Aparna Surve

Role: Managing different health and nutrition enterprises under livelihood generation initiative of UP State Rural and Livelihood Mission (UPSRLM).

Take Home Ration (THR) Program

• Supporting UPSRLM in implementing decentralized THR model by successfully setting up and running 204 medium scale THR micro-enterprises owned and run by rural Self Help Group women.
• Successfully driving operations of these manufacturing units to deliver THR timely to ICDS anagnwadi centers.
• Creating a profit making THR model by conducting economic assessment studies of the current recipes and making them profitable by developing improved recipe formulation and getting it approved by National Institute of Nutrition (got special recognition from my organization for getting the recipes approved through NIN).
• Developing THR recipes for Jharkhand State Livelihood Program (JSLP) for their decentralized THR manufacturing model a key team member in 3 member team from PCI supporting JSLP in this program.
• Developed a robust ERP mechanism (Mobile application and THR Web Portal) for efficiently managing procurement, production, distribution and bill generation process and keeping UPSRLM updated on the progress on daily basis.
• Daily management of ERP mechanism for tracking the supply chain, demand generation and final delivery of the product; performing process improvement of the MIS reports and dashboards.
• Developing robust quality control mechanism in 3 centres of excellence THR units by setting quality SOPs, getting the units HACCP certified and making startegic plan for setting up mini QA lab.
• Managing and engaging with project partners on developing improved and market viable products to make these units profitable for SHGs.
• Leading the district and block level nodal mission managers of the project in improving the TAT of THR delivery to ICDS, as well as TAT for quality testing of the recipes through centralized food testing lab.
• Identifying training needs and developing capacity-building programs for program staff including SHGs, block and district level officials, community health workers, and other stakeholders to enhance their knowledge and organized 2 days state level training workshop for these cadres.
• Facilitating management of different public and private sector stakeholders, do meetings and negotiations to rectify production lapse.
• Reporting quarterly progress on the result framework to the donors including submitting concept notes for funding new initiatives.

Wheat flour fortification and Millet based Enterprises

• Developed business plan for setting up 100 local wheat and millet processing units including wheat fortification units with the help of rural SHGs in UP this was approved as one of the livelihood project the Annual Action Plan of UPSRLM.
• Developed different business models such individual business model, AoP model and Farmer Producer Company.
• Conducted the product testing by performing consumer awareness and acceptability study on the fortified wheat flour with few cohorts in UP.
• Developing detailed implementation plan by determining credit requirement, sources for credit availability and determining breakeven for setting these plants and developing project SOPs.
• Co-ordinating with fortificant suppliers, Nutrition and Food Industry experts.
• Supporting in designing products for setting up millet based bakery and millet based cafes in UP.
• Studying different business models suitable for setting up millet based bakery units.

Other Tasks

• Steering implementation of the program, ensuring adherence to timelines, budget management, and allocation of resources; managing program activities, monitoring progress, and making necessary adjustments to ensure successful program execution
• Establishing and maintaining effective relationships with government agencies, community leaders, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders; collaborating with partners to foster partnerships, mobilize resources, and ensure smooth coordination of program activities also guiding interns working in different projects.
• Collaborating with policymakers and advocacy groups to influence health policies and promote initiatives; providing expert input and evidence-based recommendations to inform policy decisions.
• Ensuring program adherence to quality standards, protocols, and regulatory requirements; implementing quality assurance measures to monitor program performance and ensure compliance with relevant guidelines.
• Preparing reports, progress updates, and program documentation for internal and external stakeholders; communicating program achievements, challenges, and outcomes effectively to ensure transparency.

Role: Managed New Product Development, Online Marketing Business and Learning and Development

• Managed new product launch of imported GNC health and wellness products based on Indian Market requirements and according to FSSAI compliance
• Prepared competitor landscape, identified key USPs of product, gave inputs on product labeling and conducted pre-launch activities including sensory evaluation studies.
• Developed effective content for visual marketing strategy for social media initiatives that drew 40% more sales to the company.
• Designed strategy to improve SEO ranking of company's website with appropriate key words and advertisements to draw and maintain customer base.
• Worked to streamline company’s CRM team to effectively handle customer queries to reduce TAT and improve customer satisfaction rate.
• Oriented 80 plus new employees in the company in the span of 2 years and improved 20% employee retention rate.
• Designed and implemented interactive e-learning mobile app platform to deliver nutrition product information to different stakeholders.
• Drove successful brand development by training stakeholders and brand promoters on brand portfolio, scientific and nutrition knowledge behind developing products, and product selling skills.
• Participated in the business promotion events of the sports nutrition industry and national nutrition conference to represent the company.
• Organized periodic learning and development activities within the company that maintain relevancy.

Role: Consulting the Health Start up in estimation of health profile of the clients based on genetic testing

• Lead development of software-based health recommendation engine based on the genetic profile of individuals.
• Worked on building up background data on the health status, nutrition recommendations according to the genetic profile of individuals.
• Curated database on more than 10,000 raw and packed food items based on their nutritive value.
• Collected dietary recalls and suggested personalized health recommendations to the clients and supported to incorporate recommendations in their daily routine.

Role: Consultant to State ICDS Govt. of MP in reforming state-run supplementary nutrition and health strategy

• Technical lead for reformulating the supplementary nutrition products based on high nutritional value and cost effectiveness under govt food safety net program.
• Provided technical support in policy development of introducing fortification of wheat flour, rice and salt provided through PDS system.
• Performed market analysis of suppliers and done cost negotiations for raw material and fortification premixes to bring the SKU cost within govt Budgetary norms.
• Worked along with NIN Food Scientists for developing acceptability study to see the acceptance of the newly-formulated products among beneficiaries.
• Supported Health Department in improving supply chain mechanism of iron and folic acid tablets for in time last mile delivery.
• Successfully helped in monitoring and implementing government flagship programs and schemes such as Poshan Abhiyan of ICDS, Sabla scheme of DWCD department and Dastak Abhiyaan of Health department.
• Supported monitoring and evaluation teams in performing analysis of the monthly MIS data and created dashboards to be presented to different state departments.
• Supported in conducting baseline and midline surveys on health, nutrition and sanitation indicators in the target districts.
• Created a business plan for raising funds for women SHG group to set up small bakery business from locally cultivated healthy food raw-materials.

Role: Managing the community nutrition program and co-authoring a clinical trial on severely malnourished children under 5 years

• Worked in collaboration with IIT Bombay, Sion Hospital and Toddler Food Partners (US) on a clinical trial studying the efficacy of a therapeutic nutrition product on the health indicators of severely malnourished children.
• Responsible for setting up manufacturing plant including infrastructure, machinery, manufacturing procedure and managing the entire production and delivery of the therapeutic food product to the participants of the clinical trial.
• Developed HACCP, Food Handling and Quality Control SOPs for the production and delivery of therapeutic food product.
• Helped in setting up study methodology, data collection and analysis of the clinical study along with pediatricians of Sion Hospital.
• Developed counseling strategies for parents of the severely under nourished children admitted in the NRCs on appropriate food intake, maintaining hygiene practices at home.
• Helped in developing the indigenous nutritive food formulation for moderately malnourished children according to their nutritional norms in order to improve their health outcomes.
• Helped in establishing food quality and stability of the products in different storage temperatures.

Role: Project Assistant in carrying out food industry sponsored projects

• Worked with clients like Kellogg’s and Marico Ltd on consumer health and nutrition Studies.
• Collated the data and analysed the data from the studies and presented the report to the respective companies.