. Directory Formation: Final members and office bearers will be included in the official Working Group Directory.

7. Eligibility

Applicants should generally be:

1. Students or early-career professionals.

2. Interested in One Health, public health, veterinary health, environmental health, agriculture, fisheries, medicine, pharmacy, biotechnology, climate, research, policy, or youth leadership.

3. Willing to work voluntarily under OHYAB’s rules and code of conduct.

4. Available to attend meetings and complete assigned tasks.

5. Respectful, non-political, professional, and team-oriented.

Previous experience is preferred but not mandatory. Motivated new members should also be encouraged.

8. Community Outreach Working Group

8.1 Main Purpose

The Community Outreach Working Group will convert One Health knowledge into practical awareness and community-level action.

8.2 Scope

The group will work on:

1. One Health awareness campaigns.

2. AMR awareness.

3. Zoonotic disease prevention.

4. Food safety and hygiene.

5. Climate and health awareness.

6. School, college, university, and community outreach.

7. Campus-based One Health activities.

8. Public awareness materials in Bengali and English.

8.3 Major Responsibilities

1. Plan community and campus outreach programs.

2. Prepare simple awareness materials.

3. Coordinate volunteers for field or campus activities.

4. Organize campaigns during relevant national and international health days.

5. Collect participant feedback.

6. Submit post-activity reports.

7. Support OHYAB’s symposiums, workshops, and public campaigns.

8.4 Expected Outputs

1. Quarterly outreach activity.

2. Awareness posters, leaflets, or digital materials.

3. Community/campus engagement report.

4. Participant and volunteer database.

5. Annual outreach impact summary.

9. Youth Opportunity Working Group

9.1 Main Purpose

The Youth Opportunity Working Group will identify, verify, and share academic, professional, training, volunteering, scholarship, fellowship, internship, and leadership opportunities for OHYAB members.

9.2 Scope

The group will work on:

1. Scholarships and fellowships.

2. Training and workshops.

3. Conferences and symposiums.

4. Internships and volunteering.

5. Career development.

6. Mentorship and networking.

7. Youth leadership opportunities.

8. National and international One Health platforms.

9.3 Major Responsibilities

1. Search and verify relevant opportunities.

2. Prepare opportunity bulletins.

3. Maintain an opportunity database.

4. Organize CV, email, abstract, and scholarship application sessions.

5. Connect members with mentors.

6. Support member participation in external programs.

7. Track member achievements through OHYAB support.

9.4 Expected Outputs

1. Monthly opportunity bulletin.

2. Verified opportunity database.

3. Training or career-support sessions.

4. List of supported applicants.

5. Annual youth opportunity report.

10. Research Working Group

10.1 Main Purpose

The Research Working Group will promote youth-led interdisciplinary research on One Health issues in Bangladesh.

10.2 Scope

The group will work on:

1. One Health research ideas.

2. Literature review.

3. Abstract, poster, and manuscript preparation.

4. Survey and data collection support.

5. Research ethics awareness.

6. Policy briefs and position papers.

7. Journal clubs and scientific discussions.

8. Research presentation for OHYSB and other platforms.

10.3 Major Responsibilities

1. Identify priority research areas such as AMR, zoonotic diseases, food safety, climate-linked health threats, and environmental health.

2. Form small research sub-teams.

3. Support research question and methodology development.

4. Organize journal clubs.

5. Assist in abstract, poster, and manuscript writing.

6. Connect young researchers with mentors.

7. Ensure ethical research practice and responsible data handling.

8. Collaborate with other Working Groups when needed.

10.4 Expected Outputs

1. Research interest directory.

2. Monthly journal club or research discussion.

3. Abstracts, posters, policy briefs, or manuscripts.

4. Mentor database.

5. Annual youth research report.

11. Meetings and Reporting

Each Working Group will follow a simple reporting system.

Meetings:

1. Monthly Working Group meeting.

2. Monthly Leads’ coordination meeting with OHYAB focal person.

3. Emergency meeting when needed.

4. Quarterly review meeting with the Executive Board.

Reports:

1. Monthly activity update.

2. Event/activity report after each program.

3. Quarterly progress summary.

4. Annual Working Group report.

All official documents should be stored in an OHYAB-approved Google Drive folder.

12. Activity Approval Procedure

Before organizing any activity, the Working Group must submit a short proposal to the assigned OHYAB authority.

The proposal should include:

1. Activity title.

2. Objective.

3. Date, time, and venue/platform.

4. Target participants.

5. Responsible team.

6. Required support or budget.

7. Expected output.

8. Communication plan.

No Working Group may independently confirm external partners, speakers, sponsors, media, or public announcements without approval from OHYAB.

13. How to Join

Interested applicants will join through the official OHYAB Working Group Application Form using Google Form.

The form should include:

1. Full name.

2. Email and phone number.

3. Institution and department.

4. Academic year or professional position.

5. Discipline/sector.

6. Preferred Working Group: COWG / YOWG / RWG.

7. Second choice of Working Group.

8. Relevant skills.

9. Previous volunteering or leadership experience.

10. Motivation for joining.

11. Availability per week.

12. Consent to follow OHYAB rules and code of conduct.

13. Consent for official communication.

14. Consent for website profile if selected for an official post.

After submission, OHYAB will review applications, select members, conduct orientation, and publish the official list of office bearers.

14. Member Responsibilities

Every member must:

1. Attend meetings regularly.

2. Complete assigned tasks on time.

3. Communicate respectfully.

4. Maintain confidentiality of internal documents.

5. Avoid using OHYAB’s name or logo without permission.

6. Work under the assigned Working Group Lead.

7. Support interdisciplinary teamwork.

8. Represent OHYAB professionally.

9. Follow OHYAB’s code of conduct.

10. Remain active in at least one task, project, campaign, or research activity.

15. Inactivity and Replacement

A member may be marked inactive if they:

1. Miss three consecutive meetings without valid reason.

2. Do not respond to official communication for one month.

3. Repeatedly fail to complete assigned tasks.

4. Violate OHYAB’s code of conduct.

5. Misuse OHYAB’s name, logo, or official identity.

The Working Group Lead will first contact the member. If there is no improvement, the matter will be reported to the assigned OHYAB authority. Final removal or replacement will be approved by the Executive Board or authorized focal person.

16. Recognition

Active members and office bearers may receive:

1. Certificate of appreciation.

2. Volunteer certificate.

3. Leadership certificate.

4. Website profile for official post holders.

5. Public recognition on OHYAB platforms.

6. Priority access to selected trainings and programs.

7. Recommendation letter, where appropriate.

Recognition will depend on attendance, task completion, leadership, professionalism, and measurable contribution.

The OHYAB Working Groups will serve as the main operational platform for youth participation. Through a simple but accountable structure, these groups will help OHYAB build leadership, promote research, create opportunities, conduct outreach, and strengthen One Health action across Bangladesh.