Ranjan B Verma

Have an extensive experience in research and consulting with multilateral and bilateral organizations, notably the AusAID, DFID, JICA, UNICEF, UNDP, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Central and State Governments, INGOs and research institutions. My core expertise is in social development, institutions and governance, that cut across many sectors and includes Rural and Urban development, Infrastructure planning, Health, Education, Livelihoods (both farm and non-farm), Water supply and Sanitation, and Disaster management and climate change. My programme management and M&E experience cut across many sectors and have contributed to programme design, mid-course correction, and learning from a number of large multilateral and bilateral programmes, especially in the areas on rural livelihood, local governance, health services, drinking water and sanitation, urban services to the poor, and support to strengthening civil-society voices and organizations. Over the last two decades have worked through and supported various reform initiatives in many sectors and helped in translating many policies to programme and practice. My experience in infrastructure planning such as urban environmental services to poor, and drinking water and sanitation in both rural and urban areas is towards influencing policy, planning and implementation of services including helping in demand creation and supply side management, including promoting behavior change to create an open defecation free environment. Many of the assignments in this sector address the critical issues related to policy and programme and facilitating government and local institutions to respond in better manner in achieving the desired goal. One of my main interest areas has been the good governance and developing strategies to increase transparency and accountability in policies, institutions and programme operations, and give the under-privileged a voice in governance. My understanding of formal and informal institutional and community dynamics and political economy have helped minimizing social and institutional risk to many projects. I have worked and supported various reform initiatives in many sectors and helped in translating many policies to programme and practice. In the process, I have successfully engaged with range of stakeholders including policy makers, programme implementers within government and donors (bilateral/ multilateral and other donors), private sector, and civil society organizations. Understanding of political economy and governance further helped in fine tuning programmes and operations more suited to poor and marginalized and also bring social inclusion and gender aspects into the programme implementation. Over the past two decades have conducted number of post disaster damage and need assessment (PDNA) for at least 5 earthquakes, 2 cyclones, 2 floods and droughts, and have lead the team conducting social and economic vulnerability and risk assessments towards prioritization of multi-hazard emergency preparedness, response and mitigation investments and DRR interventions. Have also evaluated many of the post disaster emergency response activities of bilateral and INGOs programmes. Civil-society organizations and civil-society movements have played an important role in development and voicing the concern of poor, marginalized and vulnerable, including gender concerns. My experience with civil society has also been going through the journey with them and help them strengthen including through bilateral support to make a positive contribution in the local governance of the area and the country as a whole and contribute towards the development and implementation of programme and policies. Have experience of working in India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal.