Professional Experience:
I am a development practitioner with over a decade of experience in the social sector, currently serving as a Program Officer – Emergency Response with terre des hommes Germany (tdh) based in Pune. My work spans across five states—Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh—where I support partner organizations in implementing and monitoring child rights-based programs, emergency response interventions, and climate change adaptation initiatives.
At tdh Germany, my core responsibilities include project planning, partner capacity building, strategic coordination, and field monitoring. I play a key role in emergency response during disasters—coordinating relief and rehabilitation interventions, conducting rapid assessments, and facilitating resilience-building programs. I also support the development and implementation of community-based disaster risk reduction (CBDRR) projects, especially in flood-prone and tribal regions, ensuring alignment with national and international frameworks such as the Sendai Framework.
A significant area of my work involves youth and children’s participation in governance and ecological justice. I coordinate a national youth network supported by tdh Germany, facilitating workshops on constitutional values, ecological rights, and cultural revival. My efforts have contributed to youth-led advocacy on climate action, protection mechanisms, and decentralized governance, particularly in tribal areas around Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary.
Previously, I served as a Project Assistant at the Disaster Management Cell of the All India Institute of Local Self Government (AIILSG), where I contributed to disaster preparedness planning with municipal corporations, conducted school safety training programs, and assisted in developing district disaster management plans.
I also worked as a part-time Project Coordinator at Samidha Bahuddeshiya Sanstha, where I facilitated life skills education and community engagement sessions with marginalized youth in urban slums. My work focused on child protection, gender sensitivity, and vocational exposure.
Over the years, I have designed and managed diverse projects including child labour campaigns, urban governance advocacy, sustainable livelihoods for tribal communities, and education access for children of migrant workers. I have also actively contributed to organizational policy development, including child safeguarding and community participation frameworks.
I am a National Master Trainer in School Safety (NIDM) and District Master Trainer in Community-Based Disaster Management (YASHADA). These credentials have enabled me to train government officials, teachers, and youth volunteers on risk reduction and emergency preparedness.
My approach to development combines rights-based frameworks with practical, community-driven solutions. I place strong emphasis on participatory methodologies, long-term sustainability, and the empowerment of marginalized groups, especially children, youth, and tribal communities.
Beyond implementation, I actively engage in policy-level dialogues, documentation, proposal writing, and monitoring & evaluation. I believe in strengthening local capacities while ensuring accountability and transparency in project execution. My experience has been enriched by collaborations with grassroots organizations, government bodies, and international partners.
Overall, I bring a blend of field experience, thematic expertise, and strategic planning skills, with a deep commitment to social justice, environmental sustainability, and inclusive development.