Insurance Data Analyst & MIS Specialist - United Nations Development Programme

1. POSITION VACANT:  Insurance Data Analyst & MIS Specialist, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) - UNDP Project: “Technical Support Unit for Management of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana”, New Delhi

2. PROJECT BACKGROUND:

Indian agricultural producers make a critical economic contribution to the country but face a number of challenges in securing household income and ensuring food security. A key challenge comprises crop failures and yield losses, triggered by the vagaries of climate. These put at risk the livelihood of a large proportion of India’s population viz. 138 million farm families, constituting the largest private enterprise and contributing more than 18% contribution to national GDP. Agricultural production shocks have huge social and financial repercussions, impacting rural income levels, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and poverty rates.

The Government of India’s flagship scheme Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), compensates farmers for crop losses.  The scheme insures farmers against a wide range of external risks — droughts, dry spells, floods, inundation, pests and diseases, landslides, natural fire and lightning, hailstorms, cyclones, typhoons, tempests, hurricanes and tornadoes.  While insuring farmers against crop losses is not a new initiative, the PMFBY constitutes a serious attempt to plug gaps identified in earlier crop insurance schemes viz. the National Agriculture Insurance Scheme (NAIS) introduced in 1999 and the Modified NAIS (mNAIS) introduced in 2011.

PMFBY came into operation from 1 April 2016, with a Central Government budget allocation of Rs 5,500 crore for 2016–17. The Central Government plans to bring 40 per cent of agricultural area under PMFBY in 2017–18 and, accordingly, a provision of about Rs 9,000 crore has been made for the scheme in the 2017–18 budget.

PMFBY promotes sustainable agriculture production through:

(1) Financial support to farmers against crop losses due to climactic or external shocks;
(2) Securing incomes;
(3) Improved, modern and innovative farming practices for better yield;
(4) Enhanced credit availability to the agricultural sector.

UNDP’s Country Programme Document (2018-2022) approved by the Government of India defines “Institutional and Systems Strengthening for Service Delivery” to be one of its foremost programme priorities and the single most important innovation for achieving last mile developmental impact. UNDP shall leverage its expertise in systems strengthening to support the Ministry of Agriculture to set up a Technical Support Unit (TSU) for the implementation of PMFBY, to improve institutional and programme responsiveness, increase coverage and better access among marginalised and excluded farm households, offering innovative measures for risk management and reduced crop loss for the rural population in India.

The TSU will focus on providing Capacity Building and Training support to participating state-level government departments involved in PMFBY and advancing the scheme among new states for improved uptake.

For more information, please visit, http://www.in.undp.org/

3. JOB DESCRIPTION/ RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the guidance and supervision of Senior Specialist– Non Life Actuary, the Insurance Data Analyst & MIS Specialist shall be responsible for supporting management in undertaking data analytics and modelling, setting up a robust Information System and database, for the purpose.

Key Job Responsibilities:

(A) Insurance Data Analysis and MIS

(1) Perform risk-based modeling to determine premium costs and sustainable subsidy structures;
(2) Provide other necessary information and statistical inputs relating to farming and crop production, including quantification of the government support and subsidies needed;
(3) Collate and analyse data related to cultivated areas, production and yield of key crops, types of soils, percentages of agriculture under irrigation and rainfed, vulnerability of crops to weather and climate risks, farming system and types, and income levels of farmers;
(4) Undertake crop modeling and prioritization for the crops to be insured and assist the crop insurance product specialists in selecting farming areas for piloting;
(5) Develop databases on crop insurance underwriting and claims, Crop Premium Subsidy Management, Digitized Land Record database, Notified Crop, Premium Rates and coverage; CCE yield dataset etc. to process and generate reports to help monitor insurance take-up and supervise insurance operations;
(6) Provide training to concerned users on how to utilize databases in generating the required information;
(7) Provide maintenance services and troubleshoot when problems occurred; and
(8) Assist implementing agencies/ State TSUs in developing their own database system to improve financial monitoring and reporting capacity.

