Aga Khan Foundation (India)
POSITION DESCRIPTION
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Position Title:
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Development Organiser (Localizing Waste Solutions and Livelihood Enhancement)
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Programme
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Localizing Waste Solutions and Livelihood Enhancement
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Position Location:
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Selected wards of Patna Municipal Corporation and Danapur Nagar Parishad, Patna, Bihar
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Reporting To:
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Circle Coordinator (Localising Waste Solutions and Livelihood Enhancement)
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Number of positions
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4
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Position Tenure:
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Full-Time employment contract up to February 2029, renewable as per program funding and need
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About the Aga Khan Foundation (India)
The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) is a leading global development organization working to tackle the root causes of poverty. For almost 50 years, AKF has helped create strong community institutions that support sustainable, locally driven initiatives to improve the lives of millions of people. AKF's programs aim to ensure that infants have the best possible start in life, families are healthy and wellnourished, children and young people can access quality learning opportunities and grow to fulfil their potential, and adults can develop future-facing skills so they can gain employment or start their own businesses. We believe that women and young girls should not be limited in their choices or opportunities and are dedicated to fostering inclusive communities in which all voices are heard and valued. As our climate changes, we are working with the communities we serve, and especially farmers, to adapt to its challenges and opportunities and contribute to a healthy planet. But the issues we face are evolving rapidly. To meet them, we use innovation to empower communities to develop new solutions that can be quickly tested and refined, ensuring they are relevant, feasible and sustainable. Through partnerships with local communities, government agencies and programs, we are building a future where we all thrive together.
AKF primarily works across seven thematic areas - agriculture, building community resilience to climate change, work and enterprise, education, early childhood development, WASH,health and nutrition, and strengthening community institutions to sustain and lead development interventions.
AKF started its operations in India in 1978 and implements programs in both rural and urban areas across four states (Bihar, Delhi, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh). AKF's current interventions are under implementation across 1635 villages and 93 urban wards, benefiting 3.9 million people, 2/3rd of whom are women.
Programme Details
The programme, Localising Waste Solutions and Livelihood Enhancement, aims to strengthen sustainable Solid Waste Management (SWM) systems in selected wards alongside the river Ganga through community participation and ownership, behavior change, and decentralized waste management practices. The programme seeks to promote household-level waste segregation, reduction of open dumping, and improved recovery and processing of recyclable and organic waste in alignment with the Swachh Bharat Mission Urban framework. A key dimension of the project is strengthening livelihoods of sanitation workers and informal waste pickers by supporting safer working conditions, facilitating access to government entitlements and schemes, improved income opportunities, and greater inclusion in the municipal waste management system. The programme proposes to implement community awareness campaigns, behavior change communication, and capacity-building activities to encourage responsible waste handling practices. Special emphasis will be placed on mobilizing households, bulk waste generators, and community groups to adopt segregation at source and support local waste management systems. The programme also seeks to strengthen linkages between Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), sanitation workers, and communities to ensure efficient service delivery and environmental sustainability. Through targeted IEC and community outreach activities, the intervention aims to foster long-term behavioral change and improve urban sanitation outcomes, resulting in reducing and over time eliminating waste flows in the river, and sustaining improved management of urban waste by local authorities. The programme will be implemented in close collaboration with the Patna and Danapur Municipal authorities.
Position Summary
The Development Organiser (Localizing Waste Solutions and Livelihood Enhancement) will play a key role in facilitating grassroots engagement and implementation of project activities across assigned wards of either the Patna Municipal Corporation or Nagar Parishad Danapur Nizamat. Working under the guidance of the Team Lead and Circle Coordinator, the position will support community mobilization, stakeholder coordination, and behavior change initiatives related to solid waste management. The position will engage closely with households, SHGs, sanitation workers, and informal waste pickers to promote waste segregation, improved waste handling practices, and inclusive waste management systems. The role also involves supporting training programs, community campaigns, quick ward-level assessments, identification of opportunities for decentralized waste processing, facilitating access to entitlements for rag-pickers through convergence with Common Service Centres. In addition, the position will help strengthen collaboration between Urban Local Bodies, community institutions, and other stakeholders while maintaining relevant field data and reporting project progress regularly.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the implementation of field level project activities related to decentralized solid waste management and community engagement across assigned wards under the guidance of the Circle Coordinator and Team Lead.
