Child in Need Institute, Jharkhand
Job Profile
Job Title: Cluster Coordinator
Place of Work: Kolebira and Thethaitangar, Simdega, Jharkhand
Reporting to: Program Manager
No. of vacancies: 2 (Two)
Project or Program: Rural Creche Initiative Programme
Period: July 2026 to June 2027 with prospects of extension based on performance and fund availability.
Introduction
Child in Need Institute (CINI) has been implementing/facilitating different programs to demonstrate models in improving quality of lives of children, adolescent and women in need. CINI also provides technical support to different State Governments and at National level for strengthening existing services and build up capacities of personnel working at different layers. CINI’s core model is based on CINI method that promotes a rights-based convergence approach which has so far attracted the attention of policy makers and other different actors of development sector, and which has proven to be an effective design to promote local level solutions for improving care and protection of Children.
About the Project:
The creches being established under this initiative are called “Sishu Ghar” in Jharkhand & Odisha and “Laika Ghar” in Chhattisgarh. Which means “children’s home” in Hindi.
The Crèche Initiative aims to improve the nutritional status and early childhood development of children aged between 7 months and 3 years. The objectives of the Crèche Initiative are-
a) To enable access to crèches by all children between 7 months and 3 years in a selected geography.
b) To ensure supplementary feeding, early childhood development, and facilitation of access to government entitlements.
c) To identify growth faltering, underweight, and wasted children (7 months to 3 years), refer them to a health facility and follow up.
In rural areas, especially in remote villages inhabited by Adivasis, children between 7 months to 3 years of age are highly vulnerable to malnutrition.
As per the provisioning, these children are entitled to Take Home Ration (THR), immunisation, and other services during Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Day (VHSND) and referral to health facilities in case of illnesses. However, many of these children have poor access to these services due to geographical barriers and sub-optimal health-seeking behaviour. Further, these children are left behind by parents with older siblings and grandparents when they go out for work. This hinders the child’s access to proper nutrition and overall development. The first two to three years of the child’s life have the maximum potentiality to reduce malnutrition and promote cognitive development. If proper nutrition and care are not provided to children in these years, the damage could be irreversible.
In this context, the Rural Crèche Initiative (RCI) has been visualised as a platform for children under 3 years, in order to improve their access to proper nutrition, health and Early Childhood Development (ECD) interventions. The crèche would be a community-based centre run by Civil Society Organisation (CSO) partners supported by Azim Premji Foundation, where parents can leave their children when they go out for work. It would provide day care services for children for six hours a day for six days a week
Activities to be performed:
A) Pre-Setup Phase
• Supports in the necessary arrangements and coordination for the Program Team Orientation or Pre-Service Training.
• Co-visits with the Program Manager to meet the functionaries of the block.
• Analyses and uses ICDS data received to make village intervention plan and shares the same with the supervisors and other cadres.
B) Set-up Phase
• Based on the community intervention plan, identifies villages and leads the community interventions
• Coordinates with the PRIs, Anganwadi and ASHA workers in conducting small group meetings and Gram Sabhas.
• Leads efforts for Space Identifications, its modifications and readiness.
• Supports the Supervisors in Line Listing and co-visits houses for interactions.
• Takes the lead in conducting Gram Sabhas, Caregivers’ selection and supports necessary documentation processes.
• Audits space (in absence of safety coordinator) on safety parameters as per the checklist.
• Together with supervisors, ensures safe spaces for the creche centers.
• Coordinates with Logistic Coordinator for necessary materials and resources for the centers.
• Coordinates with the team for Caregivers’ Pre-Service Training and supports in ensuring necessary arrangements.
• Leads and supports in the Center Set up for operations.
C) Operational Phase
• Makes a plan for the Day of Operations and community mobilization.
• Supports child enrolment and home visits.
• Makes a weekly plan and supports the supervisors in doing the same.
• Regularly visits the centers and supports the caregivers and supervisors by demonstrating the practices and extending handholding.
• Identifies need for capacity building and support through daily observations for each supervisor and makes necessary plans to support.
• Demonstrates and supports in Growth Monitoring regularly.
• Conducts weekly review and planning meetings with the team.
• Assesses safety and security of the creches regularly.
• Uses the Shishu Ghar application on mobile for check-ins and relevant updates and uses data for effective review and planning.
• Ensures smooth creche operations through regular visits, observations and monitoring.
• Documents necessary and relevant observations for references and meaningful uses.
• Regularly visits home and supports in referrals wherever needed.
• Coordinates with the key frontline personnel for health interventions and support.
• Organizes and attends CMC and other community meetings regularly.
Qualification: Graduate in any subject with basic knowledge of Computer application and MS Office
Experience: 3+ years of experience in community-based interventions in health, ECCE or Nutrition domains
Age: 25 – 45 years
Competencies:
• Good communication skills. He/She must have Proficiency in Hindi and local dialects of the intervention area. The knowledge/ basic understanding of English will be an added advantage.
• Should preferably be from the same block or district, with proficiency in the local Language
Expected travel: Need Based to CINI State Office and other location as per project need. Regularly within Block and project locations to creches.
Remuneration / CTC: - Rs. Rs.35,000/- per Month
How to Apply:
• Interested candidates must also fill the following google form: - https://forms.gle/yCQC3EeEh4uf2d988
"CINI is an equal opportunity employer. Eligible female / third gender candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. "
"Child In Need Institute follows the Child Protection Policy, Sexual Harassment at Workplace policy, and all HR-related policies."
"CINI is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion."