Vikas Nath,Egovernance,electronic governance,consultant,ICT,development,governance

Ideas Are Not To Be Just Thought But Put To Practice. Stay Inspired! 

 

VIKAS NATH

Inlaks Scholar (2000-1), The London School of Economics, UK

 

Current Location: Geneva, Switzerland

 

Languages:    English, Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati, French (basic), Kannada (basic)

 

Email: Vikas.Nath@gmail.com  Vikas.Nath@undp.org  V.Nath-Alumni@lse.ac.uk

Homepage: http://www.VikasNath.org

 


Current Involvement:

Consultant:  Review of the Policy Impact of the electronic South East Europe (eSEE) Agenda Initiative in the western Balkans. UNDP Europe and Commonwealth of Independent States, Bratislava, Slovakia

 

Consultant: Knowledge Management, South-South Portal for Information, Knowledge & Empowerment

(S.P.I.K.E) South Centre, Geneva, Switzerland

 

Co-Chair, Agriculture Commission, World Information Technology Forum (WITFOR) 2005, Botswana

 

Founder: DevNetJobs.org NetworkDigitalGovernance.org InitiativeKnowNet.org Initiative

 

Consultant and Trainer:

Public Sector Modernization and E-Governance; Natural Resources, Rural and Watershed Development; Environment & Gender Issues; Drinking Water and Sanitation, IT Applications for Agriculture, Livelihoods & SME Development; Knowledge Management, Networks & Volunteerism, Training of Trainers.


 

Brief Resume:

Work Experience:

South Centre (Geneva), United Nations Development Programme -UNDP (New York), Ministry of Environment and Forests (the Government of India), Action Aid (India), Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (India).

 

Short-Term / Consultancy Experience:

UNDP (Croatia), UNDP (Kosovo), UNDP (Moldova), UNDP (Macedonia), UNDP (Serbia), UNDP (Montenegro), UNDP/Bratislava Regional Centre (Ukraine), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD, Geneva), UNDP/ Digital Development Initiative (Uzbekistan), UNDP (Azerbaijan), Sir Ratan Tata Trust (Gujarat - India), International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD, Egypt, Jordan, Rome), United Nations Volunteers (UNV, Mongolia, Egypt, Bonn), UNDP (New York), World Bank (Washington DC), World Computer Exchange (USA, India), Ambuja Development Foundation (Gujarat - India), Agricultural Finance Consultants (Rajasthan - India), CHIRAG (Uttar Pradesh - India), Forest Department (Madhya Pradesh - India).

 

Academic Qualifications:

  • MSc (Environment and Development), London School of Economics, UK

  • MSc (Forestry & Natural Resources Management), Indian Institute of Forest Management, India

  • BSc (Mathematics and Statistics), St. Stephens College, Delhi University, India

 

Specialization:

  • Natural resources management and rural development - Agriculture, drinking water and sanitation, watershed development, and SME and livelihoods generation.

  • Public sector modernization and electronic governance – Innovative ICT and e-government models for good governance: to improve public service delivery, ensure transparency in government procurement, enhance citizen participation via e-democracy & to build ICT capacity in transition and developing countries.

  • Provision and financing of global public goods – New framework for international cooperation, and to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): global communications network, internet governance, corruption-free governance, and peace & secruity.

 

Consultant, Trainer and Guest Lecturer:

  • Designing, and monitoring - evaluation of natural resources management, rural development, water and sanitation, civil society development, and capacity building projects.

  • Designing E-governance models for public sector modernization, e-democracy, good governance, and to deliver public services to the marginalized population.

  • Designing ICT models for agriculture extension, livelihoods generation, knowledge management and civil-society empowerment. 

  • Designing knowledge networks, thematic knowledge networks and portals, online campaigns, electronic forums, and identifying incentives for participation & content development.

 

Founder / President:

    Digital Governance http://www.digitalgovernance.org

    Initiative to demonstrate innovative E-governance models to undertake public sector reforms in developing countries. The models are based on strategic application of knowledge in the local situation. National networks in Nigeria, Egypt, Ghana, India and Nepal. 

     

    KnowNet Initiative http://www.knownet.org 

    Initiative to establish knowledge networks for empowerment and capacity building in developing countries, and provide training to individuals and organizations through remote volunteering and KnowNet corps. 

     

    DevNetJobs.org http://www.devnetjobs.org DevNetJobsIndia.org http://www.DevNetJobsIndia.org

    A platform to provide information on job opportunities arising in the international development sector. The DevNetJobs newsletter connects over 64,000 individuals and 1650 recruiting organizations in over 150 countries.


 

Detailed Curriculum Vitae:

WORK EXPERIENCE:

 

MAY 2004- ongoing

Knowledge Management Specialist (50% basis). South-South Portal for Information, Knowledge and Empowerment (SPIKE), South Centre, Geneva.

SPIKE intends to serve as an electronic point of convergence for the South and South-related issues. It furthers the South Centre, an intergovernmental agency, mandate of promoting South-South cooperation.

 

Job profile and achievements:

  • Identify sector-wide information needs of the South and the existing sources of information.

  • Creating and managing SPIKE’s portal on good governance and electronic government.

  • Designing information products and services to be delivered via SPIKE for use by the mission staff of the South in Geneva and by delegations to the UN during meetings and negotiations.

  • Conceiving the SPIKE portals, content management and information flow architecture.

 

 

APRIL 2003 - ongoing

Manager (Consultancy basis). global public goods Network (gpgNet), Office of Development Studies, UNDP, New York.

gpgNet serves researchers, policymakers, and civil society as a platform for information exchange and discussion, on issues concerning the theory, policy design and practice of providing global public goods.

 

Job profile and achievements:

 

JULY 2001 - MARCH 2003

Policy Analyst, Office of Development Studies (ODS), UNDP, New York.

ODS is the policy think-tank within the UNDP. It collaborates with development policy think tanks and experts around the world to foster joint research and knowledge exchange.

 

Job profile and achievements:

  • Provided research and editorial support for the UNDP publication- Providing Global Public Goods: Managing Globalization, Oxford University Press, January 2003.

  • Undertook research on adequacy of public goods provision and their financing - peace and conflicts, biodiversity conservation, and corruption-free governance.

  • Conducted research on global telecommunications network, the Internet and knowledge management as global public goods and, issues of access and costs of underprovision.

  • Carried out policy-oriented research on international cooperation and global governance issues with respect to achievement of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

  • Conceived the global public goods Network (gpgNet.net) to link together researchers, policymakers and practitioners to move research results into policy debates and practice.

  • Managed the project: "Bridging Research and Policymaking" in collaboration with Global Development Network (GDN), World Bank. A survey of 48 senior government officials in 32 countries was undertaken to understand the policymaking process.

 

 

JANUARY 1999 - SEPTEMBER 2000

Program Officer, Sustainable Development Networking Programme (SDNP), Ministry of Environment and Forests, the Government of India.

SDNP is implemented by the Government of India, with support from UNDP, World Bank, and IDRC-Canada to catalyze sustainable development through establishment of national knowledge networks.

 

Job profile and achievements:

  • Managed a five-person team to create the first “Knowledge network on Sustainable Development" at http://sdnp.delhi.nic.in The network has over 25 nodes on different subject areas and provides access to databases, government policies, and referral service on environment and development.

  • Monitored debates and negotiations on biodiversity, forestry, climate change, and clean technologies and prepared policy packs for use by ministers and other government officials.

  • Liaisoned with government officials on environment and development issues and created avenues for participation of NGOs in select advisory committee and “right to information” meetings.

  • Selection and building information management and networking skills of 15 nodal organizations.

  • Provided consultations to government and funding agencies on how to make governmental information available electronically to citizens, especially in rural and thinly populated areas.

  • Voluntary Initiatives: Promoting NetAid launch concert and Online Volunteering for UNV in India.

 

 

FEBRUARY 1998 - JANUARY 1999

Policy Analyst, Policy and Advocacy Unit, ActionAid, India.

ActionAid is an international development organisation with headquarters in UK and works in the area of food security, natural resources management, health and education in over 50 countries.

 

Job profile and achievements:

  • Authored technical papers on agricultural policy, food security and biotechnology.

  • Authored a comprehensive base paper on "Draft Model Indian Agricultural Policy" for discussion at state-level workshops on public investment in agriculture and food security.

  • Designed training modules and imparted training to partner NGOs on policy-advocacy.

  • Member of ActionAid's International Food Rights Campaign for promoting food security.

  • Participated in campaigning and initiating public dialogues on agriculture and WTO reforms.

  • Voluntary Initiative: Provided editorial support to the flagship Exchanges magazine of ActionAid.

 

APRIL 1996 - FEBRUARY 1998

Programme Organizer (Monitoring and Drinking Water), Aga Khan Rural Support Program India. (AKRSP), India.

AKRSP, an international NGO, works on natural resources management in Asia and Africa.

 

Job profile and achievements:

  • Managed a team of over 35 development professionals and participated in their half-yearly performance evaluation exercises.

  • Undertook monitoring of soil and water resources, forestry, agriculture, biomass energy, and watershed development programmes of AKRSP in over 250 villages.

  • Implemented the drinking water and sanitation programmes in 30 salinity-affected villages.

  • Designed the significant change monitoring & evaluation frameworks for the EU funded project on community management of natural resources, and wrote periodic reports for the donors.

  • Conducted participatory rural appraisals (PRA), impact assessment and baseline monitoring

  • Authored evaluation reports on gender and soil-water conservation programmes.

  • Voluntary Initiatives: Initiated the children development programme and farm-based programmes for tribal communities of African descent.


 

FOUNDER HEAD / PRESIDENT:

 

Digital Governance Initiative, July 2000 onwards

[ www.digitalgovernance.org ]

Digital Governance initiative (DGI) was launched at Global Development Network/World Bank conference in Tokyo 2000. DGI identifies and propagates innovative e-governance models in developing countries. Through a network of 2500 researchers, policymakers & practitioners, it identified 5 generic e-governance models. Efforts are ongoing to create an E-governance Tool-kit and an e-Leadership Map to foster south-south learnings and create a mentor group on E-governance. In addition, national E-governance networks have been created in Ghana, Nepal, and Nigeria. The e-governance models and the project website are used as teaching material at the London School of Economics (UK), Bilkent University (Turkey), Virgina-Tech University (USA), University of Washington (USA), and in USDA online teaching modules.

 

KnowNet Initiative, April 1999 onwards

[ www.knownet.org  ]

KnowNet Initiative was launched in 2000 at the Global Knowledge Partnership conference in Malaysia. KnowNet provides training on knowledge management an strategic application of ICT and volunteerism. The initiative has trained 180 volunteers/NGOs from developing countries through its free toolkit- www.KnowNetWeaver.org  and www.TechKnowNet.org on designing websites and electronic networks.

 

DevNetJobs.org and DevNetJobsIndia.org Initiative, June 1999 onwards

[ www.devnetjobs.org  ]

DevNetJobs.org provides information on jobs and career opportunities in international development sector. Its fortnightly newsletter is subscribed by 65,000 individuals and posts jobs sent by over 1500 organizations in the development sector.

 



CONSULTANCY ASSIGNMENTS:

 

  • Review of the Policy Impact of the electronic South East Europe (eSEE) Agenda Initiative in Western Balkans. Serbia and Montenegro (June 5-9), Macedonia (June 9-11), Moldova (June 14-16), Kosovo (June 17-19) Croatia (June 20-21)  UNDP Europe and Commonwealth of Independent States, Bratislava. May 2005 -July 2005.

  • Exploring innovative usage of ICT in disaster mitigation and post-disaster economic recovery. Tsunami-affected Areas (Andaman Islands and Tamil Nadu). DevNetJobs.org India. March 2005 – April 2005.

  • Providing training on Knowledge Management and how to support local development and expand public services through public-prviate partnerships, and preparation of knowledge maps and knowledge marketplace. UNDP-Bratislava Office, UNDP Ukraine. October 2004.

  • Electronic Government and Foreign Investment: Reviewing electronic government applications provided by Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) and drafting a paper on "How Electronic Government (E-Government) can enhance foreign investment in developing countries?" UNCTAD, Geneva, September - December 2004.

  • Preparing baseline paper, and acting as resource person on international experiences of e-government, especially in G2C field, focusing on major trends, lessons learned, best practises, risks involved, as well at technical and regulatory requirements for the introduction of e-government systems. UNDP / Digital Development Initiative, Uzbekistan. May 2004.

  • Monitoring and evaluation of drinking water and salinity ingress prevention related interventions in coastal villages of Gujarat. Sir Ratan Tata Trust, India, January 2004.

  • International resources person on E-Governance / E-Government in developing and transition countries. UNDP, Azerbaijan. November 2003.

  • Evaluation of ICT and sustainable livelihoods project involving UN volunteers in Mongolia. United Nations Volunteers, Mongolia and Germany. August-September 2003.

  • Designing a 3 years project on use of ICT in agriculture extension and creating the Agricultural Knowledge Generation and Sharing network (PN-KnowNet / KariaNet) for Near East and North Africa region. International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), Rome, Jordan, Egypt. April-May 2003.

  • Evaluation of UNDP-UNV Tele-Access Community Centers (TACCs) project in Egypt. United Nations Volunteers, Germany. June-July 2001.

  • Preparing working plans and proposals to initiate the Global Public Goods Network. United Nations Development Program, New York. March 2001.

  • Selection of partner NGOs and schools in India for use of computers donated by private firms. World Computer Exchange, New Delhi, India. August 2001.

  • Documentation of developmental impacts and recommending future strategy for corporate social responsibility of Ambuja Rural Development Foundation. Ambuja Cement Foundation, Gujarat, India. July 2000.

  • Sacred Forests: an ethno-religious practice for conservation of plant resources and bio-diversity. Agricultural Finance Consultants, Delhi, Jodhpur, Udaipur, India. October- December 1995.

  • Modelling the impact of natural resources related interventions on common property resources.  Central Himalayan Rural Action Group (CHIRAG), Uttar Pradesh, India. May-July 1995.

  • Review of the forest management practices of the Forest Department for the conservation of Kanha National Park, and those of World Food Programme on income generating activities. Forest Department, Government of Madhya Pradesh, India. December 1994 – February 1995.

 


 

RESEARCH PAPERS AND PUBLICATIONS:

 

Publications

Research and Technical Papers


 

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS:

 

  • Empowerment and Governance through Information and Communication Technologies: women's perspective, International Conference on Opportunities for Women in ICT era, October 23-24, 2000, UNDP, Malaysia

  • Knowledge Networks on Environment and Development, Global Knowledge Partnership, Malaysia, June 2000

  • Economic Valuation of Environment and Forest Resources And Natural Resources Accounting for Sustainable Development. January 31- February 5, 2000 IIFM, Bhopal, India.

 


 

GUEST LECTURES AND COURSES:


 

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:

Masters Degree (First Class), Environment and Development, London School of Economics,

United Kingdom. September 2000 - August 2001

 

Main subjects: Environmental economics, Environmental regulations and implementation policy, Environment impact assessment, Development theories and Dynamics of institutions

 

Masters Degree (First class), Forest Management, Indian Institute of Forest Management, 

India. June 1994 - April 1996

 

Main Streams : Development theory and alternate approaches to development economics, Environmental laws, issues and treaties, Globalization and developing countries, Natural resources valuation, Institutions and development theory, Natural resources management and watershed management, Management of NGOs, and application of GIS in development projects

 

Undergraduate Degree (First Class), in Mathematics (Honours), St. Stephens College, Delhi University, India. April 1991 - June 1994.

 

Specialization: Mathematics and Statistics


 

ICT SKILLS:

 

  • Beta software evaluation

  • Adept in creation of HTML / modular websites, Lyris List servs and discussion forums, and setting up electronic knowledge networks using Front Page, Dream Weaver, and Adobe Photoshop

  • Familiarity with web-server management: Windows NT and Apache

  • Knowledge of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) - ArcInfo, MapInfo and IDRISI

  • Experience of using of modeling and system dynamics software - Stella, Vortex, Professional Dynamo and Pondsimula for systems modeling on environmental issues

  • Languages known: C, HTML, SQL*, PL/SQL, Fortran and Java (basic)

 


 

MEDIA APPEARANCES AND INTERVIEWS:

 

  • Participation in the Electronic Southeast Europe Initiative was positively reflected in Electronic Moldova (In Russian and In Romanian). The Ministry of Information Development News Release. Government of Moldova, Moldova. June 2005.

  • Interviewed by the National TV (Serbian Language) and the Independent TV (English Language), Montenegro. September 29, 2004.

  • Interviewed by the Press Service of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. May 28, 2004

  • Interviewed by the Azerbaijan National Newspaper “The Zerkalo (The Mirror)” on use of ICT in private sector, November 8, 2003

  • Interviewed by the National Mongolian TV on civil society and social development issues, Ulanbaator, Mongolia, September 7, 2003

  • Inlaks Scholarship for the year 2000-1, London School of Economics, UK

  • Interviewed by the "New York Times" about Developmentspace initiative. April 11, 2002

  • BBC-UK World Service's speaker on their program "Outlook" on the impact of Computers in Developing Countries. November 2000

 


 

SCHOLARSHIPS:

  • Inlaks Scholarship for the year 2000-1, London School of Economics, UK

  • Scholarship of Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. 1994-96

  • Certificate holder of National- Level Mathematics Olympiad, 1991


 

INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY MEMBER:


 

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:

  • Spearheading mountaineering expedition to Kanchenjunga Base Camp (6000 m),  India (2000) 

  • Spearheading mountaineering expedition to Khatling Glacier (4500 m),  India (1994)

  • Runner's up of Delhi State Indoor Rock Climbing Championship, 1994

  • Rock Band Member, Ashtoreth, India