Key skills and expertise

Bringing over 40 years of experience in civil society and NGOs, the expert is adept in networking, research, training, policy advocacy, and project management. Career highlights include leading initiatives in gender, social development, and human rights, collaborating on both local and international projects. Notable achievements involve developing curricula for M.A. Gender Studies and training 50 women in cab driving. As a gender trainer, she has provided POSH training and served as a consultant for NGOs in the garment industry. Responsibilities have included coordinating disaster victim resettlement and facilitating women's empowerment projects.

Project experience and donor exposure

Worked across diverse projects involving collaboration with international donors such as Christian Children Fund Canada, CARE-T-BMZ India, Lutheran World Federation, CORDAid, and the Hindustan Latex Family Planning Promotion Trust. Her involvement includes project evaluations, impact assessments, and technical assistance in areas like reproductive health, education, and livelihood projects. These projects have been implemented at regional and national levels across India, focusing on sectors such as health, education, and social development.

Sectors and geographic focus

With a background in key sectors such as civil society, NGOs, gender, social development, human rights, and training, the expert has held roles including researcher, trainer, evaluator, and consultant. Her interdisciplinary expertise includes digital literacy and reproductive health. Her work has primarily been country-specific to India, covering regions like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala, addressing regional development and empowerment initiatives. She has extensive experience working in India, demonstrating deep familiarity with local governance, cultural dynamics, and regional development issues. Her work spans various states, including Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala, where she has engaged in long-term assignments focusing on gender, social development, and human rights.

Languages and education

Previously held roles have utilized her fluency in English, Malayalam, and Tamil, as well as her ability to speak Kannada and communicate in Telugu. These language skills have been applied in various professional contexts, including in-country work and collaboration with multilingual teams across India. The expert holds an M.A. in Social Work from the Madras School of Social Work, India, obtained in 1985, and a Ph.D. in Social Work, completed in 2018.