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.

SC & ST Department, Government of Odisha is the nodal department for overall policy, planning and coordination of programmes for development of Scheduled Tribes (STs). The department has accorded high priority and adopted multifaceted development strategies to promote socio-economic growth of the STs. Specific interventions are being implemented including implementation of protective legislations such as the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act. The programmes and schemes for tribal people are intended to support and supplement the efforts, primarily of other state departments to fill critical gaps within institutions and programmes, considering the situation of STs. These schemes comprising of economic, educational, and social development through institutional building, are administered by the line departments. Notwithstanding numerous developmental interventions, the STs continue to face developmental deficits with respect to health, education, livelihood, development infrastructure as well as other socio-economic indices, many of which are well below the national average.

The SC & ST Department, Government of Odisha is committed to providing equitable access to opportunity for the tribal communities, through participatory approach and adoption of innovative methods including e-governance and increasing use of technology to provide strategic inputs into the development process. To accelerate the implementation of the development agenda for the tribal communities and strengthen the institutional delivery systems at the State and district level, it is important to strengthen the capacity and effectiveness of the officials and stakeholders to deliver on the issues related to tribal empowerment and create robust systems for monitoring and implementation of the SC & ST schemes of the Central and State government.

The Department is working in collaboration with UNDP to fast-track development in difficult geographies inhabited by tribal populations, enhancing capacities of government functionaries and expanding opportunities for better livelihoods, health and education to vulnerable tribal communities.

UNDP proposes to engage a Project Officer (PVTGs, Art 273, PMAAGY) to support the SC & ST Department, Govt. of Odisha to provide support in formulating Policy, designing specific interventions for promoting livelihood programmes for Particularly vulnerable Tribal Groups in the state of Odisha.

The Project Officer (PVTGs, Art 273, PMAAGY) will be part of the Project Management Unit and will work under the overall guidance and supervision of the Programme Lead, Tribal Development, UNDP with functional support of State Head of Office, UNDP Odisha and project team members and day to day supervision on the implementation issues with the Government of Odisha. S/He will ensure engagement of all direct stakeholders and delivery of project objectives, in coordination with the Government of Odisha.

• Provide technical inputs in preparation and issuances of guidelines, policy formulation, designing of specific interventions for promoting livelihood programmes, clarifications for development of PVTGs and addressing critical gaps through the process of planning their developmental works in the villages identified under PMAAGY scheme, in accordance with the gaps identified.
• Undertake research and data collection on issues related to PVTGs and Habitat Rights of PVTGs besides mapping the same, use the findings for successful advocacy and decision making to ensure benefits available to the PVTG communities under the Central and State schemes and the gaps therein.
• Provide inputs on critical gaps through data analysis of significant developmental indicators and information about availability of resources to facilitate access to basic services and infrastructure facilities to the tribal villages.
• Design Training and Capacity building framework as well as organize consultations, and other cross learning initiatives for habitat rights for PVTGs, enabling community leaders, field level functionaries and elected representatives of the Panchayati Raj Institutions to take charge of the program implementation.
• Coordinate among various overlapping and inter-linked departments for convergence of various welfare schemes and maintain a proper MIS regarding convergence initiatives undertaken and compile the achievement under different programmes with respect to livelihood and quality of life improvement under different activities pertaining to SC & ST Department.
• Ensure compliance to matters related to report of Governors, submission of comments on the reports of National Commission of Scheduled Tribes (NCST), monitoring of court cases & provide timely compliance of various legal matters referred to the State/UT Government by MoTA as well as follow up on grievance related matters and coordinate with the relevant departments for clarification and addressing of the issue.
• Ensure that project contributes to the promotion of gender equality by reaching, involving and benefiting both women and men in its activities (gender mainstreaming)
• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.