Associate - Policy Engagement

Job Description About the Organization Swaniti Initiative is a social enterprise that works at the intersection of climate, governance and last mile delivery. We believe that while the will and resources exist, there are fundamental gaps in execution within communities that are the biggest crisis in the climate movement. Accordingly, Swaniti works with sub-national governments to conduct micro-planning exercises with consultations with communities and key stakeholders to understand the pathways forward, provide technical assistance to sub-national governments to provide support in program implementation and support in monitoring and delivery of programs. Swaniti has been working across multiple geographies in the global south to unlock capital. Our three core metrics include unlocking public capital, ensuring last mile communities are directly benefited and creating systemic changes in the public service systems. While we are continuing to focus on impact, it is critical to have a lead who has a deep understanding about monitoring, evaluation and learning. Our intention is to create an institutional capability to measure and document the scale of our impact and look at how learning can be replicated across the institution. Job ResponsibilitiesThe Associate for Policy Engagements will support the Policy Team with strategic outreach to Hon'ble Members of Parliament (MPs), provide evidence-based research, sectoral insights, and legislative support using data-driven methodologies. The role will focus on aiding MPs through research, policy briefs, stakeholder conventions, and facilitating knowledge exchange on critical policy issues including climate change and allied fields. Key Responsibilities Research & Legislative Support: - Conduct evidence-based research on policy issues, government schemes, and sectoral challenges for Hon'ble MPs, with particular focus on environment, social protection and governance. Utilize primary and secondary data sources, field research, and stakeholder consultations where appropriate. - Developed high-quality expert briefings, policy insights and legislative support documents based on MPs specific requests, ensuring all materials were factual within tight deadlines. - Provide background research and analytical support for parliamentary interventions, bills, standing committee meetings, and parliamentary debates, including identifying key policy gaps and opportunities. - Identify critical policy gaps through data analysis and research and propose evidence-based interventions at constituency and national levels, aligning with Swaniti's constituency development approach and flagship programs. Stakeholder Engagement: - Constant outreach to Parliamentarians in India and abroad - Engage with diverse stakeholders including government bodies, think tanks, civil society organizations, corporate CSR wings, and grassroots organizations to gather insights, facilitate knowledge exchange, and support evidence-based policy making. This includes conducting stakeholder consultations, primary outreach and research. - Support the organization of policy workshops, stakeholder consultations, and knowledge exchange events on critical policy issues, ensuring high-quality facilitation and documentation of outcomes. Documentation & Reporting: - Prepare high-quality reports, policy briefs, and knowledge products on relevant policy issues, ensuring all materials are well-researched, factually accurate, and presented in accessible formats for diverse audiences. - Document policy recommendations, administrative reports, impact assessments, and success stories for wider dissemination, contributing to organizational learning and knowledge management. - Comply with all internal reporting requirements, maintaining high standards of documentation and contributing to team knowledge sharing and organizational systems. - Actively contribute to communication initiatives including content development, social media engagement, and public outreach to amplify policy insights and organizational impact. Requirements Education: - Postgraduate degree in Economics, Public Policy, Political Science, Law, Development Studies or any related field Experience: - A minimum of 3 years of full-time, post-graduate professional experience in public policy, governance, research, or related domains. Skills: - Strong research and analytical skills, including ability to conduct primary research, data analysis, and synthesize complex information from multiple sources and disseminate utilizing standard policy advocacy tools and strategies. - Ability to translate complex policy issues into clear, actionable insights for Hon'ble MPs and stakeholders. - Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with ability to engage professionally with diverse stakeholders including government officials, MPs, civil society leaders, and grassroots organizations. - Understanding of the structure and functioning of Union and State governments. - Strong understanding of the structure and functioning of Union and State governments, including administrative, parliamentary hierarchies and inter-governmental coordination mechanisms. Mandatory Attributes: - Demonstrated enthusiasm and commitment to addressing critical policy issues affecting public service delivery and governance in India. - Availability and commitment to provide timely, high-quality support to public representatives on legislative and policy matters, including responsiveness to urgent requests. - Demonstrated understanding of critical policy issues including climate change, air pollution, social protection, governance, and sustainable development. - Proven ability to produce high-quality work within tight deadlines while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail. - Professional reliability, punctuality, and strong work ethics with ability to work independently and as part of a team. Technical Skills: - Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). - Proficiency in visual storytelling including but not limited to Canva. - Basic data analysis skills and familiarity with data visualization tools. - Research methodology including literature review, stakeholder interviews, and survey design. - Familiarity with government databases and public information sources. Preferred Experience: - Previous experience working with government officials or elected representatives. - Exposure to constituency-level development work. - Experience with climate change, and/or social protection policy issues. Please note that the role at times expects availability on weekends and holidays to cater efficiently to the stakeholders as and when required. If you do not hear from us within 30 days, please consider your application to be unsuccessful, and your application has been retained in our database for future opportunities.