Professional Experience:
A seasoned professional with a diverse background spanning over 13 years across social development, banking, and finance sectors. Currently serving as a MEAL Officer for the STRONG Project, a Health & Nutrition initiative for AGYW, under CRS with NIRMAN NGO in Sikarpai, Rayagada, since July 2024. In this role, I oversee the monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) framework, ensuring the efficient and impactful delivery of the project outcomes. My responsibilities include designing and implementing MEAL systems, conducting assessments, and ensuring that learning is integrated into the project’s evolution.
Prior to this, I served as a Trainer (Sr. Program Officer) for the REWARD Watershed Project under S.G. Foundation, a collaboration between the Govt. of Odisha and the World Bank in Rairakhol, Sambalpur, from November 2023 to July 2024. I played a pivotal role in training community members on sustainable watershed management practices, contributing to improved water resource management and ecological sustainability in the region.
In my previous role as a Sr. Program Officer at S.G. Foundation, I focused on FPO (Farmer Producer Organization) and CBO (Community-Based Organization) development within the Odisha Millet Mission in Keonjhar District. This initiative, supported by DMF and NABARD, aimed at enhancing the livelihoods of local farmers. I facilitated technical support, capacity-building, and market linkages, empowering farmers to enhance production, increase income, and access better markets for their produce.
From April 2020 to December 2022, I worked as a Subject Matter Specialist at SIDI (Sambalpur Integrated Development Institute) on the APC Project under the Govt. of Odisha and BRLF. In this capacity, I provided technical guidance on project implementation, collaborated with government bodies, and facilitated capacity building at the grassroots level. My work was focused on enhancing the social and economic development of marginalized communities, promoting rural entrepreneurship, and improving access to basic services.
Earlier in my career, I gained valuable experience in the banking and finance sector, where I worked in various roles focused on client engagement, sales, and financial operations. I specialized in offering tailored financial services to farmers, supported the cross-selling of banking products, and managed relationships to ensure long-term financial solutions. This experience sharpened my ability to understand the financial needs of rural communities and enabled me to support the integration of financial inclusion strategies into development projects.
Key Competencies
• Project Management: Expertise in leading multi-stakeholder development initiatives, with a strong focus on monitoring, evaluation, and learning.
• Community Engagement: Skilled in empowering local communities through capacity building, training, and fostering sustainable livelihoods.
• Resource Mobilization & Budgeting: Proficient in developing proposals, securing funds, and managing project budgets to ensure effective resource allocation.
• Stakeholder Coordination: Adept at building strategic partnerships with government agencies, NGOs, and community leaders to drive project success.
• Financial Inclusion: Strong understanding of financial services for rural communities, integrating banking solutions with development goals.