Rakshya Shah Email & Phone Number

Kathmandu, Bāgmatī, Nepal

The $24.5 Million Feed the Future Nepal USAID Agricultural Inputs Activity aims to increase the availability, accessibility, and use of agricultural inputs and technology to improve Nepal’s agricultural productivity. The programme will enable lead firms, agrovets, input suppliers, local machinery service providers, and Government of Nepal (GoN) change agents and farmers to increase productivity, input supply chain efficiency, market system competitiveness, and strengthen the enabling environment in a way that equitably addresses the needs of women, youth, and members of marginalized groups. USAID Agricultural Inputs will benefit 200,000 farmers by improving their access to modern agricultural inputs and technology.Key Responsibilities: •Responsible for leading USAID Agricultural Input’s grant program, which includes the design, award, implementation and monitoring of Grants Under Contract (GUC) and other mechanisms used to engage and direct resources and technical assistance to private sector partners. •Work in close coordination with the Senior Director of Operations, Deputy Chief of Party and the technical team to design the grant program including a GUC manual.•Coordinate with the MEL Director to develop the monitoring, evaluation, and learning system for grants ensuring that data is collected, tracked, and analyzed regularly as per grant agreements•Work with the GESI Director to ensure that grant designs include gender- and other inclusion-specific considerations, and address gaps and barriers. •Review grant packages to ensure they meet Winrock and USAID requirements, monitor the grants budget, expenditures, ensure that grants are processed in a timely manner, and meet all relevant reporting responsibilities.•Line management of Grants and Subcontracts Officer(s) and responsible for all coordination and communication related to the grant portfolio ensuring that the project meets USAID contractual requirements during the grant program implementation

Kathmandu

Kathmandu

As an Action Fund Manager - responsible for managing a portfolio of USAID's 33.5 million Tayar Action Fund programming that includes grants and subcontracts. In collaboration with the Chief and Deputy Chief of Parties, Director of Operations and project team to ensure the effective design, implementation, and close-out of grants and subcontracts, managing activities through the entire grant and subcontract life cycle. Primary duties include to issuing grants and proposal solicitations, review, award, implementation, compliance, payments, strengthening grantee capacity, and managing the subcontracts. Major Responsibilities •Work closely with the technical team in the activity design process including, but not limited to, supporting the development of solicitations, facilitating the process of evaluation of grant applications to ensure adherence to grants management policies, and advising on appropriate grant mechanisms•Liaise with partners to develop grant budget estimates in compliance with USAID and DAI regulations and policies•Assess administrative and financial capacity of grant applicants•Generate and review all aspects of grant agreements with grantees, including schedule and facilitate meetings to define roles, responsibilities, and timelines for grantees•Serve as the Tayar focal point for grantees. Share information with grantees ensuring cohesion and supporting collaborative engagement. Attend meetings and events hosted by partners. Provide updates to and collaborate with Tayar staff on grant monitoring•Monitor and track procurement activities for in-kind grants and delivery status of goods/services. and submission of and review grant deliverables •Ensure complete backup documentation for cash payments to grantees is submitted to project’s Finance Team•Perform regular spot audits of grant files to ensure completeness, accuracy, and compliance

Nepal

Major Responsibilities:•Support Nepal Country team in having a programme funding plan based on Nepal country strategy and growth model•Project design, development and innovation support on all donor bids in Nepal •End-to-end quality proposal delivery responding to both published and unsolicited opportunities •Provide strong leadership on new proposals; assembling and managing proposal development teams; taking responsibility for high quality proposals that respond to donors’ criteria•Donor relationship engagement, management and coordination with all donors •Gather intelligence about upcoming opportunities; develop and share opportunity-specific competitive intelligence analysis and support Country Managers in deciding on consortia formulation•Ensure effective contract management and compliance of all donor contracts and restricted income portfolio in Nepal •Provide Surge on development and humanitarian projects and bids•Carry-out post-bidding debrief and lead post-award negotiations

Kathmandu

Major Responsibilities: •Lead in proposal development, project design and support board members and broader team to effectively implement and deliver quality projects as per organizational strategic ambitions and goals of promoting fair trade and equity contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)•Monitor donor pipelines for project and programmes by gathering and analysing market intelligence on client strategies, stakeholders, beneficiaries, potential partners and competitors •Coordinate preparation of quality expressions of interest, concept notes and formal technical and commercial proposals to clients for competitively tendered work•Proactive engage and build relationships with partner organizations for partnerships on solicited, commercial and unsolicited bids and maintain database of donors, clients, consultants, partners and competitors at the operational level •Assist in project start-up preparation activities including recruitment, procurement, inception phase planning, handover to delivery team and provide support to the project delivery team including contract management and renewals•Lead in coordination and development of financial and project implementation plans, and ensure effective delivery and management of service contracts that includes monitoring, evaluation and reporting compliance as per donor and client requirement•Support and contribute to the development of effective processes, standards, templates, tools and systems which support business development and project implementation with team•Lead to establish Fair Trade Business Development Service Center that includes promotion, marketing, coordination and networking•Manage and guide more than ten staff members for effective delivery of projects that includes strategic guidance, capacity building and institutional strengthening •Professionally represent Fair Trade Group Nepal in partnership meetings, seminars and workshops nationally, regionally and internationally

