Senior Research Officer

bibinthambi@gmail.com

A social researcher with more than two decades of research experience in diverse social research projects in Kerala and other states. Competencies include the organisation of large-scale surveys, monitoring and evaluation of development projects, preparation of watershed-based detailed project reports, implementation of participatory learning methods, and application of Geographic Information Systems for spatial planning and analysis.

Has vast experience in managing fieldwork in diverse socio-cultural settings, starting his career as an investigator in 2001 and then progressing to supervisory and fieldwork coordinator roles. Major surveys coordinated include the India Human Development Survey, the District Level Household Survey under Reproductive Child Health, Global Adult Tobacco Survey and Global Youth Tobacco Survey in Kerala and other states in South India and Lakshadweep.

Expertise in GIS based mapping and application of watershed approach in various projects at the local government level, including MGNREGA. Utilised GIS in the Riverbank Mapping and Sand Auditing Project. Skills include georeferencing underlying maps, digitising, delineating watershed boundaries, preparing various thematic maps, and conducting spatial data analysis.

As part of various projects, conducted Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) using tools such as transect walks, social mapping, and wealth ranking for identifying the poor during the preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPR) for watershed projects. Additionally, involved in capacity-building programs for social work students to undertake PRAs.

Demonstrated ability to prepare Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for various development programs. Major projects include the District Perspective Plan for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), DPRs for Integrated Watershed Management Programmes in Kerala, DPR preparation for Responsible Tourism in Kumarakom and Kottayam, and a Needs Assessment Study with the DPR for the Kerala Local Government Service Delivery Project.

Has an impressive track record in conducting training programs for investigators to conduct fieldwork and administer questionnaires. As part of preparing Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), has conducted numerous awareness classes and training programs on various subjects. Possesses immense experience as a trainer on watershed management and participatory tools for various District Poverty Alleviation Units in Kerala. Regularly engaged as a soft skills trainer for youth and children through universities and Kudumbashree.

Immense experience in the evaluation and monitoring of diverse projects in different states of India since 2001. Notable achievement in evaluation is the Sustainability Evaluation of Jalanidhi Projects in 2014, 2015,2017 and 2019. Serving as a team member for the last seven years in the National Level Monitoring of the programmes implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj. Experience in social impact assessment for studies conducted as part of the land acquisition for various projects in Kerala. Multidimensional assessments of field-level realities of the proposed project areas were conducted as part of the exercise.

Served as a member of the subgroup (environment-related statistics) under the local statistics working group constituted under the Sixth State Finance Commission, Government of Kerala.

Holds PhD in Social Work.  Trained in ArcGIS and QGIS software from the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj and in the topic of GIS and Watershed from the Indian Institute for Remote Sensing.