(B) Liaison

(1) Liaise with relevant government agencies and all project partners for effective coordination of all project inputs;
(2) Provide technical backstopping inputs for training activities supported by the project;
(3) Provide of inputs for the timely submission of progress reports, as required by UNDP and the Ministry of Agriculture;
(4) Foster partnerships with key national and state government departments, private insurance companies, farmer organizations and relevant technical institutions working on agriculture insurance and related issues;
(5) Support the Sr. Specialist– Non Life Actuary and Sr. Insurance Specialist– Product R&D for the successful achievement of project objectives;

(C) Other Tasks

Perform any other task consistent with the level of the post and/or assigned by the Head – TSU; Joint Secretary, DoAC&FW, MoA&FW.

4. QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES:          

Qualifications:
Applicants must have a Master’s in Statistics/ Economics, or equivalent.

Experience:

Essential
(1) Five to seven years of demonstrable experience in managing large datasets and analyzing insurance data;
(2) Two to three years of experience in the field of crop life and production, with demonstrated experience in undertaking weather parametric modelling, or crop loss modelling, or agricultural statistics, shall be an advantage;
(3) Relevant experience of working at the national level with Government and/or Private Entities, in the insurance sector.

Desirable
(1) Candidates with prior experience of working with Central and/or State Governments/ International Agencies, on similar assignments, will be preferred; 
(2) Prior experience of providing technical advisory services in the insurance sector.

Skills and Competencies:

Core Competencies
(1) Strong integrity and ethical standards;
(2) Alignment with the Vision, Mission, and Strategic Goals of the organization.

Job Knowledge/ Technical Skills
(1) Sound knowledge and experience in remote sensing application, particularly in agriculture and soils;
(2) Broad based knowledge of current rural insurance and finance schemes, outreach to insurers and implementing agencies;
(3) Experience of crop loss modelling, or agricultural statistics, will be an advantage;
(4) Substantive technical knowledge to do full justice to the responsibilities and requirements of the post;
(5) Knowledge and capability to handle strategic planning, results-based management and reporting.

Communication Skills
(1) Good communication skills;
(2) Ability to carry out research and communicate strategic advice that guides decisions on strategic programme directions;
(3) Ability to tailor and present information to diverse audiences using a variety of communication delivery methods (e.g., written, electronic, oral, interpersonal), including documentation;
(4) Good interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations with people in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Management Skills
(1) Demonstrated skills in connecting with a wide range of stakeholders viz. insurance agencies, farmer organisations, state agencies, etc.;
(2) Ability to participate in and independently organise consultative meetings at the national and state level with partners and senior stakeholders, for identifying priorities and managing the timely delivery of project activities;
(3) Ability to consistently deliver results (both individual and as part of a team), even under difficult circumstances;
(4) Excellent work/ project planning skills;
(5) Openness to change and the ability to manage complex, ever-changing environments.

Language Requirements
Excellent oral and written skills in English and Hindi.

5. COMPENSATION OFFERED:

The remuneration package budgeted for the position is INR 1,10,665/- per month (taxable). (Note: UNDPoffers additional benefits which include medical insurance coverage and limited pension reimbursement for the contract holder. UNDP encourages work life balance).

6. LOCATION: New Delhi

7. APPOINTMENT: The incumbent shall initially be offered a one-year service contract (renewable). The post level is SB-3/ Peg 4.

8. REFERENCE: IDAMIS-UNDP

9. CONTACT INFORMATION:

Senior Consultant
Strategic Alliance Management Services P Ltd.
1/1B, Choudhary Hetram House, Bharat Nagar
New Friends Colony, New Delhi 110 025
Phone Nos.: 011- 2684 2162; 4165 3612  

10. APPLICATION PROCESS:

Eligible candidates interested in this position are requested to urgently apply to idamis-undp@sams.co.in, along with a cover letter highlighting their motivation to apply and suitability for the position, along with an updated resume including names and contact details of at least two referees, by or before April 12, 2018.

Candidates are urged to apply immediately, as tele-interviews with strong applicants, are likely to be initiated almost right away.

UNDP strives to have a workforce which reflects diversity and gender balance and applies an equal opportunities approach. All selections are on merit.