About Pratham
Pratham was founded in 1995, to provide pre-school education to children in Mumbai slums. Over the last 27 years, Pratham has grown to be one of the largest non-profit organizations working to provide quality education to children and youth in over 20 states and union territories across the country, through a range of interventions.
Pratham is a widely recognized organization, having received notable awards such as the Yidan Prize, Lui Che Woo Prize, WISE Prize for Innovation, Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship, the Henry R Kravis Prize in Leadership, and the CNN-IBN Indian of the Year for Public Service. For more details, refer to www.pratham.org
About the Early Years
Pratham Early Years team has decades of experience working with community partners and state governments to develop and deliver solutions targeting holistic development of children of age group 3 to 8 (i.e., children across preschool and grades 1-2). In the past few years, Pratham has also started working in the birth to 3 age group. Solutions include designing curriculum and material, training government and community resource groups, supporting on-site monitoring, providing measurement support and, most importantly, assisting state governments with evidence-based decision making for policy and practices. A key aspect of Pratham early years programs is mother and community engagement, which is done through the formation of mothers’ groups and weekly engagement with them thereafter, periodic school readiness melas, and upskilling for community volunteers.
Program: 0 to 3 Years Palan Poshan (Scale-up Grant Program)
Level: Block Level
Location: (Dhamtari / Kanker (CG)
Reporting To: Team Leader
Position Summary:
The ECD Mentor/Block Coordinator plays a pivotal role in the implementation and coordination of the Palan Poshan program, focusing on children aged 0 to 3 years. This position is crucial for ensuring the program’s success at the village & community levels. The coordinator will be responsible for overseeing program activities in designated Anganwadis and communities, working directly with mothers’ groups and children to help create nurturing, stimulating environments for early childhood development. The role also involves advocacy at the village level to support the smooth functioning and sustainability of the program, ensuring long-term impact.
Key Responsibilities:
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Program Implementation:
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Lead and oversee the on-ground execution of the Palan Poshan program activities within the allocated villages, ensuring alignment with the research-based program model.
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Ensure timely and effective implementation of all planned interventions, adhering to the program’s goals and guidelines.
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Coordinate activities with Anganwadi Workers (AWWs), Asha workers, social workers, and local youth to mobilize community involvement and foster collaborative efforts.
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Community Mobilization and Advocacy:
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Advocate at the village level for the importance of early childhood development, nutritional care, and health practices that promote the well-being of children aged 0 to 3 years.
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Conduct meetings with local stakeholders, including mothers’ groups, community leaders, and health workers, to build awareness and community ownership of the program.
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Empower parents, particularly mothers, by providing them with knowledge, tools, and resources to create a conducive learning environment for their children.
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Field Visits and Support:
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Conduct daily field visits to various Anganwadi’s and communities to monitor program progress and provide ongoing support to mothers’ groups and caregivers.
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Assist mothers and caregivers in adopting best practices for early childhood care, including nutrition, stimulation, and health care activities as prescribed by the program model.
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Identify and resolve challenges faced by the community in implementing the program, ensuring active participation and engagement.
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Data Collection and Reporting:
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Collect data regularly from mothers’ groups, Anganwadi centers, and other stakeholders to monitor progress and measure the program’s impact.
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Prepare detailed reports based on field observations and data collection, ensuring accurate documentation of activities, challenges, and outcomes.
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Share findings and reports with relevant government officials and program management to facilitate informed decision-making and program improvements.
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Capacity Building:
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Build the capacity of mothers’ groups, AWWs, Asha workers, and youth volunteers through ongoing training, mentorship, and support.
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Ensure that all stakeholders involved in the program understand their roles and responsibilities and have the knowledge required to execute them effectively.
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Facilitate learning sessions on topics like nutrition, early stimulation, and health practices for the children and their families to promote early development.
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- Collaboration and Coordination:
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Work closely with block-level officials, health departments, and local community-based organizations to strengthen program integration and delivery.
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Facilitate strong communication channels between the community and the Palan Poshan team to ensure responsiveness and transparency in program delivery.
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Foster partnerships with local health services to ensure families have access to necessary medical care and nutrition support.
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Liaisoning with local government officials
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Qualifications and essentials:
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Graduate from any stream or 12th pass with at least two years of experience in the social sector.
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Experience in community mobilization, social work, or early childhood development is preferred.
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Strong communication and interpersonal skills to work effectively with communities and stakeholders.
Work Area: Village & Community Level
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In Year 1, the ECD Mentor/Block Coordinator will collaborate with companions in the assigned block to implement the program.
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From Year 2 onward, the coordinator will take full responsibility for the program’s implementation across the entire block, working independently with local stakeholders.
Application Process:
Please send your CV to chhattisgarh@pratham.org, along with your current and expected CTC. We will reach out to you to initiate the application process. Due to the high volume of applications, please note that we may not be able to respond to all applicants.
Note: Pratham is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workforce and consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age or disability. We encourage individuals from underrepresented groups, especially persons with disabilities to apply.
