Varun Sharma is an accomplished development professional with academic background, an Agriculture Engineer with having Bachelor’s degree on Law both from Rajasthan University and Maters in Business Administration in Human Resource Development. Also, a certified PMD Pro level- I manager from UK. With over 20+ years of experience in designing, implementing and managing Country Programmes, Regional Campaigns and Strategic-Communication & Advocacy Interventions. It includes formulating Strategies, including Responsible Business Behaviour, prevention and striking strategic partnerships for address occupational health issues in unorganised sector, Outreach & Advocacy, including political advocacy at the highest levels for Development/Health interventions.
Moving on from his career in the Agricultural Engineering, he has worked with State and International agency such as Catholic Relief Services (USCCB), as a Sr. Programme Officer, including technical & management experience in designing and implementing different development interventions with multi-cultural teams and in the Emergency context, both in ‘Emergency Preparedness’ and “Emergency Response’. He has worked in all the countries in South Asia.
Currently Sharma is associated with ARAVALI (Association for Rural Advancement through Voluntary Action and Local Involvement), an autonomous institution formed by Government of Rajasthan in 1994 as Director Programmes.
In his tenure with ARAVALI helped coordinating civil society capacity building and put the agenda of the unorganised labour in front of state and national government in india. He was also founder of state’s first multi-stakeholder forum on Natural Stone, Know as Sustainability Forum on Natural Stone (SFNS) and managing Strategic Communication with business on development issues. He also has a wide experience in formulating and utilizing evidence-driven SBCC & advocacy strategies on occupational health and child-centred development issues at the community, national and regional levels.
As a mentor and trainer, Sharma has trained multiple teams in designing/planning and implementing field-based social mobilization interventions and dialogue with business in CLFZ in various States. He also has demonstrated experience in building multi-level strategic partnerships with political parties, corporate houses, civil society bodies, donors, NGOs & media in bringing strategic focus on the occupational health.
Sharma is also one of the founders of Alliance for Immunisation and health a dedicated alliance of 1400 CSO, work across the six states in India for increase immunisation coverage in india. He has also part of Stop Child Labour country core group for addressing child labour issues in different sectors. As part of Manjari Board member also associated with CLFZ Budhpura and work with Natural Stone worker community at grassroots level. Sharma has worked with diverse range of institutions like Government, Trade Union, CSOs, Comminute Based organisation, Business groups and International organisation’s on decent work and protecting human rights of disadvantage groups form last 10 years.
