Amrita Sengupta
Jaipur
Summary
As an Education Specialist at UNICEF India, I bring over 20 years of experience in shaping education policy and programmes across India and South Asia. My career has been dedicated to strengthening systems that deliver equitable learning opportunities from preschool through secondary education, with a proven track record of translating policy into scalable, results-driven programmes. I specialize in Early Childhood Care and Education, Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, remedial education, and adolescent learning with a strong focus on 21st Century skills. Over the years, I have designed and implemented evidence-based initiatives that improve learning outcomes, build teacher capacity, and embed equity into education reforms. Recognized for my ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage complex portfolios, I have successfully convened governments, NGOs, academia, and CSR partners to align agendas and drive systemic change. My work with adolescents has advanced life skills and second-decade learning, equipping young people with the competencies needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world. At the heart of my professional journey is a commitment to system strengthening, leadership, and advocacy—anchoring reforms in evidence, mobilizing partnerships, and ensuring that every child, regardless of background, has access to quality learning opportunities.
Overview
4
4
Languages
29
29
years of professional experience
Work History
Education Specialist
UNICEF India
Rajasthan
01.2020 - Current
- Led high-level advocacy and policy dialogue with multiple Ministries to strengthen NEP 2020 implementation.
- Provided technical support to the Department of Education in developing state-level policies and guidelines for the implementation of NEP 2020.
- Contributed significantly to RSCERT’s development of the State Curriculum Framework (SCF) for the Foundational Stage and Teacher Education, aligned with NCF 2022.
- Played a leading role in creating a new ECCE curriculum and comprehensive training packages for both ICDS and the Department of Education, aligned with NEP 2020.
- Offered technical and advisory expertise to scale the Early Childhood Care Education programme for children aged 3–6.
- Led drafting of state's Foundational Literacy and Numeracy policy, multi-year roadmap, instructional design, and monitoring frameworks for state’s FLN Mission, impacting 50,000 primary schools (Grades 1–2).
- Supported RSCERT and DIETs in developing pre-service teacher education courses and training modules focused on ECCE.
- Led the development of an assessment-driven remedial learning package for Grades 3–5, including strategy formulation, instructional design, and capacity-building components.
- Advised the DOE on policy and strategies to enhance online and blended teacher professional development for Grades 1–5 and Grades 6–8 across subjects—benefiting more than 250,000 teachers statewide.
- Provided technical and operational support in implementation of STEM for grade 6-8 with focus on TNA, comprehensive capacity building of Teachers and academic institutions.
- Provided technical and advisory support to adolescent empowerment initiatives by co-creating, strengthening teachers’ education on comprehensive skill framework transition to work.
- Built and strengthened partnerships with NGOs to enhance convergence and resource mobilisation for early grades (ECCE, FLN) and foundational skills in second decade of education and STEM.
- Established and strengthened Project Management Unit (PMU) to enhance learning outcomes across the state.
- Ensured strong programme management and quality assurance through regular monitoring, dipstick studies, quarterly partner reviews, and facilitation of internal and third-party evaluations, in coordination with cross-sectoral teams.
Education Specialist
UNICEF
West Bengal
08.2011 - 12.2019
- Advisory/operational support in developing policy/strategies and curriculum, including training materials, and assessment tools on ECCE in alignment with ELDS and play-based pedagogy. This programme reached 58000 ECD centres and 2 million children in the age group of 3-6.
- Provided advanced technical assistance in designing a foundational learning package and course for teachers and students on the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy programme for grades 1-4.
- I have designed various courses on ECCE and FLN for teachers and other administrative stakeholders.
- Supported academic authorities in developing assessment tools and a package based on a balanced approach.
- Delivered advisory and management support to Government and NGOs in designing learning solutions for early grades and out-of-school children, aligning strategies with competency frameworks and enhancing capacity through policy advocacy and evaluation.
- Led annual education planning, sector analysis, reporting, and monitoring work plan activities with various partners, Ministries, and donor communities.
- Provided technical support to DOE in rolling out the RTE Act 2010, strengthening systems through capacity building, guideline preparation, and monitoring.
- Spearheaded evidence generation to intensify the strengthening of the State system with a focus on equity through the development of strategies, policy papers/documents, in-depth data analysis, and support for various studies.
- Contributed to assessing and strengthening performance accountability and delivering results through evaluation, survey, field visits, and review meetings with partners in convergence with sectoral programmes.
- Technical support provided to Madrasas in strengthening the STEM programme through strengthening the capacity of teachers and educators for the students of grades 6-8.
Programme Manager (Foundational Literacy -South Asia)
Room to Read
05.2009 - 07.2011
- As regional Programme Manager, extended technical and operational support (remote and extensive field visits) to the five Countries in ensuring the development and implementation of a robust monitoring and evaluation framework for all the implementation partners through reading assessment (including testing of fluency) in six languages, studies, and technical support in mid-term corrections through regular review and monitoring.
- Delivered technical and operational support to four countries (India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka) to effectively execute foundational learning programmes, enhancing early literacy outcomes.
- Provided technical and operational support to the countries in developing strategies, packaging, and graded reading materials, reading assessment tools in six languages, and capacity building of the Country team to implement and monitor the pilots on ECCE and early literacy.
- Coordinated with donors on reporting and proposal development, driving scale-up of pilots within the country through evidence generation, impact evaluation, advocacy, and capacity building for country teams, administrators, and academic authorities.
- Facilitated strategic partnership with the Government and key stakeholders to develop joint strategies and methodologies to determine global/national priorities and ensure achievement of the goals of worldwide literacy programmes in early grades and on content literacy.
- Successfully contributed to the global literacy agenda of the organisation through evidence generation, developing policy documents, writing frameworks, modules on early literacy, and upstream advocacy with the Ministry of Education in the Region.
- Co-directed an online teacher professional course on early literacy, both for teachers and mentors.
Education Officer
UNICEF
Orissa
03.2008 - 05.2009
- Managed state-wide education programme valued at $8 million, overseeing implementation and resource allocation to achieve educational objectives.
- Led advocacy and strategy development for multilingual education encompassing 15 indigenous languages, enhancing social inclusion efforts in the State.
- Provided technical support to the State Council of Education Research and Training and District Institute of Education and Training (Academic support Structure in India) in the revision of curriculum and textbooks aligned with the National Curriculum Framework 2005.
- Established a comprehensive evaluation and monitoring framework for child-friendly schools, ensuring alignment with educational standards and practices.
- Developed a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to assess educational effectiveness, in consultation with partners, based on research around the theory of change.
- Delivered technical support during mid-term corrections through data analysis and field visits. through regular review, field visits, data analysis, and monitoring of the implementation of child-friendly schools and out-of-school children.
- Contributed to the development of the sectoral work plan and technical decisions, as well as to project management, implementation, and monitoring of assigned education activity.
- Made outstanding contributions to the planning and execution of the projects/programmes by managing end-to-end activities and capacity building.
- Built partnerships and alliances with other agencies, CSOs, NGOs, Panchayat Raj Institutions, and other UN agencies on the agenda of social inclusion of tribal children.
- Led process documentation, documentation of best practices, policy briefs, evaluation of projects, and donor reporting.
Education Project Officer
UNICEF
Uttar Pradesh
02.2007 - 03.2008
- Led process documentation, policy briefs, and research in the areas of child-friendly schools, strategies for children of migrant labourers, and quality education strategies for disadvantaged children.
- Revised child-friendly school models and developed strategy for scaling up models across Uttar Pradesh (50,000+ schools) through evidence generation, documentation, advocacy, and capacity building.
- Led strategies and alliances with CSOs and communities to mainstream school children by tracking and designing transitional packages, focusing on children of migrant labourers.
- Built alliances and enhanced capacities of CSOs and communities to strengthen school monitoring.
Education Consultant
UNICEF
West Bengal
01.2006 - 01.2007
- Provided technical support to Ministry of Education for conceptualisation, design, review, and monitoring of Quality Package for school readiness and basic education and remedial programme for out-of-school children, conducting situation analysis, capacity building, evidence generation, documentation, and third-party evaluation of pilot projects.
- Designed and implemented bespoke curriculum plans to meet specific educational institution needs.
- Collaborated with school leadership to develop strategies for improving student academic performance.
- Researched industry developments and continued training opportunities to maintain strong understanding of academic innovations.
Consultant
NEEV
03.2003 - 08.2004
- Interfaced with client leads and became trusted advisor or confidant to client.
- Handled complex problems and issues by understanding root causes and implementing solutions.
- Supported monitoring and evaluation through field visits and reviews, conducting surveys and exchanging information with stakeholders to ensure programme effectiveness.
- Facilitated workshops and training sessions to upskill team members and improve service delivery.
- Provided technical and operational support to UNICEF and MOE in designing and preparing quality improvement programme packages for teachers and students at primary level, enhancing educational resources.
Researcher
Pratichi Trust
03.2001 - 12.2003
- Designed and conducted two studies on primary education and health delivery in West Bengal and Jharkhand, India, analysing data and writing reports as part of the principal research team, focusing on desk analysis of policies and literature to inform future research directions.
- Conducted in-depth research utilising various techniques, including qualitative and quantitative methods.
- Collaborated with colleagues on research assignments to inform strategy.
- Presented oral and written analysis at meetings and conferences to share research outcomes.
Researcher
University of East Anglia
, UK
02.1999 - 12.2000
- Designed and conducted data analysis, writing reports and policy briefs on seasonal migration and livelihood strategies for unorganised labour in eastern India, utilising literature review and findings from a one-year ethnographic study in rural Bengal.
- Conducted in-depth research utilising various techniques, including qualitative and quantitative methods.
- Presented oral and written analysis at meetings and conferences to share research outcomes.
- Collaborated with colleagues on research assignments to inform strategy.
Researcher
Sanhita Gender REsource Centre
03.1997 - 04.1998
- Designed and conducted studies and advocacy materials addressing gender, education, governance, and gender-based violence to inform policy and community initiatives.
- Developed and facilitated gender training while providing referral services for women experiencing violence, crisis management, and legal aid, enhancing support and resources available.
- Collaborated with colleagues on research assignments to inform strategy.
- Presented oral and written analysis at meetings and conferences to share research outcomes.
- Conducted in-depth research utilising various techniques, including qualitative and quantitative methods.
Education
MA - Education and Development, Gender and Research Methodology
University of East Anglia
Norwich, UK01-2005
Master’s Degree - social work
Visva Bharati University
Santiniketan01-1995
Honors Graduate - Geography
Visva Bharati University
Santiniketan01-1992
Languages
English
Bengali
Hindi
Assamese (working knowledge)
Custom
- 2009-01-01, Equity, Quality, and Leadership, Harvard Graduate School of Education
- 2015-01-01, Equity and Statistics, World Bank
Timeline
Education Specialist
UNICEF India
01.2020 - Current
Education Specialist
UNICEF
08.2011 - 12.2019
Programme Manager (Foundational Literacy -South Asia)
Room to Read
05.2009 - 07.2011
Education Officer
UNICEF
03.2008 - 05.2009
Education Project Officer
UNICEF
02.2007 - 03.2008
Education Consultant
UNICEF
01.2006 - 01.2007
Consultant
NEEV
03.2003 - 08.2004
Researcher
Pratichi Trust
03.2001 - 12.2003
Researcher
University of East Anglia
02.1999 - 12.2000
Researcher
Sanhita Gender REsource Centre
03.1997 - 04.1998
MA - Education and Development, Gender and Research Methodology
University of East Anglia
Master’s Degree - social work
Visva Bharati University
Honors Graduate - Geography
Visva Bharati University