S Saravana Kumar

Project Coordinator - Tap Safe Project - SAATHII NGO , SAATHII NGO / Strengthening Health Systems

Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Senior Program Manager with 19+ years of strategic leadership in social development across 17 States and 2 UTs. Expertise in Public Health, Livelihoods, Education, Rural Development, Gender & Equity, and Disability Inclusion. Proven experience in pan-India operations, international donor compliance, program strategy, partnerships, and multi-stakeholder engagement.

Contact S Saravana Kumar
Area of Expertise:
  • Health, Doctors, Nurses, HIV/AIDS, Nutrition
Professional Experience:

Development-sector professional with 19+ years of progressive experience in programme management, strategic planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, team leadership, and stakeholder engagement across 19 Indian States and Union Territories. Experienced in working with NGOs, international donor-funded programmes, hospitals, educational institutions, and registered trusts, with a strong track record of managing complex, multi-sectoral development initiatives.

My professional journey has progressed from Field Supervisor to senior programme and project management roles, including Project Coordinator, Project Officer, Project Manager, Assistant Program Manager, Program Manager, Senior Program Officer, and Project Specialist. I bring extensive experience in programme design, need assessment, concept note and proposal development, budgeting, strategic planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, learning, reporting, and donor compliance.

My sectoral expertise spans Public Health, HIV/AIDS and health systems strengthening, livelihoods, skill development, rural development, education, gender equity, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), microfinance, disability inclusion, disaster response, rehabilitation, and community development. I have more than 9 years of experience working with underserved and vulnerable communities in some of India's most backward rural areas, implementing holistic rural development programmes and strengthening community-based systems.

Currently serving as Project Coordinator at SAATHII, I lead a harm-reduction initiative focused on queer communities, leveraging queer dating applications to strengthen outreach, awareness, health information, and access to appropriate health services for marginalized populations. The initiative is supported by Grindr for Equality.

I have substantial experience managing programmes supported by leading international funding agencies and development partners, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, World Diabetes Foundation, PATH International, MAC AIDS Fund, Tides Foundation, and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. This has provided strong exposure to international donor requirements, programme accountability, financial and technical reporting, compliance, partnerships, and results-based programme management.

I have led multidisciplinary teams and coordinated with government departments, NGOs, community-based organizations, healthcare institutions, donors, technical partners, and other stakeholders. My cross-sectoral experience enables me to connect grassroots realities with programme strategy, institutional systems, and donor priorities.

I hold an MSW in Community Development from Madras Christian College, Chennai, and an M.Phil. in Social Work from Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, complemented by a Post Graduate Diploma in Disaster Management from IGNOU.

I am proficient in English, Tamil, Hindi, and Bengali, enabling effective communication and stakeholder engagement across diverse geographic, cultural, and community contexts in India.

Education:

A development-sector professional with a strong academic foundation in Social Work, Community Development, Disaster Management, and Life Sciences, complemented by extensive experience in social development and program management.

Completed M.Phil in Social Work from Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu (2006–2010), building advanced academic and research capabilities in social work and development. Holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) with specialization in Community Development from Madras Christian College, Chennai (2004–2006), providing a strong foundation in community mobilization, participatory development, social research, and grassroots interventions.

Further strengthened professional knowledge through a Post Graduate Diploma in Disaster Management from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi (2009), developing an understanding of disaster preparedness, response, recovery, vulnerability reduction, and community resilience.

Earlier, completed a B.Sc. in Zoology from Loyola College, Chennai (2001–2004), following Higher Secondary education with a science combination of Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Botany and Zoology from Vana Vani Matriculation Higher Secondary School, IIT Madras (2001). Completed secondary education at Kendriya Vidyalaya, IIT Madras, in 1999.

This multidisciplinary educational background combines social sciences, community development, disaster management, and life sciences, supporting a broad understanding of complex social and development challenges. The academic journey, particularly in Social Work and Community Development, has provided a strong foundation for professional engagement in public health, livelihoods, education, rural development, gender and equity, disability inclusion, community systems strengthening, and multi-stakeholder development programs.

Affiliations and Achievements:

* 19+ years of experience in the development sector, with progressive responsibilities from grassroots implementation to programme and project management.
* Worked across 19 Indian States and Union Territories, gaining extensive experience with diverse communities, cultures, and development contexts.
Over 9 years of experience in underserved and economically disadvantaged rural communities, implementing holistic rural development and community-based programmes.
* Extensive experience in international donor-funded programmes, including projects supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Global Fund, PATH International, World Diabetes Foundation, MAC AIDS Fund, Tides Foundation, and Grindr for Equality.
* Expertise in Public Health, HIV/AIDS, health systems strengthening, rural development, livelihoods, education, gender equity, SHGs, microfinance, disability inclusion, disaster response, rehabilitation, and community development.
* Experienced in programme strategy, proposal and concept-note development, budgeting, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, documentation, learning, and donor compliance.
* Strong experience in team leadership, capacity building, community mobilisation, partnership development, and multi-stakeholder coordination involving government, NGOs, donors, healthcare institutions, community organisations, and development partners.
* Currently contributing to innovative digital outreach and harm-reduction programming for queer communities, using digital platforms to improve awareness and access to health services among marginalized populations.
* Academic background includes MSW (Community Development), M.Phil. in Social Work, and Post Graduate Diploma in Disaster Management.
* Multilingual professional proficient in English, Tamil, Hindi, and Bengali, supporting effective engagement with communities and stakeholders across different regions of India.

Available for:

  • Job opportunities

Years of Experience:

15-20 years

Highest Qualification:

Masters

Languages:

English, Hindi,English,Tamil,Bengali

Nationality:

Indian

Home Page:

Subscribe to Value Membership Broadcast Resume

Disclaimer Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions