Programme Consultant, India

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Engagement Type - Programme Consultant, India

Number of Positions- 05 

Locations- Delhi, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Maharashtra (India)

About the British Asian Trust

The British Asian Trust is an international development organisation, delivering high quality programme in South Asia. Since our formation, we have impacted the lives over 13 million people across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka with high-impact interventions to address the subcontinent’s critical unmet needs in areas of livelihoods, mental health, education, child protection and conservation.

Objective of the Assignment

The ten-year, Child Opportunity Fund, which is one of the most ambitious programme for the British Asian Trust, focuses on nine high prevalence states and seeks to address the abuse, exploitation and violence against children.

The Programme Consultant plays a vital role in driving the programme and fostering a culture of outcome-driven practices for the Child Opportunity Fund's initiatives in India across nine States through partner organisations. The incumbent will lead the development and execution of State operational and government engagement plans in alignment with Child Opportunity Fund's strategy. They will also enhance programme management processes for all programme stages and improve the capabilities of the British Asian Trust and its partner organisations.

This role is a fantastic opportunity for someone with a passion for driving collaborative partnerships with both NGOs and the government, who has a vision to deliver life changing outcomes for vulnerable children and their families; who enjoys working in a multi-stakeholder partnership environment as well as having the ability to build strategic relationships with key government departments at the district and state level.

Scope of Work & Deliverables:  

The Consultant will be responsible for the management of the Child Opportunity Fund’s programme in a particular state and shall undertake the following key roles and responsibilities:

Lead and be Accountable for Programme Management

• The Consultant will be responsible for the direct oversight and successful execution of programme activities by all implementing partners in 1 of the 9 states.
• Ensure all implementing partners in the State achieve programmatic targets as per the new C2I indicators and Pay for Performance Deliverables made to donors.
• Build the capacity of partner project teams on Mission Vatsalya by designing and delivering a minimum of one (1) dedicated training session per partner organisation.
• Guarantee efficient financial management across all partners, ensuring a fund utilization rate of at least 90%.

Provide Technical Assistance to the Government on Mission Vatsalya:

• Drive strategic engagement with government bodies to embed and support child protection priorities within the state framework.
• Secure formal collaboration with the government by signing at least one (1) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the State Child Protection Society (SCPS) or other relevant government departments.
• Establish and foster convergence between the organisation (BAT) and allied government departments, including but not limited to the State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD), Department of Education, Home Department, Department of Panchayati Raj & Rural Development (P&RD), and the Department of Health.
• Actively work to unlock government funding streams for child protection priorities.
• Organise and conduct capacity-building training on Child Rights and Protection under the Mission Vatsalya framework for various government departments and relevant stakeholders.
• Ensure partners conduct monthly engagement meetings with district-level stakeholders, culminating in the acquisition of at least five (5) Letters of Intent (LoIs) from stakeholders, demonstrating confidence in the programme's work.

Ensure Effective Grant Management:

• Be responsible for the meticulous administration and reporting of all grants supporting the State programme.
• Conduct monthly grant review meetings with the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL), Finance, and Technical teams to assess budget vs. actuals (BvA), progress against work plans, and performance against indicators.
• Organise and lead one (1) State Level Rollout workshop per district to orient partner staff on programme design, key milestones, processes, and expected outcomes.
• In collaboration with the fundraising team, author and submit at least two (2) high-quality funding proposals to new potential funders.

Support Strategic Partnerships, Stakeholder Management, and Brand Building

• Serve as a key representative of the organisation, working to enhance its visibility, reputation, and network.
• Proactively meet with a minimum of three (3) strategic stakeholders per district to introduce the organisation's work and increase its visibility at the local level.
• Successfully plan and facilitate at least two (2) donor visits to project sites to showcase programme impact.
• Ensure timely submission of all donor reports, maintaining the highest standards of quality and accuracy.

This Scope of Work is indicative and subject to change based on evolving programme needs.

Knowledge and Experience

E = essential criteria for the role

D = desirable criteria for the role

The role requires a motivated professional, able to work well independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

• A Master’s degree in social work (MSW), Social Sciences (Economics, Population Studies, Sociology, or Social Anthropology), Psychology; Population Studies, or Business Administration - E
• Formal training in Social Mobilization, Leadership, and Partner Management- E
• A minimum of ten years of work experience, with at least five years dedicated to Partner Management and collaboration with Government relations - E
• Experience in programme and budget management - E
• Strong interpersonal communication skills and demonstrated ability to articulate strategic thinking and long-term programmatic visions - E
• Patience and ability to advocate with duty bearers at various levels - E
• Practical experience in leading government collaboration at district and state levels - E
• Ability to write and consolidate analytical reports for donors and senior management within the organisation - E
• Proficient in spoken and written English and local language - E
• Clear understanding of rational use of print and electronic media - D
• Experience of working on Child Rights and Protection - D
• Preference given to candidates with an understanding of Governance structures at the block, district, and state levels, including their roles and responsibilities - D
• Capacity to navigate complex multi-stakeholder platforms – D