Experience

Centre for Budget and Policy Studies
• India
• Public Policy Offices
• Director

  • Jan 2011 - Present


Freelance

• Egypt
• Human Resources
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Independent International Researcher

  • Sep 2009 - Dec 2010

  Mainly took international research-based consultancies for UNIFEM and UNICEF headquarters, UNICEF (various country offices) Save the Children, etc. Mainly took international research-based consultancies for UNIFEM and UNICEF headquarters, UNICEF (various country offices) Save the Children, etc.



The Commonwealth

• United States
• Technology, Information and Internet

• Advisor

  • Aug 2005 - Aug 2009

  I led on two areas (i) Education and Gender, and (ii) Education and HIV&AIDS. Some achievements include: - Led four multi-country research leading to four publications - Gave a definite direction to the work on institutionalising gender equality norms in primary and secondary schools through research, publications, pilot projects and policy advocacy in a number of countries. - Facilitated South-South and South-North cooperation by creating spaces for exchange of ideas and sharing of experiences among countries. - Established functional partnerships with other multi-lateral organisations to maximise the resource-use, reach and impact. - Technical lead for managing the Commonwealth-UNESCO Professorial Chair in the University of West Indies for strengthening of Education Sector’s responses to HIV&AIDS. Show less


Commonwealth Secretariat
• United Kingdom
• Adviser, Social Transformation Programmes Division

  • 2005 - 2009
• Independent Researcher

  • Feb 1998 - Jul 2005

  During this period, I took on various roles and responsibilities including the following: - Mainly took consultancies from a number of bilateral and multilateral agencies (the European Union, UNESCO, the World Bank. DfID), international, national and local NGOs, Government of India and state governments in India and conducted a large number of research studies in India and in neighbouring South Asian countries (Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bhutan) as Principal Investigator. - Participated in a number of Joint Review Missions (representing Government of India, the World Bank, the Government of Netherlands, UN agencies) for evaluating the progress of education programmes. - Developed rigorous alternative schooling approaches for out of school children in diverse contexts; it included development of a number of alternative accelerated learning programmes with support of international NGOs such as CARE. - Took a break in 2000-2001 to undertake a major independent research project that led to publication of a book, titled “Elementary Education for the Poorest and other Deprived Groups: The Real Challenge of Universalisation”. The study was conducted under the aegis of Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi. The book is part of recommended readings in several Master’s and Research courses in Indian university/institutions. Show less



Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India

• Chief Consultant

  • Jan 1995 - Dec 1998

  I worked in several states and cultural contexts, engaging primarily in the issues of education and gender. - Played a key role in the development of district education plans, designing and leading studies on educational finance and social determinants of education, development of the district plan appraisal criteria and training of appraisal teams, and negotiations with both state governments and international agencies. - Provided technical support in designing strategic intervention in education to nearly 15 Indian states including conflict areas and areas with most marginalised population. Trained a large number of state and district teams in education planning and strategy development. - Trained a large number of resource persons (more than 200) drawn from diverse research institutions and universities on conducting in-depth appraisal of strategies and plans. - Conducted studies on finance and social assessment of social policies related interventions in a number of Indian states. - Participated in a number of Joint Review Missions (representing Government of India) for evaluating the progress of education programmes. - Supported the Government of India and various state governments in their negotiations with the international agencies such as the World Bank, the European Union, DfID. Show less