(Get short version of my bio here)

Rajiv Ranjan is a techno management professional with progressive experiences in applying innovative approaches to integrate management concepts with information and communication technologies. He has obtained his Masters’ degree in business management and IT from ABV-Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management, Gwalior, India and a Bachelors’ degree in Technology from National Institute of Technology, Warangal, India. 

After he graduated from his masters’ programme in 2000, he was appointed marketing head of Vedika Software Pvt Ltd - a software firm based in Kolkata, India, engaged in developing and marketing of packaged software products across the sub continent. Soon, he was given independent responsibility of managing two of the four branches spread across the country of the organization, first the Eastern Regional Office in Kolkata and then, the Northern Regional Office in New Delhi. As branch heads, he led teams of IT professionals from consulting, customer care and technical support background. In his this role, he gained understanding of competitive technologies and ensured that the focus remains on the top line and the margin growth. 

He joined UNDP-India in 2003. In his assignment as the ICT specialist, he worked closely with the government, the private sector, and the non-profit organizations in providing advice and strategic recommendations in ICT for Development priorities viz. citizen centered ICT Policy, advocacy and capacity building which aimed at making information accessible and giving communities a greater role in decision making. He managed multi-functional community information centers (IT kiosks), agriculture marketing intelligence network, e-governance/government initiatives, and public service delivery. He led the team of community ICT Facilitators to train and build capacities in the communities and local government institutions in ICT usages. 

Subsequently, he worked as the ICT for Development Advisor with UNDP–Sri Lanka, Colombo. He was responsible for the better use of information and communication technologies in the UNDP country programmes. He strengthened its outreach work with the Government and the local partners through pursuing, integration of ICT into governance systems at all levels. 

While with UNDP-Sri Lanka, he served on the board of e-Society Development Initiative - a programme to facilitate access to ICTs amongst the most vulnerable groups in the country through awarding financial grants and guidance, at the ICT Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) – the apex government body involved in ICT policy and direction for the nation..

Later, he was appointed a consultant to the ICTA in implementing the e-Sri Lanka initiative – a World Bank funded project. In his this stint, he advocated e-Government priorities viz. development of the e-Government Strategy, formulation of the e-Government Interoperability Framework, development of a road map to formulate the National Enterprise Architecture Framework and putting together the Free and Open Source Software Policy. 

Currently, Rajiv Ranjan is working with UNDP-Rwanda as the ICT Advisor, supporting the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR). Through NISR, Govt. of Rwanda tracks and monitors the national economic development and poverty reduction performance indicators. In particular NISR produces and manages all the statistics for national development. In his this role, Rajiv is developing capacities at NISR in using ICTs effectively and efficiently to produce, manage, disseminate and archive statistical data.