Hi Monalisa, welcome to ICA-AP! Please share a brief overview of your professional background and relevant experiences before joining ICA-AP.

Thank you! Before joining ICA-AP as Program Coordination and Advocacy Officer for the ICA-EU Cooperatives in Development – People-Centered Businesses in Action Project, I worked as a Program Head at Access Livelihoods. I managed projects and partnerships across international, national, governmental, and non-governmental levels. I contributed to business development, program design & strategic planning, budget management, partner management and capacity building across Livelihoods, Employment, Entrepreneurship, & Leadership development, focusing on women & youth. Before Access Livelihoods, I worked with Friends of Women World Banking (FWWB) as a Program Officer and led the capacity-building vertical focusing on strengthening Farmer Producer Collectives. In 2017, I completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Development Management from the Development Management Institute, Patna and graduated with a B.com (Accountancy Hon.) from Patna University. 

That’s great! What motivated you to work with cooperatives and join ICA-AP? 
 

I remember my post-graduation days when I was first introduced to the concept of ‘Cooperatives’ through books (Catalysing cooperatives), exposure visits (Amul, Mulkanoor, Amalsad), and movies like Manthan. I must admit that the course curriculum motivated me to explore the cooperative world in depth. Having gained experience in development consulting, I deliberately chose to focus on working closely with cooperatives, and I found no better platform than ICA-AP.

As you embark on this new role of Program Coordination and Advocacy Officer within ICA-AP, what are some of your initial expectations or goals? How do you envision contributing to the organization's objectives?
 

The cooperative movement has a vast and rich history. Hence, my initial expectation is to make myself well-versed in the cooperative world and understand the varied works/achievements that have been accomplished to date. Later, my preference would be to contribute and work towards cooperative policies and laws. 

In what ways do you anticipate your past experiences and skills will align with the responsibilities of your new role at ICA-AP?

I have more than 7 years of experience in successfully executing large-scale projects involving multiple geographies, international and national partners, significant budgets, diverse team sizes, comprehensive research work, etc. I am fond of articulating key messages persuasively and engaging stakeholders by discussing the larger picture. I believe these skills align perfectly with the requirements of my new role at ICA-AP.