Soumya Chatterjee

Project Manager & Consultant , Non-Profit, Social & Development Consulting, Government Consulting

Kolkata, West Bengal

Development Sector Professional with over 15 years of experience in project management, government advisory, and donor-funded programs across livelihood, natural resource management, rural and urban development. Skilled in project management, institutional strengthening, and community mobilization. Fluent in English, Hindi, and Bengali. Open to leadership or consulting roles across India

Contact Soumya Chatterjee
Area of Expertise:
  • Agriculture, Livelihoods, Microfinance, Rural, Urban
  • Capacity Building, Training, Advocacy
  • Environment, Climate, Energy, Water, Sanitation
  • Government/Governance, Reforms, Corruption
  • Monitoring, Evaluation, Policy, Research
Professional Experience:

Development sector professional with over 15 years of experience in project management, government advisory, and social sector consulting across livelihood, environment, agriculture, rural and urban development, and education. Skilled in implementation design, institutional strengthening, capacity building, and stakeholder engagement for government and donor-funded initiatives. Committed to advancing community-centric and evidence-based development through policy advocacy and sustainable systems strengthening.
Currently serving as Project Manager & Senior Associate at Chase Advisor and independently led the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) Project under the Department of Environment & Forest and Assam State Biodiversity Board, funded by AFD. Successfully operationalized the livelihood of the rural and forest communities, Biological Diversity Act, strengthened local institutions like Gaon Panchayats, Block Offices, Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs), and developed frameworks for sustainable natural resource use and community benefit-sharing. Also managed national-level climate dialogue and capacity-building initiatives with GIZ and the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC), supporting policy discourse and institutional readiness for climate adaptation and mitigation.
Earlier, as Manager – Social Sector Specialist at Palladium Consulting, contributed to the Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme in Odisha. Designed social management frameworks, ensured inclusion of marginalized groups, and facilitated the formation of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). My work promoted agri-entrepreneurship, improved local governance, and enhanced livelihoods through participatory and market-linked models.
At INSPIRATION, led the Green Panchayat for Sustainable Development project (supported by Indienhilfe e.V., Germany), promoting organic farming, women’s empowerment, and environmental awareness in rural West Bengal. He also supported Mission Nirmal Bangla under Swachh Bharat Mission, strengthening municipal capacities in sanitation and waste management and ensuring compliance across multiple urban local bodies.
During my tenure at IPE Global Pvt. Ltd., worked as Consultant (PMU/PIU) on the Basic Services to Urban Poor (BSUP) project under JnNURM. He oversaw project implementation, fund utilization, and coordination among urban local bodies and state agencies, while supporting slum redevelopment and beneficiary mobilization efforts in line with government objectives.
My early tenure at Century Plyboards Ltd. as Senior Executive – CSR provided valuable experience in corporate social responsibility, where he implemented skill development and education programs for rural youth and street children, while managing partnerships, budgets, and reporting systems.
The diverse experience reflects strong leadership in program design, policy interface, livelihood promotion, environmental governance, and stakeholder coordination. His collaborations with organizations such as GIZ, AFD, UNICEF, Save the Children, and Indienhilfe e.V. highlight his ability to bridge strategic planning with grassroots implementation delivering measurable impact across multiple development themes.

Education:

Master of Social Work (MSW) – Specialization in Community Development
Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata, West Bengal
MSW with a focus on community development, social policy, and participatory governance. The program strengthened the understanding of institutional frameworks, rural and urban community systems, and inclusive development strategies.
Master of Geography
Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata, West Bengal
Geography provided a multidisciplinary perspective on environment, land use, and resource management. Studied spatial planning, natural resource utilization, and sustainable livelihoods, building a conceptual link between environmental systems and human development.
Post Graduate Certificate in Management (PGCM) – Urban Management and Planning
Calcutta University, Kolkata, West Bengal
Enhanced the skill in project planning, monitoring, and institutional coordination and enabling to lead complex multi-stakeholder projects across both urban and rural contexts.
Bachelor of Geography
Calcutta University, Kolkata, West Bengal
This undergraduate education laid the foundation for understanding spatial systems, human-environment interactions, and socio-economic linkages which help in pursuing the works in rural and urban development programs and spaces.
Research & Dissertation
Conducted significant research on social and spatial development themes. Studied the inability of children’s reading capacity in West Bengal considering factors influencing school dropout rates and recommended early literacy interventions. Another comparative research on slum renewal in urban fringe and core areas identified location-sensitive approaches to housing and urban infrastructure development. Both studies reflected his ability to combine field research with data-driven analysis and policy insights.

Affiliations and Achievements:

Successfully led and independently managed the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) Project under the Department of Environment & Forest and Assam State Biodiversity Board, financed by AFD, ensuring its effective and timely completion. Played a pivotal role in operationalizing the provisions of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and its different parameters for securing the livelihood opportunities of rural communities across multiple districts in Northeast State of Assam by facilitating the formation and capacity building of Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) and strengthening institutional mechanisms for benefit sharing.
Designed and implemented a comprehensive community engagement and IEC framework, mobilizing local governance institutions, rural and forest communities towards biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihood practices for natural resource management. Spearheaded policy interface and coordination with state departments, industries, and other stakeholders to establish value chain linkages for natural resource-based enterprises. Oversaw all aspects of project planning, execution, monitoring, documentation, and reporting, ensuring compliance with donor requirements and alignment with state biodiversity goals. The project’s successful closure under my leadership demonstrated the ability to drive complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives independently delivering measurable outcomes in institutional capacity building, policy implementation, and community empowerment.

Available for:

  • Consulting assignments
  • Job opportunities

Years of Experience:

10-15 years

Highest Qualification:

Masters

Languages:

English, Hindi, Bengali, Assamese

Nationality:

Indian

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