CRISP Fellowships 2024

About Organization:

Centre for Research in Schemes and Policies (CRISP) is an organization formed by 10 senior civil servants with experience at the level of Secretary to the Government of India. CRISP focuses on concurrent evaluation of schemes, setting up monitoring systems, and drafting policies in the Social Sector to bring systematic reforms.

About Fellowship:

CRISP Fellowship Programme is an experiential learning model in India that involves collaboration between CRISP and State/Central governments. It provides a platform for young talent to work at high echelons of governance in the social sector, driving impactful large-scale projects.

The CRISP Fellowship Programme stands out as a pioneering experiential learning model in India, representing a unique collaborative effort between CRISP and State/Central governments. This strategic alliance aims to empower young professionals, providing them with an opportunity to operate at the highest echelons of governance within the social sector. The Fellowship serves as a dynamic platform for emerging talent to spearhead impactful large-scale projects, working in tandem with public administration officials.

Key Components of the CRISP Fellowship Programme:

1. Holistic Engagement: The Fellowship exposes participants to a comprehensive learning experience, involving active collaboration with government bodies. This engagement encompasses strategic domains such as policy implementation, data analysis, high-quality report writing, and fortifying existing government initiatives.
2. Impactful Contributions: CRISP Fellows play a pivotal role in evaluating and suggesting improvements for the government’s flagship programs across diverse thematic areas in the Social Sector. Their mission is to drive positive outcomes, ensuring transparency and accountability in the process, and acting as catalysts for change.
3. Convergence and Process Enhancement: A central aspect of the Fellowship involves driving convergence among various government stakeholders and departments. CRISP Fellows are tasked with re-engineering processes and overcoming implementation challenges to ensure efficient and effective program delivery, particularly at the grassroots level.
4. Field Immersion and Stakeholder Interaction: To gain practical insights and contribute meaningfully, CRISP Fellows are required to engage extensively in fieldwork. They interact directly with program beneficiaries, collecting invaluable feedback, and presenting suggestions for program improvement.

Achievements of the First Cohort (2023):

1. Recruitment and Orientation: The inaugural cohort, comprising 16 CRISP Fellows, was recruited in January 2023. Following recruitment, the Fellows underwent an intensive orientation program, including immersive field experiences.
2. Independent Projects: Each Fellow was assigned an independent project of significant importance, reflecting CRISP’s commitment to empowering individuals to make a tangible impact in their respective domains.
3. Mentorship: Fellows benefitted from mentorship by CRISP Founding Members, drawing on the rich experience of these senior civil servants.
4. Knowledge Dissemination: The essays authored by the Fellows, collectively titled “Thoughts on Social Sector,” were published by CRISP. Additionally, the Fellows conducted several studies, the findings of which were published on CRISP’s official website.
5. Career Progression: Outstanding performers from the first cohort stand the chance of full-time placement in the CRISP Central Office, demonstrating CRISP’s commitment to recognizing and nurturing exceptional talent. For other Fellows, CRISP actively supports placement or admissions for higher studies, contributing to their ongoing professional development.

Benefits:

• Opportunity to work on domains like policy implementation, data analysis, high-quality report writing, and strengthening government initiatives.
• Act as catalysts in achieving desired outcomes with transparency and accountability.
• Extensive field travel, interaction with beneficiaries, and feedback collection.
• Potential full-time placement in CRISP Central Office for top-performing Fellows.

Also Read: Community Engagement Exchange (CEE) Program 2025 (Fully Funded)

Eligibility Criteria:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in policy-relevant subjects.
• Up to 2 years of work experience in the social sector.
• Proficiency in English and one among Tamil/Telugu/Kannada/Hindi.
• Maximum age at the time of application should not exceed 30 years.

Application Process:

• Online application on the official website.
• Enclose a Statement of Purpose (500 words) explaining why the applicant is the best fit.
• Submit an assignment answering a problem statement in the Application Form.

Opportunities for the CRISP Fellows:

• Hone technical/non-technical skills and exposure to government workings.
• Experience in administration of social welfare and economic development projects.
• Stakeholder management through the implementation of government policies and schemes.
• Access to guidance from experienced senior decision-makers and a broad network of development institutions.

Fellowship Structure:

• Two-year full-time paid program.
• Allotted a project arising from an MoU with State or Central Government.
• Expected to study/implement the project independently, make field visits, and prepare action plans.
• Work under the overall supervision of a State Team Leader.

Fellowship Compensation:

• Monthly Fellowship amount of Rs. 75,000/- (subject to taxes).
• 5% variable pay released based on performance.
• Reimbursement of travel expenses for field visits.

Role Expected:

• Work as part of the CRISP team and be posted in a State for implementing the MoU between the State Govt and CRISP.
• Allocate an area of work with clear functional deliverables.
• Weekly mentoring by CRISP Founding Members.
• Extensive fieldwork, interaction with government functionaries, and preparation of action plans.

Lock-in Period:

• Candidates must be willing to spend 2 full years on the Fellowship.
• No exit before the conclusion of 12 months.
• Recovery of the entire cost on the Fellowship program if the Fellow exits within one year.
• Termination with one-month notice if the performance is below par.

Application Timeline:

• Application Start Date: 6th January, 2024
• Application Deadline: 5th February, 2024
• Intimation of shortlisting of top-100: 10th February 2024
• 2nd Round – Group Discussions (on VC): 13th and 14th February 2024
• Personal Interview of top-20 over VC: 20/21/22nd February 2024
• Declaration of result and Offers: 25th February 2024
• Joining and start of orientation programme: 3rd April, 2024

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