Shahnaz Ansari

Results-driven Development Professional with 6+ years of progressive experience in monitoring & evaluation, program management, and health systems strengthening across rural and urban settings in Uttar Pradesh, India. Proven ability to design and implement M&E frameworks for maternal and newborn health, primary healthcare, urban health governance, and education working across government departments, civil society, and donor-funded programs. Recognized for translating field-level data into actionable evidence for senior government officials and donor agencies.

Published researcher in international peer-reviewed journals on community and maternal health equity. Committed to equity-driven, evidence-based development that bridges policy and ground-level implementation.

Consultant – Project Monitoring Unit (PMU) - IQVIA - Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

(2024-09 - 2026-02)

PMU – Akankshi Nagar Yojana, Directorate of Urban Local Bodies, Govt. of UP. Reporting to: Principal Secretary, Govt. of UP | Director, Dept. of Urban Development, Education & Health

• Led the State Project Monitoring Unit (SPMU), providing technical and programmatic support for education and urban health under Akankshi Nagar Yojana across 100 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
• Mentored and guided 100 Chief Minister (CM) Fellows on education and health program planning, school-level monitoring, health interventions, and inter-departmental coordination.
• Supported education programme planning and implementation in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP), focusing on foundational learning, skill integration, and outcome-based education.
• Led IEC/BCC and community engagement initiatives: school enrolment drives, dropout reduction, attendance improvement, adolescent education, and parent/community awareness campaigns.
• Facilitated structured capacity-building and training programs for CM Fellows, Executive Officers, ULB officials, and NGO partners on education, digital tools, and monitoring systems.
• Prepared analytical notes, presentations, action trackers, and decision briefs for state and district-level review meetings with senior officials.
• Developed education- and health-focused program insights, learning documents, best-practice notes, and review reports to strengthen implementation quality.

Project Coordinator- MEAL - Save The Children India (Bal Raksha Bharat) - Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

(2022-06 - 2022-12)

• Led Monitoring & Evaluation activities for education-focused programs including student sponsorship, school-level interventions, and learning support initiatives.
• Developed and tracked education-specific indicators: enrolment, attendance, retention, transition rates, and learning outcomes.
• Analyzed education program data to generate actionable insights for program planning, donor reporting, and strategic decision-making.
• Conducted capacity-building sessions for M&E teams and data collection agencies on evaluation methodologies and data quality protocols.
• Managed program databases, ensured data accuracy, and facilitated timely reporting from field teams.

State Consultant- M&E - Population Services International (PSI) - Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

(2021-05 - 2022-02)

• Designed tools and methodologies for data collection, validation, and analysis; collaborated with government departments, donor agencies, and implementing partners on M&E initiatives.
• Conducted Need-Based Studies, Mid-Term Evaluations, and Impact Evaluations to advocate for evidence-based policy and programmatic changes.
• Conducted field monitoring visits, supportive supervision, and Data Quality Audits (DQA) to ensure accuracy and reliability of program data.
• Prepared periodic MIS reports, dashboards, and analytical briefs for internal teams, donors, and government stakeholders.
• Supported baseline, endline, and thematic studies incorporating qualitative and quantitative analysis.

State Consultant-M&E - India Health Action Trust (UPTSU) - Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

(2017-01 - 2021-02)

• Managed end-to-end M&E systems including tool design, data analysis, and reporting aligned with NHM guidelines and donor requirements.
• Led data collection and monitoring using ODK/KoBo, HMIS, and program MIS tools at facility, block, and district levels.
• Conducted DQAs, data validation, and triangulation of HMIS, survey, and field data.
• Performed quantitative and qualitative analysis using Excel and Stata to track performance trends and outcomes.
• Coordinated with state, district, and block health officials and implementing partners to review progress and implement corrective actions.
• Documented best practices, success stories, and program learnings to support adaptive management.

M.Phil. - Population Sciences - International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) (2015)

M.A. - Population Sciences - International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) (2014)

M.S.W. - Master of Social Work - University of Lucknow (2012)

B.A. - University of Lucknow (2010)