MANISH KUMAR SINGH
Development Professional
LUCKNOW
Summary
Development professional and legal expert with over 15 years of dedicated experience in promoting social justice, governance reform, and community empowerment across India. Proficient in designing and implementing large-scale development projects, conducting policy analysis, mid-term evaluation of various programs and delivering strategic advocacy on key issues such as Panchayati Raj, MGNREGA, education, health, and SDGs. With three years of legal practice at the Allahabad High Court, I offer a distinct combination of legal and grassroots governance expertise. Recognized as a resource person and trainer by major institutions and development partners throughout India.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
3
3
Languages
Work History
State Program Coordinator
NIRDPR
01.2022 - 01.2025
- Coordinated a national project on 250 Model Cluster Gram Panchayats across Madhya Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh.
- Designed training modules for institutional strengthening, sustainable development goals, and own-source revenue.
- Provided field mentorship and served as a liaison with state departments.
- Field testing of PDI indicators of 9 themes for the localization of SDG implementations at ground level for the Department of Panchayati Raj Department Uttar Pradesh.
Consultant/Trainer
PANI Sansthan,UNICEF,HCL Foundation,WaterAid,KASA,UNDP, Etc
01.2007 - 01.2025
- Trained over 6,000 stakeholders on PRI, RTE, SBM, and RTI,OSR,GPDP,Social Audit,Human Rights,Constitutional Right,OSRLSDGs.
- Enhanced client satisfaction by delivering customized training solutions to address specific needs.
- Developed various training modules and policy documentation in both Hindi and English.
- Conducted in-depth assessments to evaluate the effectiveness of training programs, adjusting content as needed for optimal results.
Consultant
SOLIDARIDAD ASIA
07.2019 - 12.2020
- Led initiatives focused on soil health and water conservation as part of the Ganga Basin Landscape program.
- Supported sustainable agriculture value chains that are resilient to climate change.
- Supported end-to-end strengthening of the sugarcane value chain from input supply to market access.
- Facilitated farmer training on improved cultivation, pest control, and sustainable practices.
- Coordinated with sugar mills to enhance procurement systems and payment transparency.
- Promoted value addition through ethanol, bioenergy, and by-product utilization.
- Contributed to policy advocacy on pricing, payment reforms, and ethanol blending.
- Conducted value chain assessments to identify gaps and recommend strategic interventions.
- Engaged with stakeholders for PPP models in processing, marketing, and infrastructure.
- Supported the formation and strengthening of sugarcane-focused FPOs for collective action.
- Enabled FPOs to establish direct linkages with sugar mills and ethanol units.
Consultant
Sahbhagi Shiksha Kendra
01.2016 - 01.2019
- Implemented HCL Foundation SAMUDAY and UNICEF GPDP initiatives.
- Delivered capacity-building training for PRIs, developed IEC tools, and drafted more than 30 Gram Panchayat GPDPs.
- Mid term evaluation of Rajiv Gandhi Foundation health initiative in the Gorakhpur District.
Assistant Director
UPSBD Trust
01.2015 - 01.2016
- Mobilized young people for civic engagement, women's safety, and policy reform campaigns.
State Coordinator
PANI Sansthan
01.2012 - 01.2015
- Advocated for land rights, MGNREGA, and access to PDS for rural women in nine districts.
- Drafted legal awareness booklets and established advocacy platforms with Nari Sangh.
Program Officer
Uttar Pradesh Voluntary Action Network (UPVAN)
05.2008 - 05.2012
- Planned, implemented, and coordinated various organization campaigns.
- The campaigns are: Poverty and nine is mine, and People's Manifesto Campaigns are under Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) supported by WNTA New Delhi.
- Campaign for Governance Reform, supported by PRIYA, New Delhi.
- Right to Education Campaign (RTE Act).
- Days Celebration.
- RTI Campaign.
- Facilitated more than 28 w/s on RTI throughout UP in 2009-10 with the support of 'Kabir Organization'.
Consultant
Voluntary Action Network of India (VANI)
01.2012 - 03.2012
- Consulted with various stakeholders and compiled their perceptions to produce materials related to citizen reports.
- Developed themes and guidelines for the case studies.
- Conceptualized survey format for primary data collection and compiled evidence for the report.
- Drafted citizen reports for the organization.
Consultant
Sahbhagi Shiksha Kendra
01.2011 - 12.2011
- Developed content for PRI representatives focusing on bringing efficiency to their work.
- The assignment was given to SSK by BRGF, MOPR, and UNDP.
- Imparted training to the master's trainers of PRIs.
- Imparted training to the functionaries of NGOs on PRIs.
- Compiled Central and State schemes related to PRI.
- Compiled government orders and circulars of various state governments department related to PRI.
Legal Practitioner
Allahabad High Court
01.2004 - 01.2007
- Practiced civil, service, and criminal law; managed RTI appeals and public interest cases.
Education
LL.B. -
University of Lucknow
LL.M. - Human Rights
B.R. Ambedkar University
M.A. - Political Science
University of Gorakhpur
B.A. - Political Science & Economics
University of Gorakhpur
M.A. - Rural Development
IGNOU
Skills
Strategic Planning and Program Management
Legal Research, Drafting, and Representation
Community Mobilization and Participatory Approaches
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Impact Analysis
Curriculum Development and Training Facilitation
Stakeholder Engagement and Government Liaison
Development Communication and Policy Documentation
Thematic Experience
- Panchayati Raj & Governance: Strengthened grassroots democracy by facilitating decentralized planning, building institutional capacity, and empowering PRIs.
- Livelihoods (MGNREGA): Conducted social audits, trained field staff, and advocated for the transparent implementation of rural employment schemes.
- Education & RTE: Delivered training on the RTE Act, supported SMCs, and authored awareness materials on educational rights.
- Healthcare & SDGs: Created and translated SDG modules and led training sessions on universal health and COVID-19 responses.
- Food Security & PDS: Collaborated with marginalized communities on public distribution reforms, implementing GR, and enhancing nutrition outreach.
- Sustainable Agriculture: Advocated for soil health, water conservation, and sustainable farming practices ensuring the value chain process in sugarcane within the Ganga Basin and other rural initiatives, Supported the formation and strengthening of sugarcane-focused FPOs for collective action.
- Women Empowerment & Social Equity: Led advocacy for the rights of marginalized women and facilitated grassroots legal literacy.
Training And Capacity Building
- Conducted over 250 training sessions on MGNREGA, social audits, PRI systems, and governance reforms, GPDP, OSR, Sustainable Agriculture, Various Portals of Panchayats, PESA Act for MP and Jharkhand's.
- Trained over 2,000 executive officers on RTI and JNNURM.
- Delivered workshops on the SHW Act 2013, SBM, GPDP, and SDGs.
- Facilitated trainings and institutional workshops across more than 10 states.
- Regular trainer at institutions like SIRD, RIRD, DIRD, NIPSEED, and PRIT.
- Trained to the DPRO, ADO Panchayat, Secretary GPs Panchayat Sahayak, Pradhan/Sarpanch/Ward members Executive officers of the Urban Local Bodies of UP, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and representative of NGOs/CSRs/Bank Representative on Various issues.
Personal Information
- Date of Birth: 10/31/72
- Nationality: Indian
- Marital Status: Married
Key Areas Of Expertise
- Policy Research and Advocacy
- Capacity Building and Training Programs
- Network and Alliance Building
- Documentation and IEC Material Development
- Campaign Design and Coordination
- Legal Frameworks and Rights-Based Advocacy
- Participatory Governance and Social Accountability
- SDG Localization and Gram Panchayat Development Planning (GPDP)
Timeline
State Program Coordinator
NIRDPR
01.2022 - 01.2025
Consultant
SOLIDARIDAD ASIA
07.2019 - 12.2020
Consultant
Sahbhagi Shiksha Kendra
01.2016 - 01.2019
Assistant Director
UPSBD Trust
01.2015 - 01.2016
State Coordinator
PANI Sansthan
01.2012 - 01.2015
Consultant
Voluntary Action Network of India (VANI)
01.2012 - 03.2012
Consultant
Sahbhagi Shiksha Kendra
01.2011 - 12.2011
Program Officer
Uttar Pradesh Voluntary Action Network (UPVAN)
05.2008 - 05.2012
Consultant/Trainer
PANI Sansthan,UNICEF,HCL Foundation,WaterAid,KASA,UNDP, Etc
01.2007 - 01.2025
Legal Practitioner
Allahabad High Court
01.2004 - 01.2007
M.A. - Political Science
University of Gorakhpur
B.A. - Political Science & Economics
University of Gorakhpur
M.A. - Rural Development
IGNOU
LL.B. -
University of Lucknow
LL.M. - Human Rights
B.R. Ambedkar University