Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Languages
Mother Tongue
Personal Information
Affiliations
Timeline
Generic
R DEVABALAN

R DEVABALAN

Chennai

Summary

Dynamic program manager with extensive experience at CARE India, specializing in government engagement and partnership management. Analytical professional with technical knowledge and critical thinking skills to thrive in data-driven environments. Tackles challenges with positivity and drive to overcome. Works great alone or with others and consistently exceeds expectations.

Overview

28
28
years of professional experience

Work History

Full time Consultant – Program

Kalike- Associate NGO of Tata Trusts
12.2023 - 04.2025
  • Overall management of project, developing strategies for implementation and gaining approvals for conducting sessions in schools for children and handholding teachers at schools besides building capacities of teachers through regular training sessions.
  • Working with the team to measure program outcomes and outputs regularly, and tracking progress to measure how the program is progressing towards pre-set milestones.
  • Ensuring effective method of data collection and minimise the chances for reporting error and using technology to track daily progress, and consolidating the progress through dash boards.
  • Liaison with government stakeholders to obtain approvals and support for effective program implementation. Attending review and planning meetings conducted by the education and ICDS departments.
  • Conducting regular review with the thematic heads and field team, review of field visit check lists, and brainstorm for how to improve the program interventions. Develop staff performance management plans, and ensure that team members provided an opportunity thrive in a learning environment.
  • Responsible for preparing monthly, and quarterly reports, carrying out annual outcome assessment report, developing brief report for boards, and producing case studies, video documentation on project outcomes and impacts.
  • Develop detailed monthly implementation plans with projection of expenses, and ensure activities completed and expenses are made as per the organizational financial, and procurement guidelines.
  • Support the HR team in developing job profile and support them in selecting right talent and develop appropriate induction plans.
  • Maintained organizational policies, donor reporting guidelines, and meeting project performance and operational standards.
  • Managing Education interventions in 4 blocks of Cuddalore district to strengthen early learning components in 291 Anganwadi centres, enhancing primary school children reading and writing competency in 257 primary schools, supporting STEM interventions in 67 middle schools, and organizing life skill sessions for adolescent girls in 57 high and higher secondary schools.
  • Besides expanding adolescent girls only intervention in Tiruvannamalai district to reach out over 4500 girls in schools, and KGBVs.

Multiple

CARE India
08.2005 - 11.2023
  • Responsible for overall project management and implementation of the project in partnership with implementing partners and government stakeholders.
  • Ensuring quality implementation of activities and tracking progress through reliable monitoring and learning mechanism.
  • Leading the team in organizing and implementing activities according to set procedures and benchmarks.
  • Facilitating effective program implementation process at community level by developing community engagement strategy.
  • Creating robust M&E plans for project activities to ensure effective management and control.
  • Managing government relationship for implementing activities and strengthening government systems through Memorandum of Understanding.
  • In charge of submitting reports, documents, and updates to donors and stakeholders.
  • Supporting the technical teams in the development of new proposals and to scout for potential donors.
  • Management of day-to-day office administration, procurement, and finance management activities through program support team to ensure that resources and facilities made available to the team in achieving results.
  • Updating and Emergency Preparedness Plans and responding to emergency as and when required.
  • Partnership officer – Tsunami Response Program, Cuddalore (August 2005- December 2006): Responsible for implementing community micro projects to support farmers, fishers, and small business owners affected by Tsunami disaster. Worked with farmer’s federation to sustain agriculture activities. Supported over 2500 households through 110 community micro projects.
  • Technical Support Coordinator – Managed micro insurance program as part of livelihood risk reduction strategy, Chennai (Jan 2007- March 2014): Responsible for managing micro insurance services as disaster risk reduction measure to support low-income households to manage weather related risks. Introduced crop insurance, salt insurance and mutual health insurance. Over 37500 insurance policies sold in a period of 4 years, reaching out to 125000 households.
  • Project Manager (in charge)– Kutch Livelihood & Education Advancement Project, Gujarat (April 2014- August 2015): Responsible for managing Agriculture, Micro Finance, dairy, and School improvement programs in 225 villages in Kutch district. The livelihood program reaches out to over 11,000 families and Education program helped 122 schools to achieve improved learning outcomes for over 20,000 children.
  • Project Manager – Where the Rain Falls, Jaspur district, Chhattisgarh (Sep 2015- July 2017): Managed climate change mitigation project at Chhattisgarh state, 40 villages in Jashpur district. The program reaches out to over 3,000 tribal families and strengthens their agriculture activities through climate change and water conservation efforts.
  • Program Manager: Kanya Sampoorna Project, Cuddalore, August 2017- Nov 2023, Managed life cycle project, the project offered health, education, skills and enterprise services, career skill training and employment support services to over 125000 individuals in five blocks of the Cuddalore district. The project teams up with health, education, skill training, employment and entrepreneurship training institutions, and ICDS departments to enhance services and foster demand in communities.

Monitoring officer

Project Concern International – Salem
Salem
08.2004 - 08.2005
  • Designed and implemented robust M&E systems to track program outputs and impact metrics.
  • Conducted capacity-building workshops for staff on data collection methodologies and results measurement.
  • Developed quality assurance protocols to ensure data integrity and minimize reporting errors.
  • Led performance improvement initiatives through M&E data utilization trainings.
  • Conducted regular field assessments to evaluate program effectiveness and beneficiary quality-of-life improvements.
  • Established medical referral pathways with healthcare providers for co-infection management and ART treatment.
  • Facilitated cross-functional collaboration between medical teams and community workers to enhance service delivery.
  • Spearheaded the PATHWAYS initiative in Salem district, delivering comprehensive HIV/AIDS support services including: (1) Diagnostic testing and counselling, (2) Medical treatment coordination, (3) Psychosocial support programs, (4) Nutritional assistance for affected individuals, and (5) Managing short stay homes for vulnerable patients.

Development officer

Community Services Guild
12.2000 - 08.2004
  • Directed field operations through four coordinators, tracking progress against targets and timelines.
  • Conducted progress reviews and provided technical/managerial support to implementation teams.
  • Established MIS frameworks for 5,500+ SHGs and 2 education projects, ensuring robust data collection and analysis.
  • Prepared and presented monthly progress reports to board members, senior management, and funding partners.
  • Responsible for developing new proposal and developing concept note and budgets.
  • Supported the following three programs: (1) Mahalir Thittam – Women’s empowerment program across 16 blocks in Salem and Namakkal districts.
  • (2) Child Protection – Prevention of child labour in Salem district and female infanticide prevention program in Namakkal district.
  • (3) Financial Inclusion – setting up Community-owned microfinance program in Tiruvallur and Salem districts.

Project Coordinator

Montford Community Development Society
02.1999 - 12.2000
  • Managed community-based rehabilitation programs for children with physical and mental disabilities in South Chennai’s underserved slum communities.
  • Spearheaded the expansion of rehabilitation initiatives in Kannagi Nagar slum resettlement, establishing two new programs to support economically disadvantaged and vulnerable children.
  • Designed and implemented vocational training and academic support programs for youth in Chennai, including short-term employment courses in collaboration with community polytechnic schemes.
  • Initiated health and wellness campaigns to promote healthy habits and lifestyles among slum-dwelling youth.
  • Facilitated life skills education through partnerships with technical institutions and the formation of youth empowerment groups.
  • Conducted career counselling sessions to guide youth on employment opportunities and professional development.
  • The project offered comprehensive community-based health intervention for physically challenged youths besides training youths on vocational and life skills.
  • Organized regular screening camps for disabilities in partnership with health institutions, and provided Physiotherapy & Mobility Support through provision of aids (wheelchairs, crutches, prosthetics).
  • Counselling parents on addressing stigma and psychosocial challenges.

Community Organizer

Guild of Service – Rural Development Centre
09.1997 - 01.1999
  • Oversaw operations of 2 village health centres providing primary healthcare and emergency first aid services to local communities.
  • Managed 6 ICDS-supported Anganwadi centres across 3 villages, delivering maternal nutrition support and pregnancy referral services.
  • Established 15+ women’s Self-Help Groups (SHGs) among agricultural communities to promote financial independence.
  • Formed and linked 8 Farmers Clubs with NABARD to access technical expertise and agricultural financing.
  • Coordinated 20 multi-village health camps, including vision care initiatives with Sankara Nethralaya that provided cataract surgeries for 300+ elderly patients.
  • Implemented vocational training programs to equip 500+ rural youth with employable technical skills.
  • Conducted career counselling and life skills workshops to prepare young adults for workforce entry and personal development.
  • Comprehensive health, agriculture, skilling, and employment services provided for over 4500 households in 20 village panchayats.

Education

Diploma in System Management - Computer Applications Development

Aptech
Neyveli
01-1998

Master’s - social work

Sacred Heart College
Tirupattur, Vellore district
01.1995

Bachelor’s - science

St. Xavier’s college
Tirunelveli
01.1993

Skills

  • Program management and documentation
  • Team leadership and capacity building
  • Government engagement and partnership management
  • Monitoring and evaluation strategies
  • Proposal writing and budget management
  • Microsoft Office Suite proficiency
  • Disaster Management and response
  • CSPRO and EPI Info expertise
  • Photo editing skills

Languages

Tamil, English, and Hindi( Speaking)

Mother Tongue

Tamil

Personal Information

  • Father's Name: K. Rajagopalan
  • Date of Birth: 12/25/72
  • Gender: Male
  • Nationality: Indian
  • Marital Status: Married

Affiliations

  • Won three prizes at the annual human interest story competition
  • Developed an insurance literacy manual for the microinsurance program
  • Contributed to developing a livelihood strategy for tsunami-affected communities in Tamil Nadu
  • Presented CARE India's microinsurance work at international microinsurance conferences
  • Developed a post-disaster recovery strategy in Cuddalore District to bring positive changes in the lives of women
  • Supported shelter construction program for coastal communities in Tamil Nadu
  • Managed a life cycle program in Cuddalore district to support over 125,000 individuals with health, education, skill training, employability, and enterprise support initiatives

Timeline

Full time Consultant – Program

Kalike- Associate NGO of Tata Trusts
12.2023 - 04.2025

Multiple

CARE India
08.2005 - 11.2023

Monitoring officer

Project Concern International – Salem
08.2004 - 08.2005

Development officer

Community Services Guild
12.2000 - 08.2004

Project Coordinator

Montford Community Development Society
02.1999 - 12.2000

Community Organizer

Guild of Service – Rural Development Centre
09.1997 - 01.1999

Diploma in System Management - Computer Applications Development

Aptech

Master’s - social work

Sacred Heart College

Bachelor’s - science

St. Xavier’s college

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