Umang Kamra

About Umang Kamra

I work at the intersection of research, policy implementation, and systems change. As Senior Manager, MERL at Indus Action, I design evidence-based frameworks that help translate policy into tangible citizen welfare outcomes. My work centers on understanding how vulnerable communities experience government schemes and using that insight to drive systemic improvements. From leading the \"Moments that Matter\" research project on household resilience to building data systems that enable real-time impact monitoring, I focus on grounding policy implementation in lived realities and on-ground experience.Over three years at Indus Action, I\'ve co-led research on construction worker welfare legislation, curated cross-sector roundtables bringing together government and civil society, and built organizational systems around monitoring, evaluation, and learning. My approach has combined diagnostic research, stakeholder engagement, and data analysis to create actionable insights that inform both program design and policy advocacy.Before this, I earned my BA in History (Honors) and Policy Studies from Grinnell College, where I received multiple research awards such as the Baumann Essay Prize, Lura Camery Prize, Charles E. Payne Grant, and third place at Map the System 2022. My liberal arts education taught me to trace patterns, understand context, and ask better questions, skills that shape how I approach development challenges today.

Experience

1. Senior Manager, Merl

   Indus Action

   Apr 2025 — Present

   Leading the “Moments that Matter” research project, mapping critical household life moments to understand resilience strategies and improve citizen welfare outcomes.• Driving impact reporting and research, designing and implementing systems to assess and communicate Indus Action’s contribution to systemic change and improved citizen experience.• Guiding project teams on theory of change, diagnostic research, indicator design, and baseline/endline assessments, ensuring effective monitoring and evaluation throughout all project phases.• Enabling organizational learning by managing key research initiatives, stewarding high-quality publications, and cultivating a culture of reflection and evidence-based decision-making.• Collaborate with stakeholders across operations, government, and ecosystem partners to embed robust measurement tools and support open knowledge sharing.

Education

• Yale Young Global Scholars

  Certificate , International Affairs & Security

  2017 — 2017

• Birla Vidya Niketan, New Delhi

  High School Diploma, Humanities/Humanistic Studies

  2004 — 2018

• Grinnell College

  Bachelor of Arts - BA, History (Honors) & Policy Studies

  2018 — 2022