Education Expert - NITI for States

Position: Education Expert - NITI for States
Employment type: 3 month contract - open to extension
Location: Delhi NCR/Bangalore
Language preference: English and Hindi

About Sattva

We Partner to deliver social impact at scale

Sattva Consulting is an Indian-origin, Global impact consulting firm and since 2009 we have been engaging with communities, businesses and government to deliver societal impact at scale.

We believe that Civil society, Business and Government all have a critical role to play in building an equitable and sustainable world, and we actively partner with all stakeholders to enable impact through our research & advisory services, knowledge platforms and collaborative initiatives.

Our teams are based in India, Singapore, Denmark and UK, but as a global organization our work has spanned 25 countries and 5 continents. For more information, please visit: www.sattva.co.in

Background:

The NITI for States (NFS) portal and the Viksit Bharat Strategy Room (VBSR) were both formally launched in March 2024. At the time of launch, there were approximately 7000 best practices, 5000 policies, and 989 datasets on the NFS Portal. The VBSR was launched with 5 sectors -  ADP/ABP, Agriculture, Energy, Tourism and Skilling.  

Over one year, the NFS Portal has been made richer through:

1. The identification of 900+ new Best Practices and Policy documents for upload to the NFS Portal through desk research, including new and updated good governance compendiums, prize-winning entries to DARPG PM Awards and other sources.

2. 450+ contributions received from State Users to the NFS Portal, pending publication following review 

3. Developing and uploading 91 sector-at-a-glance and 53 policy-at-a-glance insight documents with the support of Knowledge Partners

4. 350+ Datasets have been added ; Data profiles have been updated thrice (quarterly); 10 datasets have been identified to be added to the data explorer

Similarly, the Viksit Bharat Strategy Room has grown from 5 sectors at the time of launch to 15 new sectors with additional focus areas and indicator drill-downs added and constant updation and improvement in content:  

1. The new sectors include Health and Nutrition, MSME, Manufacturing, Water & WaSH, Education, Security and NITI Aayog Reports such as Fiscal Health Index, Multidimensional Poverty Index. 50+ Focus Areas under these sectors have been added. 

2. Existing content and layout is constantly being updated with latest data releases, research reports and conversations with relevant divisions/verticals within NITI Aayog. MSME, Health, Agriculture, WaSH and Energy sectors have been updated with latest data, wherever available. Annual data releases and updates have been incorporated into various sectors at a set cadence.  

3. Content of the BIPARD Gennext Lab has been integrated into the VBSR at NITI Aayog allowing for greater collaboration, knowledge exchange and sharing.

Since the launch, Use Cases have been added as a prominent new feature on both the NFS Portal and VBSR. They are intended to further the objective of data-driven governance at the district and block level through the development of solutions to social development issues using data analysis.
The NFS Use Case Challenge was launched nationwide in December 2024 seeking use case submissions from district and block-level officers. Use Cases are expected to drive user adoption and engagement with the knowledge resources available on the NFS Portal. To support this, the following activities were undertaken and completed:

1. 5 Use Cases covering problem statements in Education and Health have been developed by the NFS Team and uploaded to the NFS Portal and VBSR.

2. A use case visualisation module is currently being developed for the NFS Portal using the data gathered from the indicator mapping exercise and inputs from DMs/DCs.

To drive this activity further, we are looking for sectoral experts to guide us through the process and help us scale the activity across the country.

Overview:

The sectoral experts will work closely with the NFS PMU team to develop practical and data-driven use cases (problem statements with solutions) for their respective sectors. Their responsibilities include (but not be limited to):

• Problem Statement Definition:

• Work with the team to identify and prioritize grassroot problems within their sector (e.g., health, education, urban development, environment, AI, etc.) based on sectoral needs and NFS team’s prioritization.
  
  

• Define clear, measurable problem statements that address specific issues (e.g., low institutional delivery rates, high school dropout rates, etc.).

• Work closely with the NITI leadership, sectoral and PMU team to get approval on problem statements through consultations with NITI Aayog, state/district officials, other relevant stakeholders, data analysis and other methodologies.
  
  

• Lead Data Analysis and Indicator Selection:

• Provide supervision to review existing datasets, data profiles (state, district, sector, and block level), and indicators available on the NFS platform and outside (wherever applicable).

• Guide the team in identifying metrics relevant to the defined problem statements (e.g., anemia prevalence, school attendance rates, air quality index).

• Additional: Highlight data gaps or missing indicators on the NFS platform that are critical for addressing the problem and recommend their inclusion.

• Suggestions on analyzing the relationship between defined outcome indicators and other factors affecting each of the defined problem statement/s, so as to make data-driven decisions to address the problem statement

• Recommendations and Broad solutions from ground:

• Oversee the analysis of best practices and policies from high-performing states, districts, or sectors as documented on the NFS platform or recommend from their experience which can be added to the platform for the same purpose.

• Identify replicable strategies, interventions, or policies that have proven effective in addressing similar challenges in other regions.

• Advise the team in documenting case studies or success stories from the NFS repository to support proposed solutions.

• Curated answers for FAQs for each of the defined problem statements

Overall Process

• Design sector-specific use cases that outline:

• Problem: A clear description of the issue which is to be solved.

• Data Utilization: How NFS data (existing or recommended) can be used to assess the problem.

• Wherever not feasible from NFS look for sources outside.

• Solution Approach: Steps to address the problem, including relevant indicators, policies, and best practices.

• Implementation Guidance: Practical recommendations for stakeholders (e.g., state officials, local administrators) to adopt solutions.

• Expected Outcomes: Measurable goals or impacts (e.g., 10% increase in institutional delivery rates, 20% reduction in school dropout rates).

• Ensure use cases are actionable, scalable, and tailored to the needs of state/district-level stakeholders and up to NITI Aayog’s standard.

• Curate answers to FAQs on a case by case basis that help answer fundamental questions regarding the use cases.

• Stakeholder Engagement and Validation

• Collaborate with NITI Aayog, state/district officials, and other stakeholders to validate/enhance use cases.

• Participate in workshops, meetings, or consultations to refine use cases and gather feedback.

• Provide sector-specific expertise to guide discussions and address technical or operational queries.

• Time Requirement:

• The individual will be engaged on a 10 days per month basis for a duration of 3 months

• Open to travel to NITI office as and when required

Who are we looking for?

• 15+ years of experience in government advisory, digital governance & transformation, consulting, finance, research, or development sector leadership.
• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Economics, Data Sciences, Statistics or a related field.
• Additional certifications or executive programs in public policy, public administration, digital transformation, or data for development are a plus.
• Proven experience of working on research and data across diverse sectors.
• Proven experience of analysing public data and working with government data systems.
• Experience in digital product development or digital public infrastructure initiatives is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated experience in primary development sectors such as education, health, livelihoods, etc., is highly desirable.
• Proven experience working with or advising senior government stakeholders at the central and/or state level.
• Proven track record of managing complex programs including strategy, execution, stakeholder management, and team leadership.
• Outstanding communication skills in English and Hindi, with an ability to present complex ideas clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences.
  
  

Why Sattva?

It's not about us really- Because IMPACT is everybody’s business.

• Create Impact: Make an impact with the work you do and the solutions you design

• Work Environment: Thrive in a diverse, inclusive, and collaborative environment

• Learn & Grow: Challenge yourself to learn, grow, and deliver the best you can

• Future Ready: Work on critical issues of today that will affect our collective tomorrow

How to Prepare?

This is your opportunity to showcase not only your qualifications but also your unique personality and passion for making a meaningful impact. Approach your application with intentionality, ensuring that each word reflects your commitment to excellence and aligns seamlessly with the values of Sattva.

FAQs on the Hiring Process

Next Steps

Together towards a sustainable world with opportunity for all!

Sattva is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants regardless of race, religion, caste, creed, gender, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, or any other legally protected and/or marginalized characteristics. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are essential to our business and we foster an environment of respect and a culture that celebrates diversity and promotes equity and inclusion. We are committed to providing all employees with education, training, and development opportunities to create a workplace where everyone feels safe, respected, and included.