Intern MIDAS

ABOUT MIDAS

The Middle India Development and Advancement Strategy (MIDAS) is a project initiated by The Convergence Foundation (TCF). The initiative focuses on accelerating economic growth in underdeveloped rural districts across India by creating scalable models to improve prosperity.

As a first step, MIDAS has selected Deoria district in Eastern Uttar Pradesh as its pilot site. Over the next 3 4 years, the objective is to develop and test a replicable playbook for driving district-level growth in Middle India.

To implement this on the ground, TCF is partnering with the Deoria Development Alliance, led by Member of Parliament Shri Shashank Mani. The district-level initiative is branded as Amrit Prayas, with a long-term goal of accelerating Deorias per capita income growth.

ROLE OVERVIEW

The Intern will support the Project Management Unit (PMU) for Pillar I Agriculture under Amrit Prayas. The role focuses on enabling on-ground agricultural transformation by supporting interventions related to crop diversification, value chain development, market linkages, agri-infrastructure, and farmer institutions (FPOs).

The Intern will work at the intersection of agriculture, rural livelihoods, and economic development, contributing to pilot design, stakeholder coordination, and implementation tracking.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Sector Research: Support mapping of priority value chains (e.g., banana, turmeric, horticulture, allied sectors) and identification of private sector partners, processors, buyers, and service providers.
• Program Design Support: Assist in preparing concept notes, pilot designs, and intervention plans for crop diversification, farmer aggregation, and value chain development.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Support coordination with FPOs, agri-input companies, buyers, government departments, and implementation partners at district and block levels.
• Field & Data Support: Help collate field insights, track pilot progress, and document learning from model plots, farmer interactions, and interventions.
• Operational Support: Assist in organizing field visits, farmer meetings, workshops, and documentation related to agriculture pilots and capacity-building programs.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Educational Background: Currently pursuing or recently graduated in Development Studies, Economics, or related fields.
• Analytical Skills: Ability to work with data, prepare simple analysis, and create professional presentations and notes.
• Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to interact with diverse stakeholders including farmers and private sector partners.
• Adaptability: Willingness to work in evolving field conditions with a problem-solving mindset and high ownership.

REPORTING

The Intern will report to the Program Manager / Team Lead Agriculture at MIDAS, The Convergence Foundation.

COMPENSATION

The Convergence Foundation offers a competitive stipend for the non-profit sector, commensurate with the candidates profile and experience.