Consultancy: Economic Inclusion Program Quality and Technical Partnerships Specialist (India)

Title: Consultancy: Economic Inclusion Program Quality and Technical Partnerships Specialist (India) 

Location: Delhi, India (must have the legal right to work in the country where they will be based)

Duration: 12 months
Travel: Up to 40–50% (domestic and international)

Purpose of the Consultancy

Trickle Up seeks a consultant – Economic Inclusion Program Quality and Technical Partnerships Specialist (EI PQTP) -- to provide technical leadership in economic inclusion (EI) programming across its India regional portfolio.

The consultant will play a key role in enhancing program quality, strengthening technical assistance (TA) delivery, and supporting program design, adaptation, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL), and knowledge management (KM). They will collaborate closely with regional and global teams to ensure quality, coherence, and alignment with Trickle Up’s global EI frameworks.

The successful candidate will have experience in providing technical assistance, group facilitation, and adult education, ideally in the fields of livelihoods, economic inclusion, ultra-poor graduation, and/or financial inclusion. They will be experienced in program design, management, and evaluation in the international development arena. They will also have experience developing and managing relationships with key strategic partners and contributing to business development efforts.

Position and Reporting

• Report directly to the Senior Advisor, Program Quality and Technical Assistance (Headquarters EI Team).
• Have a dotted-line reporting relationship with the Chief Program Officer for Trickle Up India Foundation.

• Collaborate closely with the EI Team (Knowledge Management Specialist, MERL Advisor), regional teams (MERL, business development), Project Directors, and implementing partners.

Scope of Work and Responsibilities

Support Program Quality for Regional EI and Technical Assistance Projects

• Support Trickle Up’s regional office in implementing high-quality economic inclusion efforts (direct implementation and TA).
• Ensure alignment with Trickle Up’s Global Program Quality Framework across the program cycle.
• Build capacity of regional, country, and project-level teams in EI, Graduation, and related methodologies.
• Support regional business development efforts and strategic relationship management, particularly for TA initiatives, helping ensure organizational strategic alignment and integration of best practices in EI project design; act as Technical Lead or EI Subject Matter Expert (SME) in proposal development.
• Coordinate with global and regional MERL staff to maintain alignment with global MEL standards.
• Provide high‑quality technical assistance to CBOs, NGOs, government agencies, and institutional partners in both in‑person and remote modalities.
• Lead the development and adaptation of context‑appropriate training curricula, tools, and applied learning processes.
• Support project management, donor compliance, and deliverable reviews.

Lead and/or Support EI Team–Led Technical Assistance Initiatives

• Lead or support EI-led TA initiatives throughout the program cycle, including design, implementation support, and MERL activities.
• Serve as Project Manager for select TA initiatives, responsible for workplan oversight, budget and financial monitoring, reporting, and donor communication.

Support Global Program Quality and Technical Assistance Efforts

• Contribute to the refinement and rollout of global program quality and TA strategies.
• Support the pursuit of global and regional technical partnerships and technical assistance opportunities.
• Serve as a conduit between the global EI Team and the regional office—ensuring strategic alignment and knowledge flow.
• Liaise with regional teams and the EI Working Group to share lessons learned, promising practices, and technical products.
• Contribute to global knowledge management to strengthen learning, documentation, and dissemination.

Key Deliverables

• Monthly liaison with regional staff, EI Team, and EI Working Group.
• Monthly contributions to global KM activities.
• Quarterly capacity-building exchanges with regional staff.
• Lead technical oversight of WISE III activities, including piloting Trickle Up’s Coach Up digital coaching app and cohort testing with the PVTG project by September 2026.
• Serve as Technical Lead for at least four proposals – by March 2027.
• Co-design ToCs and MEL frameworks for all new projects – by March 2027.
• Provide ongoing technical support to EI projects such as BRAC‑CGSRLM (Chhattisgarh), BRAC ILE (Maharashtra/Tamil Nadu/Telangana), PVTG (Jharkhand), MPOWERED Scale-Up Plus (Jharkhand/Odisha) – through March 2027.
• Act as Project Manager for new EI-led TA initiatives – through March 2027.
• Support operationalization of global program quality and TA strategies across all India projects – through March 2027.

 Required Competencies and Experience

•          Advanced degree in social sciences, international development, adult learning, or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in technical assistance, capacity building, or strategic consulting, including designing and leading capacity building and training initiatives.
• Minimum 5 years in program design and management of international development or livelihoods/economic inclusion programming.
• Versed in graduation approach, sustainable livelihoods, or economic development with vulnerable populations.
• Experience in relationship management with donors, implementing partners, and government stakeholders.
• Experience working with government institutions, public policy design and implementation, and social protection programs.
• Experience contributing to proposals or concept notes.
• Experience working on large-scale government- or donor-led programs.
• Excellent writing, reporting, communication, and presentation skills in English and Hindi.
• Ability to work in multicultural teams across geographies.
• Willingness to travel up to 40–50%.

Behavioral Competencies

• Strong leadership qualities and independence.
• Ability to meet deadlines and manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent interpersonal, diplomacy, and communication skills.
• Highly organized, analytical, proactive, and a creative problem-solver.
• Flexible under pressure; strong team player with cross-cultural sensitivity.

Consultancy Logistics

• Location: Delhi, India, with remote flexibility.
• Contract type: Individual consultancy agreement.
• Payment: Monthly invoice based on the agreed daily rate and approved work plan.
• Travel: Up to 40–50% as required.
• Performance Evaluation: Based on quality, timeliness, and completion of deliverables.
• Reporting: Weekly check-ins with the Senior Advisor, Program Quality & Technical Assistance; dotted-line to Chief Program Officer for Trickle Up India Foundation (TUIF)

Collaboration and Coordination

The consultant will participate in regular EI Team meetings, EI Working Group sessions, regional coordination meetings, and cross-team collaboration on MERL, KM, and business development.

How to Apply

Interested consultants should submit their applications using the "Apply" button.

• A resume/CV, and
• A brief cover letter outlining relevant experience and approach to the assignment.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until filled.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Trickle Up is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We strongly encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds—particularly those with lived experience of poverty or marginalization.