Senior Consultant

About LEAD at Krea University:

LEAD is an action-oriented research centre of IFMR Society (a not-for-profit society registered under the Societies Act), leverages the power of research, innovation and co-creation to solve complex and pressing challenges in development. LEAD specialises in developing in-depth granular understanding of socio-economic contexts and harnessing actionable insights that have a wide range of applications in industry, policy, and academia. LEAD is a collaborative hub that brings experts from diverse disciplines and sectors together to develop innovative solutions by harnessing innovation, technology and analytics.

About IWWAGE:

Institute for What Works to Advance Gender Equality (IWWAGE) aims to build on existing research and generate new evidence to inform and facilitate the agenda of women's economic empowerment. IWWAGE is an initiative of LEAD, an action-oriented research centre of IFMR Society (a not-for-profit society registered under the Societies Act). LEAD has strategic oversight and brand support from Krea University (sponsored by IFMR Society) to enable synergies between academia and the research centre.

Project Background:

The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), Government of India, is undertaking a project with a cohort of partners, namely, IWWAGE, Udaiti Foundation, and Boston Consulting Group (BCG), to strengthen women's participation in the economy.

This cohort of partners will support MWCD as the nodal Ministry on initiatives for strengthening Female Labour Force Participation in India. The cohort will operate through a consolidated, multi-stakeholder approach. Its scope spans five key areas, namely, Inter-ministerial and Inter-state convergence, Women's Economic Empowerment, Behavioural Change, Data and Digital Technology, and a Knowledge Hub of Best Practices to drive systemic change towards women's economic empowerment.

As part of this cohort, IWWAGE is the knowledge and evidence partner to the MWCD. IWWAGE will lead on: building a national Knowledge Hub on global and domestic best practices; producing thought pieces aligned with 
Saksham Nari, Swashakt Bharat
 and 
Viksit Bharat 2047
; strengthening government data systems to capture women's paid and unpaid work; identifying requirements for robust data architecture; and developing effective communication channels to share key initiatives with states and ministries through publications, events, strategic engagements and inter-ministerial collaborations.

Scope of Work:

IWWAGE is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Consultant to provide high-level technical expertise, project coordination, and policy advisory support to the MWCD. The Senior Consultant will serve as the primary bridge between IWWAGE, MWCD, and project partners/ cohort members, ensuring effective communication, day-to-day technical support, stakeholder coordination, and oversight of policy implementation.

The ideal candidate should have a strong background in research and policy engagement/ advocacy with a focus on women's economic empowerment and labour force participation. They should be adept at team building and management, monitoring project impact, and fostering innovation and adaptation in policy execution. Prior experience working with the Ministries/State Government would be an added advantage.

The Senior Consultant will be responsible for driving program strategy, research, and operationalising workplans, working in close collaboration with the senior leadership of IWWAGE, including the Executive Director, Director of Policy and Research, Associate Director of Policy and Research, Head – Communication and External Engagement and the Senior Policy Manager. Strategic oversight from the IWWAGE leadership team will ensure alignment with national priorities and global discourse.

Key Responsibilities and Deliverables:

• Act as the primary technical liaison between MWCD, IWWAGE, and partner organisations, ensuring seamless coordination and timely execution of joint initiatives;
• Lead the development and dissemination of knowledge products, research reports, best practice compendiums, and national messaging strategies, including content for the Knowledge Hub;
• Facilitate inter-ministerial, inter-state, and cross-sectoral collaboration, engaging with government bodies, private sector partners, and civil society to promote convergence;
• Produce high-quality reports, policy briefs,
  and presentations tailored for MWCD leadership, partner ministries, and external stakeholders;
• Track and report progress through weekly updates to IWWAGE, ensuring key activities and milestones are met and represent IWWAGE in weekly update meetings with partners;
• Provide weekly briefings to the Joint Secretary and IWWAGE leadership, consolidating updates, next steps, and recommendations;
• Agree on a detailed deliverables plan
  with MWCD at project initiation, ensuring consistency with national priorities and IWWAGE's mandate;

Qualifications & Experience:

• Advanced degree in Public Policy, Economics, Development Studies, Gender Studies, or a related field;
• 8-12 years of experience in program design, policy advisory, and implementation support in gender and economic empowerment;
• Experience working with government stakeholders, particularly in policy implementation and program strategy;
• Proven track record in team leadership, stakeholder engagement, and high-level policy advocacy;
• Strong analytical skills, with experience in program measurement and program evaluation;
• Excellent communication, documentation, and report-writing skills tailored for different stakeholders. Proficiency in spoken and written English and Hindi is required;
• Ability to work in fast-paced policy environments and collaborate effectively across sectors;
• Willingness to travel for field visits (even remote geographies), stakeholder consultations, and policy engagements;
• Be adaptable to working extended hours and responding to requirements at short notice.

This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to systemic policy change and work directly with MWCD's leadership in advancing FLFP and gender-responsive economic policies.

Application Instructions:

Deadline: Applications are being accepted until the position is filled. To apply, please collate your resume, a cover letter stating your suitability for the position and a writing sample in a single PDF and apply in the form
here.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Note:
Due to the large volume of applications we receive, we are unable to contact each candidate individually regarding the status of their application. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for interview purposes.