Professional Experience:
I am a development professional with over a decade of experience in programme management, grant management, organisational development, child rights, disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, youth engagement, and community development.
I am currently associated with Dignity Academia Foundation as a Lead Associate, supporting organisational development, programme design, monitoring and evaluation, research, and capacity building initiatives. My work includes managing organisational development support for grassroots civil society organisations across Maharashtra, designing training programmes in Marathi, strengthening governance and financial management systems, developing policies and monitoring frameworks, and supporting organisations with proposal development, compliance, and programme planning.
Previously, I worked with terre des hommes Germany as Program Officer from July 2017 to July 2025. In this role, I managed a diverse portfolio of child rights, youth development, climate resilience, rural development, and emergency response programmes implemented through partner organisations. My responsibilities included project design, grant management, partner assessment and due diligence, budget and financial monitoring, field monitoring, donor reporting, compliance, evaluation, and coordination with government departments, civil society organisations, and international partners.
I have contributed to emergency response and recovery programmes following floods and cyclones, including rapid assessments, relief coordination, rehabilitation, and community resilience building. I have also designed and supported community based disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation initiatives in flood prone, tribal, and ecologically sensitive regions. One of my major contributions was designing a multisectoral project for approximately 8,000 sugarcane cutting families across 90 villages in Marathwada, integrating women’s and children’s health, nutrition, education, community systems, and government scheme convergence.
Youth and children’s participation has remained central to my work. I have coordinated youth networks and facilitated processes related to constitutional values, ecological rights, local governance, cultural identity, child protection, and climate action. I have also supported tribal communities in strengthening livelihoods, participation in Gram Sabhas, access to rights and entitlements, and community based environmental initiatives.
Earlier, I worked with the Disaster Management Cell of the All India Institute of Local Self Government, contributing to municipal disaster preparedness, school safety training, and district disaster management planning. I also worked with Samidha Bahuddeshiya Sanstha, facilitating life skills, child protection, gender sensitivity, and community engagement programmes with marginalised young people in urban settlements.
I am a National Master Trainer in School Safety certified by the National Institute of Disaster Management and a District Master Trainer in Community Based Disaster Management certified by YASHADA. I have also received training in results based monitoring, financial monitoring, child rights, and disaster risk reduction, and have qualified UGC NET in Social Work.
My professional approach combines rights based principles, analytical thinking, participatory methodologies, and practical programme management. I bring strong experience in working with grassroots organisations, communities, government institutions, donors, and multidisciplinary teams, with a consistent commitment to accountability, social justice, environmental sustainability, and inclusive development.