Project Officer - Coordination, SAMS, Raipur, Chhattisgarh
1. POSITION VACANT: Project Officer - Coordination, SAMS, Raipur, Chhattisgarh
2. ORGANISATIONAL BACKGROUND:
Our Client, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, and build resilience so countries can sustain progress. As the UN’s development agency, UNDP plays a critical role in helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
UNDP has been working in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development - from systems and institutional strengthening to inclusive growth and sustainable livelihoods, as well as sustainable energy, environment and resilience. With projects and programmes in every state and union territory in India, UNDP works with national and subnational government, and diverse development actors to deliver people-centric results, particularly for the most vulnerable and marginalized communities. As the integrator for collective action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the UN system, we are committed to support the Government of India’s national development vision and priorities and accelerate the achievement of the SDGs for the people and the planet.
UNDP India’s new Country Programme (2023-2027) builds on the prior work and aims to provide an integrated approach to development solutions in three strategic portfolios:
• Strong, accountable and evidence-led institutions for accelerated achievement of the SDGs
• Enhanced economic opportunities and social protection to reduce inequality, with a focus on the marginalized
• Climate-smart solutions, sustainable ecosystems and resilient development for reduced vulnerability
For more information about UNDP India, please visit https://www.undp.org/india
PROJECT BACKGROUND:
The Department of Tribal & Scheduled Caste, Government of Chhattisgarh is the nodal department for overall policy, planning and coordination of programmes for development of Scheduled Tribes (STs). The department has accorded high priority and adopted multifaceted development strategies to promote socio-economic growth of the STs. Specific interventions are being implemented including implementation of protective legislations such as the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006. The programmes and schemes for tribal people are intended to support and supplement the efforts, primarily of other state departments to fill critical gaps within institutions and programmes, considering the situation of STs. These schemes comprising of economic, educational, and social development through institutional building, are administered by the line departments. Notwithstanding numerous developmental interventions, the STs continue to face developmental deficits with respect to health, education, livelihood, development infrastructure as well as other socio-economic indices, many of which are well below the national average.
The Department of Tribal & Scheduled Caste, Government of Chhattisgarh is committed to providing equitable access to opportunity for the tribal communities, through participatory approach and adoption of innovative methods including e-governance and increasing use of technology to provide strategic inputs into the development process. To accelerate the implementation of the development agenda for the tribal communities and strengthen the institutional delivery systems at the State and district level, it is important to strengthen the capacity and effectiveness of the officials and stakeholders to deliver on the issues related to tribal empowerment and create robust systems for monitoring and implementation of the SC & ST schemes of the Central and State government.
The Department is working in collaboration with UNDP to fast-track development in difficult geographies inhabited by tribal populations, enhancing capacities of government functionaries and expanding opportunities for better livelihoods, health and education to vulnerable tribal communities.
3. JOB PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF WORK (SOW):
It is proposed to engage a Project Officer-Coordination to provide technical support to the Department of Tribal & Scheduled Caste, Government of Chhattisgarh for effective implementation and monitoring of the Forest Rights Act 2006 and allied interventions.
The Project Officer -Coordination will work under the overall guidance and supervision of the Project Analyst, Tribal Rights, and the project team members with day-to-day supervision on the implementation issues with the Government of Chhattisgarh. S/He will ensure engagement of all direct stakeholders and delivery of project objectives in coordination with the Government of Chhattisgarh.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Technical Assistance and Programme Support
• Provide technical assistance to the Tribal and Scheduled Caste Development Department, Government of Chhattisgarh, to accelerate implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, with a focus on program design and delivery, institution building, strengthening governance systems, convergence with livelihood programmes, and improved outcomes for tribal communities.
• Lead strategic coordination for inclusion of FRA in Central and State sector schemes of Tribal Development (incl. Dharti Aba-Janajatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, Article 275(1) etc), overseeing end-to-end program cycle management, ranging from workplan design and budget allocation to implementation tracking and results reporting for the Department.
• Support the development and operationalization of data-driven action plans to improve FRA implementation in low-performing districts/blocks, integrating community forest resources management plans, livelihood convergence and socio-economic impact considerations.
Policy, Legal and Institutional Strengthening
• Develop integrated policy frameworks operationalizing legal harmonisation between FRA 2006 and allied forest and tribal legislation including FCA 1980, WLPA 1972, PESA 1996, BDA 2002, LARR 2013 and Panchayati Raj frameworks to address inter-statutory conflicts in forest rights recognition, forest diversion, land mutation, community forest resource management.
• Facilitate and institutionalize inter-departmental coordination mechanisms at state level to enable convergence between FRA and key tribal development, livelihood, and natural resource management programmes.
• Provide technical and coordination support for convening State Level Monitoring Committee meetings and other high-level review platforms, including preparation of briefs, agendas, and follow-up actions.
• Lead the establishment and operationalization of multi-stakeholder platforms (government and non-government) to enable cross-institutional dialogue, knowledge exchange, and coordinated responses on FRA implementation at state and national levels.