- Mobilize and engage households, formal and informal waste pickers, community groups, and local institutions to promote segregation of waste at source and adoption of improved waste management practices like home composting.
- Facilitate the formation and strengthening of community-based institutions such as Self-Help Groups (SHGs), resident groups, and ward-level committees to support decentralized waste management initiatives.
- Conduct ward-level rapid assessments and community consultations to identify gaps in waste management practices and inform local action planning.
- Build and maintain effective coordination with Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), ward representatives, sanitation workers, waste pickers, and other stakeholders to ensure smooth implementation of project activities.
- Facilitate access to government entitlements and schemes for rag-pickers through convergence with existing Common Service Centres (CSCs). Support CSCs in expanding their community outreach activities to enable the urban poor in the assigned wards access relevant government entitlements and schemes.
- Support the identification of suitable locations and facilitate community consensus for establishment of decentralized waste processing units such as composting units, transfer stations and segregation centres.
- Assist in developing and maintaining a database of sanitation workers, informal waste pickers, SHGs, and other relevant stakeholders in the project areas.
- Organize and facilitate community awareness campaigns, training workshops, and capacitybuilding sessions for communities, sanitation workers, and ULB staff on waste segregation, recycling, composting, and occupational safety.
- Support initiatives aimed at strengthening livelihoods and social inclusion of sanitation workers and informal waste pickers through capacity building and improved linkages with municipal systems.
- Maintain regular documentation of field activities, prepare progress reports, and support data collection for monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of project outcomes.
- Contribute and support the development of clear monthly/ quality/ annual workplans and key deliverables, and participate in regular reviews to ensure high quality programme delivery in alignment with approved timelines.
- Facilitate convergence with other AKF initiatives in the assigned wards, aligned with the objectives of the programme (eg adolescent girls empowerment programme, Satat Jeevikoparjan Yojana – Shahari (SJY-Urban)).
- Carry out any other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the organisation from time-to-time.
Qualifications and Skills Required
- Graduate degree in Social Work, Sociology, Rural Development, Environmental Studies, Development Studies, or any other relevant discipline.
- Minimum 2 years of experience in community mobilization, field coordination, or implementation of development projects, preferably in urban sanitation, solid waste management, WASH, or livelihood programs.
- Good understanding of government programmes such as Swachh Bharat Mission
- (Urban/Rural), livelihood missions, or urban development initiatives is desirable. Experience working with Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), community-based institutions, SHGs, or informal worker groups will be an added advantage.
- Ability to work independently in field conditions while maintaining regular coordination with the project team. Ability to facilitate group discussions, training sessions, and community meetings effectively.
- Practical understanding of behavior change communication (BCC) and community mobilization approaches. Demonstrated experience inconducting community meetings, awareness campaigns, training sessions, and participatory field activities.
- Willingness to travel frequently within assigned wards/ULBs and work closely with communities at the grassroots level. This position will require extensive (70- 80%) field travel within the designated ward / cluster.
- Basic understanding of data collection, field reporting, and documentation processes. Basic understanding on usages of MS Suite (MS Office, MS Excel, Power Point Presentation, Outlook, and MS Teams).
- Ability to multitask and work well with multiple stakeholders, both internal and external.
- Passionate about working to improve the quality of life of marginalized and vulnerable communities, and a commitment to transforming the lives of the under-privileged.
How To apply
Please submit your updated CV, accompanied by a cover letter stating the reasons for your interest in the position by 26th April 2026 using the link below –
The Aga Khan Development Network is an international group of private, non-denominational development agencies and institutions that seek to empower communities and individuals, often in disadvantaged circumstances, to improve living conditions and opportunities. Visit us at www.akdn.org.
The Aga Khan Foundation is committed to the principles of equal opportunity and will strive to ensure that all job applicants, staff, and volunteers, do not suffer negative discrimination on the basis of their religion, race, caste, color, nationality, social class, sex, place of birth, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, HIV status, age, etc. or any combination of these.
All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks. AKF also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. You can find out more about this scheme on this link: https:llmisconduct-disclosure-scheme.org.