Program Coordinator – USHA Silai School

USHA Silai School, started by USHA in March 2011 is a community based initiative with the aim of skilling rural women and empowering them to become entrepreneurs. Women are taught stitching and sewing skills to help them earn a livelihood in their respective communities. More than 1% from the sale of every USHA Sewing Machine is invested into this program, thereby enabling all USHA customers to share their love with lesser privileged women.

USHA in partnership with local NGOs, sets up Silai Schools in some of the country’s most remote and rural corners. The NGO partners facilitate and support USHA to identify, set up and motivate village women to join the Silai Schools. The seventy plus hours of training is conducted over a period of seven days. Click here to partner with USHA

The Classical Silai Schools – train women from rural communities in sewing, tailoring and repairing machines. These women are given an USHA sewing machine, a syllabus and a Silai School signage. They are encouraged to teach other community women in the art of sewing.

Once these Silai school learners graduate towards expert teachers, they go on to establish their own Silai School. It could be in the same village if it is a large village or else in the neighbouring village. These schools are called Satellite Silai Schools. A ‘multiplier effect’ is started, with at least two learners from each Silai school opening their own Satellite schools. Till date 7,262 Classical Silai Schools; 15,442 Satellite Silai Schools; 747 Training cum Production centres; 324 Master trainers, 72 Adopted Silai Schools by individuals and 7,058 Silai schools in partnership with government, other corporates and institutions have been set up. All these schools are skilling women and providing them better opportunities of livelihood in their own village. All these schools aim at skilling women and thereby break the cycle of poverty.

Project Location: Zirakpur

Qualification: Graduate/ Postgraduate in Social Sciences or related field in the social sector / MBA

Number of Vacancy: 1

Requirement:
1. Minimum 5 – 7 years of experience in Program management and coordination. Experience with social service sector shall be preferred.
2. Willing to travel
3. Proficiency in MS Office – Word, Excel and PowerPoint
4. Good writing skills in English/Hindi
5. Age 30 – 40 years
6. Salary – Negotiable

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Silai Schools

1. Sustainability and smooth running of existing Silai Schools

a. Overall responsibility for smooth functioning of the existing Silai Schools in the states allotted

b. Regular visits and correspondence with the NGOs for monitoring and improving the performance of Silai Schools

c. Regular inputs to the Silai Schools for improving efficiency

d. Monitor attendance of women learners in the Silai schools

e. Ensure at least one visit per Silai School in two months

f. Maintain rapport with the NGOs to ensure that monitoring is being done regularly

g. Due Diligence of the NGOs (if change in partnership required)

h. Collate Case studies and Success stories

i. Introduction of discounts and incentive schemes for Silai Schools

j. Coordinating with the Regional offices of UIL for issuance of certificates and timely distribution of certificates

k. Coordinate all activities for the creation of pool of trainers and ensure training through them for the new Silai Schools

2. Opening new Silai schools

a. Coordinate with HO for the identification of Districts in the assigned states

b. Desk research for NGO due-diligence process

c. Short listing and finalization of the implementation partner with the HO

d. Complete all Agreement process and fund disbursement

e. Coordinate and launching of the Training

Ensure MIS orientation to the NGOs and capturing field processes at fixed intervals.

f. Coordinate and facilitate all decision making for the programs between HO and Units.

g. Open new Silai Schools at a minimal cost through new evolving models

3. Database management / MIS

a. Manage a database of the NGOs in the state

b. Keep an updated database of the profile of the Silai School villages and the women entrepreneurs

c. Collect and collate data from the NGOs and visits done

d. Take corrective measures for Silai Schools / NGOs not working properly

e. Timely dispatch of monthly MIS data from NGOs to HO

f. Analysis of data and sharing of learnings

g. Maintain a database of sales queries generated from the Silai Schools

h. Preparation of the Database of Silai School teachers and the Learners and Complete updating of MIS

i. Keep all copies of Agreements and invoice vis-à-vis the partners

j. Ensure that the partners are updated on the Sewing School Application and enter data in SSWP every month

4. Reporting

a. Report to USS – HO on a weekly basis on the following:

b. Functioning of the Silai Schools

c. Attendance

d. Earnings of the entrepreneur

e. Any social impact of the program (case studies)

f. Sales / queries of UIL products

g. Perception of the community about Silai Schools

h. Any other activity that was done in Silai School

5. Partnership Management

a. Responsible for maintaining the following:

b. Be the direct link between the NGO and USS -HO for all communication. This coordination would include:

c. Signing of Agreements

d. Negotiation of budgets

e. Timely renewal of Agreements

f. Timely raising of invoice and payment

g. Database compilation and consolidation

h. Timely monthly MIS

i. Smooth running of Silai Schools by trouble shooting changes like change in beneficiary, sub-NGO etc.

j. Explore partnership possibilities with other institutions/ Government.

6. Administrative

a. Responsible for Training and re-training (conduct refresher courses) through the creation of pool of trainers

b. Issuance of attendance certificates to all Silai school teachers and women entrepreneurs after getting all the required signatures from the authorised signatory at UIL

c. Ensure that sewing machines are in working conditions and are in the possession of the woman entrepreneur

d. Ensure that the sign board is affixed at a proper place. Get the sign boards replaced if it has worn out, faded, destroyed, damaged etc.

e. Ensure that the woman signs the undertaking during the trainings.

7. Research & Documentation

a. Analysis of field reports and sharing critical inputs for program improvement

b. Capturing success stories/ case studies

REQUIRED SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES
1. Strong sensitivity to and understanding of social issues.
2. Capacity to quickly grasp and understand social ideas and concepts and translate them into work.
3. Punctuality and capacity to meet sharp deadlines.
4. Constructively communicate with team, program partners and resources.
5. Ability to capture audience by developing compelling stories from the field.
6. Demonstrated skill in program communication, development of information and communication material.
7. Ability to manage timelines and deadlines
8. Open to learning and a positive attitude towards new things / project

Interested candidates may send their CV at: alok_shukla@usha.com