Avinash Upadhyay

About Avinash Upadhyay

Hi, I\'m Avinash, a social development sector leader who has spent the last 22 years in various leadership roles. I have designed and managed programs on sustainable rural livelihoods, agriculture (with a focus on agro-ecology and nutrition sensitive agriculture), maternal, infant, and adolescent health, and overall nutrition, clean energy, enterprise development, and market access. I have led programs in India and several other countries in South and Southeast Asia, as well as Sub-Saharan Africa. I have extensive experience integrating Information and Communication Technology solutions in the development field. I have made significant contributions to the design concept and implementation of programs in the Community Video, Radio, Interactive Voice Response, and various other e-learning and messaging platforms. I have familiarity with the use of participatory methodologies as well as technology in development practice. I have managed programs to the tune of 3mn USD/ annum. I have a master\'s degree in information technology and marketing, as well as a bachelor\'s degree in rural sociology. Prior to joining JSI as Project Director-USAID Advancing Nutrition, I worked for Digital Green as Director of Programmes for India and South Asia, and Mlinda Charitable Trust as its country head in India. I am passionate about evaluation and evidence-based practice. I led the SPRING and Digital Green collaboration on a \'human-mediated digital learning approach\' for the promotion of key maternal, infant, young child, and hygiene related behaviors in multiple countries in the Francophone Sahel, West Africa, and in Odisha, India for a year. I was actively involved in the UPAVAN RCT trial in India, KISAN II in Nepal, and USAID DLEC (Developing Local Extension Capacity) in several South Asian countries. I have completed several leadership development programs, including the Harvard Manage Mentor Program, the Coaching Approach for Leaders by the Boston-based Boda Group, and the Supervisory Skills course by I-Tech of University of Washington. Specialties: Program Development and Management, Team Development and Management, finance Management, Monitoring systems, Donor Relations etc.

Experience

1. Project Director Chief of Party - Usaid Advancing Nutrition

   JSI

   Jun 2022 — Present · New Delhi, IN

   Leading USAID Advancing India country program.\\\\n\\\\nUSAID Advancing Nutrition is the Agency’s flagship multi-sectoral nutrition project, led by JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc.(JSI). USAID Advancing Nutrition implements nutrition interventions across sectors and disciplines for USAID and its partner

Education

• Utkal University

  Bachelor of Arts - BA

• Utkal University

  Post Graduation