• Contribute technical expertise to the development of guidelines, SOPs, policy briefs, advisories, and legal clarifications related to FRA implementation, including aspects of livelihood integration and convergence.
Research, Partnerships and Knowledge Management
• Identify key research priorities and support the design and execution of studies on FRA, including its socio-economic and livelihood impacts, and document best practices for scale-up at state and national levels.
• Facilitate partnerships with government agencies, civil society organizations, donor agencies and development partners to leverage resources, strengthen implementation, and promote innovation in FRA and related tribal development initiatives.
• Support systematic documentation, compilation, and dissemination of progress, learnings, and outcomes across review forums, including state and national-level platforms.
• Prepare high-quality quarterly and annual project reports aligned with UNDP standards, capturing progress against workplans, results frameworks, and convergence outcomes.
Digital Systems, Monitoring and Stakeholder Engagement
• Support the design, enhancement, and monitoring of digital platforms and dashboards for FRA data analysis, visualization, and decision support, including integration of additional modules as required.
• Organize and facilitate workshops, consultations, and knowledge-sharing events to disseminate project outputs and promote stakeholder engagement at state and national levels, while contributing to UNDP’s broader knowledge products and thematic initiatives.
• Ensure that project contributes to the promotion of gender equality by reaching, involving and benefiting both women and men in its activities (gender mainstreaming)
• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Any other tasks assigned by the supervisor.
4. QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES:
Qualification:
A first level university degree (bachelor’s degree) with/or a Master's degree) in Social Science, Social Work, Rural Management, Natural Resource Management, Ecology, Development Studies, Public Policy or a related field will be given due consideration.
Experience:
(1) A minimum of 2 years (with a Masters's degree) or 4 years’ experience (with Bachelor’s degree) of work experience in development sector, rural development, social work, public policy, natural resource management. sector is required.
Required Skills:
(1) Working experience in Government or relevant multilateral institutions.
(2) Demonstrated experience of working with on the legislation on forest and tribal rights (Forest Rights Act, PESA, FCA 1980, WLPA 1972, LARR 2013 etc.)
(3) Knowledge and understanding of Protective legislation and constitutional provisions related to Schedule Tribes/Scheduled Areas.
(4) Experience in Policy analysis and planning related to Tribal issues, Natural resource governance and Forest based livelihood.
(5) Good understanding of tribal development related schemes (PM Janman, DA-JGUA, Article 275(1) etc) and legislations (FRA, PESA, PoA etc.)
(6) Domain knowledge in areas like governance, convergence, tribal affairs, social justice, gender equity and social inclusion
(7) Working Knowledge about tribal development, monitoring of schemes and programmes.
(8) Proven experience in leading comprehensive capacity building programmes, design, and delivery.
(9) Proven experience in designing and conducting training sessions for different implementing officers involved in Tribal development, CSO and community leaders
(10) Knowledge of and experience in gender mainstreaming is an asset.
(11) Ability to use information and communication technology, geo-spatial techniques as a tool and resource for data driven decision making platforms.
(12) Team Building, Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing qualities are essential.
(13) Knowledge of and experience in gender mainstreaming is an asset.
(14) Brings visibility and sensitizes decision makers to relevant emerging issues.
Competencies:
(1) Communication: Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels
(2) Data strategy and management: Knowledge to draft or execute a data strategy or a data management framework
(3) Knowledge Facilitation: Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally
(4) Effective Decision Making: Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources
(5) Monitoring: Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results
(6) Innovation capacity building: Ability to define and create the conditions for trying out new ways of working or introducing new problem-solving approaches to an organisation.
5. LANGUAGES:
Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English, and Hindi is essential.
6. DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT: Twelve months (Renewable based on project extension and performance).
7. CONSULTANCY FEE:
The monthly consultancy fee for the position shall be commensurate with the Government norms, as applicable for the position. The professional fee will be subject to withholding taxes, as applicable.
8. NATURE OF ENGAGEMENT:
The selected candidate shall be engaged as a Consultant on the rolls of SAMS, a third-party payrolling agency, for a full-time consultancy engagement for a period of one year. It is explicitly clarified that this consultancy engagement does not constitute a promise or guarantee of future employment, with SAMS, or our client, or any other organization associated with the project.
9. LOCATION: Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
10. REFERENCE: PO-CG-01
11. CONTACT INFORMATION:
Team SAMS
Strategic Alliance Management Services P Ltd.
B-18, Sector-06, Gautam Buddh Nagar,
NOIDA, Uttar Pradesh -201301
Phone Nos.: 0120- 4161355/56
www.sams.co.in | www.samsconsult.com
12. APPLICATION PROCESS:
Eligible candidates interested in the position are requested to upload their applications, using the link https://www.samsstc.com/Jobs/job-description/project-officer-coordination-sams-raipur-chhattisgarh-strategic-alliance-management-services-private-limited-raipur/602 by or before June 23, 2026.