Kathmandu

Major Responsibilities:•Worked closely with Country Director, Senior Management Team (SMT) and technical team for high quality proposal development and donor positioning adhering to organizational ambitions on education, disability inclusion and accessibility •Secured assignments worth USD 1 million during emergency appeals pertaining to 2017 Nepal floods via the START Fund (DFID), Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC), Centre de Crisis (CDC-France) and Swiss Solidarity (SwS) and maintained strategic and cordial relations with donors and clients via high quality monthly and quarterly reporting •Worked with international program and fundraising teams whilst preparing commercial proposals for bi-laterals and multi-laterals donors such as the Department for International Development (DFID), European Commission (EC), United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Embassies•Led in developing concept notes and proposals with inputs from the relevant technical advisors and program teams in the thematic areas of Inclusive Education, Health, rehabilitation and Livelihoods incorporating theory of change, log-frames and budgets and tracked proposal development to deliver high quality outputs •Networked with donors, government, NGOs, INGOs and civil society in all relevant forums to raise organizations profile on inclusion, education, and accessibility issues•Identified relevant opportunities to collaborate with likeminded organizations nationally for fundraising opportunities and joint proposal development •Provided strategic technical advice to organization’s implementing partners and to external stakeholders on inclusive service delivery approaches via regular communications, learning and networking programs adhering to MEL principles •Facilitated development of communication materials (brochures and policy briefs) that encompassed lessons learnt and good practices contributing towards development of project strategy

Kathmandu

Major Responsibilities:•Conceptualize and research unique ideas and methods for developing concept notes, EOIs and proposals with inputs from technical experts and potential partners for national and regional calls and responsible for submissions and follow-up•Develop strategic alliances with international/national potential partners and maintain associate consultant database for possible collaboration in the form of joint applications/partnerships•Maintain donor database to support in fundraising activities along with tracking potential funding opportunities in South Asia region pertinent to the respective thematic areas of Practical Action through donor websites such as Devex, Development Aid, World Bank E-Consultant, ADB CMS, Dev-Business and UN Portals•Increase visibility of PAC by networking with strategic and relevant actors in the region, such as government, embassies, bilateral donors, the UN system and other multilateral bodies, foundations, private sector and likeminded organisations •Supported in developing strategic business and fundraising plan for Practical Action to the production of fundraising materials such as Capacity Statements, Souvenirs, Brochures and Knowledge Products highlighting key achievements •Ensure donor compliance with the existing donors through coordination and communication regarding past, ongoing and pipeline projects via client feedback forms and build strong and credible relationship with them•Develop Organisational Key Performance Indicator (KPI) Reports on a quarterly basis and support in weekly and monthly monitoring of ongoing project activities in strategic thematic areas

Kathmandu

Details of Project Engagement:1.Sustainable Livelihood Support for Earthquake Affected Families in Nepal, OXFAM Nepal [January 2016 - December 2018]•Developed implementation and monitoring plans tracking field level activities using project management tools•Worked with district level government and non-government stakeholders for scoping value chain of commercially viable products leading to income generation for the target beneficiaries and further exploring linkages with micro-financial institutions to provide access to finance services •Organized and managed logistics for field missions with Oxfam Australia team in project districts •Prepared monitoring, progress (monthly, quarterly) reports as per field activities in the standardized formats for donor compliance•Led in organising workshops and seminars involving overall logistics supervision 2.Strengthening of Fair Trade Group Nepal, IM Swedish Development Partner [January 2015 - December 2020]•Supported in developing strategic framework and plan for project activities to be conducted for following year using result based matrix for monitoring and evaluation •Developed budget framework for the activities planned•Attended donor meetings for strategic planning and reporting •Led in producing workshop proceedings, quarterly and annual reports

Details of Project Engagement:1.Pilot Project for Climate Resilience (PPCR) - Promoting Climate Resilient Agriculture in Nepal, International Finance Cooperation (IFC), World Bank Group [June 2013 - June 2018] •Formulated and managed database of beneficiaries (farmers) trained on Climate Resilient Agricultural practices on Maize, Rice and Sugarcane in Bara, Parsa, Sunsari and Morang districts•Worked closely with the project partners (private sectors) to oversee and implement project activities and support in their capacity building through organising various training programmes for the private sector, technical coordinators and extension staffs•Explored opportunities for establishing input-output oriented market linkages between local level entrepreneurs and trading, processing and industrial groups through Participatory Market System Development (PMSD) approach•Assisted project coordinator in developing work plans and budgets, monitoring and evaluation framework, produce field mission and semi-annual reports•Supported in producing knowledge products such as guidebooks, success stories, videos and developed content for the PPCR website 2.Feasibility Study to establish Climate Smart Villages (CSVs) in Nepal and Bhutan for CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) [October 2014 - March 2015] •Led in organising national level workshops in Nepal and Bhutan including overall logistics management attended by researchers, practitioners, government stakeholders and international experts•Supported to produce workshop proceedings, final report and blogs

Master’S Degree, Business Administration, Management And Operations

Post Graduate Diploma, Management

Bachelor In Development Studies (National College)