GIS Associate

UNDP has been working in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development. Together with the Government of India and development partners, we have worked towards eradicating poverty, reducing inequalities, strengthening local governance, enhancing community resilience, protecting the environment, supporting policy initiatives and institutional reforms, and accelerating sustainable development for all.

With projects and programmes in every state and union territory in India, UNDP works with national and subnational government, and diverse development actors to deliver people-centric results, particularly for the most vulnerable and marginalized communities. As the integrator for collective action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the UN system, we are committed to supporting the Government of India’s national development vision and priorities and accelerating the achievement of the SDGs for the people and the planet.

UNDP India’s new Country Programme (2023-2027) builds on our prior work and aims to provide an integrated approach to development solutions in three strategic portfolios:

• Strong, accountable and evidence-led institutions for accelerated achievement of the SDGs.
• Enhanced economic opportunities and social protection to reduce inequality, with a focus on the marginalized.
• Climate-smart solutions, sustainable ecosystems and resilient development for reduced vulnerability.

South-South cooperation, gender equality and social inclusion are promoted across the pillars. The programme is supported by a framework of renewed partnerships and blended finance solutions, strategic innovation and accelerator labs, and data and digital architecture.

You are invited to join a team of future-smart development professionals to support India in achieving the national and globally agreed goals. As part of the UNDP team, your focus will be to work with diverse stakeholders to find country-specific solutions that lead to sustainable development and reach those furthest behind first.

The Government of India’s flagship schemes Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and KCC/MISS have become important tools to strengthen the resilience of Indian farmers. The schemes ensure maximum benefits for the farmers by providing financial risk protection against natural calamities and catastrophic events including pests, climate uncertainties and environmental shocks. Apart from providing comprehensive risk coverage for the entire crop cycle, PMFBY also enables direct claim transfer into farmers’ accounts through e-remittance. Additionally, to address agrarian distress, Kisan Credit Card/ Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS) was introduced by the Government of India to provide cheap and hassle-free credit for millions of farmers and to ensure continued investment into agriculture to bring in mechanization, modernize agriculture practices and eventually enhance productivity.

UNDP’s Country Programme Document (2023-2027) intended Outcome 2 states that “By 2027, people will benefit from and contribute to sustainable and inclusive growth through higher productivity, competitiveness and diversification in economic activities that create decent work, livelihoods, and income particularly for youth and women”. UNDP leverages its expertise in systems strengthening to support the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmer’s Welfare (MoA&FW) through setting up of a Central Program Management Unit (CPMU) for the implementation of PMFBY and KCC, to improve institutional and programme responsiveness, increase coverage and better access among marginalised and excluded farm households, offering innovative measures and support mechanisms for Agri-value chain financing, risk management and reduced crop loss for the rural population in India. The PMU will also focus on providing Capacity Building and Training support to participating state-level government departments involved in PMFBY and KCC and advancing the scheme among new states for improved uptake.

Within the overall framework of UNDP’s ongoing programme with MoA&FW, institutional strengthening support is extended to MNCFC by setting up a TIC (Technology Implementation Cell) which will provide Remote Sensing and Geospatial support to MNCFC for the successful implementation of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). This will involve carrying out operational activities and R&D activities for using satellite and other collateral data and models and GIS tools for the national crop insurance programme.

MNCFC has been assigned with the responsibility of mainstreaming the geospatial technology solutions under PMFBY’s national initiatives i.e. YES-TECH, WINDS and CROPIC and support other tech interventions like a) Smart sampling locations to States, b) Yield dispute resolution, c) Area discrepancy analysis, d) Crop situation assessment etc.

Direct Reporting To: Remote Sensing Analyst, NPSA9

The GIS Associate – Technical Implementation Cell will work under the overall guidance and supervision of the Director, MNCFC. The GIS Associate will be responsible for all PMFBY-related Geo- Information Management, including but not limited to managing desktop and server software applications, creating applications related to crop yield/loss. Duties and Responsibilities include:

Implementation of GIS and Technology Solution

• Development of GIS solutions for PMFBY implementation
• Implementation and monitoring of YES-TECH, WINDS and CROPIC activities.
• Supporting the state in Smart Sampling of Crop Cutting Experiments.
• Providing technology support to solve various issues of PMFBY, such as Area Discrepancy, Yield Disputes, Prevented/Failed Sowing, Loss characterization, etc.

Support Research and Development

• Coordinating the pilot studies being/to be conducted by the Department, for various technology implementation solutions like, yield estimation for non-cereal crops, CROPIC etc.
• Carrying out R&D activities on different aspects of RS and Geospatial Technology use in Crop Insurance.

Ensure proper documentation.

• Preparation of SOPs, Manuals, Protocols and Guidelines for use remote sensing and geospatial technology for Crop Insurance.

Support Capacity Building

• Capacity Building of stakeholders in use of RS and Geospatial technology for PMFBY.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline.
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements. 
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback.
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible. 
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident.
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships.
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Digital & Innovation

• Data analysis: Ability to extract, analyse and visualize data (including Real- Time Data) to form meaningful insights and aid effective decision making.
• Data storytelling and communications: Skilled in building a narrative around a set of data and its accompanying visualizations to help convey the meaning of that data in a powerful and compelling fashion.
• Agile methodologies and practices: Ability to manage projects and processes through continuous iteration, learning and improvement; Ability to manage a self-organising cross-functional teams, foster a team culture of curiosity and learning. Being nimble and being able to improvise and quickly adjust to unforeseen events or changes in conditions or context.
• Digital thought leadership: Ongoing research into emerging technologies and digital trends and the applications, risks, and opportunities associated with digital adoption, combined with the ability to communicate this synthesis with a broad audience.

Partnership management

• Emerging partnerships: Ability to engage with emerging partners, develop and manage a strategy and develop approaches to developing and managing these new strategic partnerships.

Information Management & Technology

• IT Research and Development; Regular following new technologies and technical trends, research the technologies that are applicable and beneficial to the organization and develop the systems.

General (across the functions)

• Event planning and execution: Ability to plan, manage and execute of public and private events to ensure that they support and amplify individual communications and advocacy initiatives, as well as UNDP’s overall brand and mandate.