Our Team
PROF. NISAR AHMAD
Executive Director
Holds an MBA from Faculty of Management Studies, University of Delhi and has completed an Executive Programme in Consulting Process from Maastricht School of Management. Prof Ahmad is a Change Management Coach certified by Innovations Associates, Boston, USA. His 38 years’ work experience includes stints in the corporate sector, academics, and development sector consulting. He is a former professor of management and worked as Dean – Faculty of Management at a university.
Languages: English, Urdu, Hindi
VARSHA CHANDA
Chief Executive Officer
She is a postgraduate from Bombay University, and a UNDP certified Leadership for Results Coach with 28 years’ experience in health sector consulting and capacity development. Varsha has completed certificate courses in ‘Community Change in Public Health’ from Bloomberg School of Public Health, John Hopkins University and ‘Social Norms Social Change’ from University of Pennsylvania enabling her to apply managerial techniques to social and behavioural change issues at the community level. She has earlier worked with Swiss Aid and Futures Group – BMGF.
Languages: English, Marathi, Bengali, Hindi
MANEESHA GOPALKRISHNA
Head - Research & Documentation
Post Graduate in Environmental Management from University of Pune, she has subsequently completed her Post Graduate Certificate in Environment Education from Center for Environment Education, Ahmedabad. During her nearly 23 years’ experience she has worked for organisations like Earth Care Group, Development Alternatives, WASH, UNICEF, WWF, etc. Maneesha has been involved in development of training materials, documentation and editing, organizing and conducting training programs for children, students, teachers, corporates. She has also been involved in fund raising activities for environmental programs.
Languages: English, Telugu, Hindi.
RAO IRFAN KHAN
Director Administration & Lead CSR Programmes
An MBA, holds over four decades of experience and brings a unique combination of exposure to the corporate and the development sector. In the corporate sector he has managed implementing partners for community development issues through CSR programmes. In the development sector he has worked in health, WASH, nutrition, and climate change for clients like UNICEF, WHO, Evidence action, Piramal Swasthya, etc. Widely experienced in the development sector, he has provided technical assistance for research, capacity development, monitoring and programme management. As a programme lead, he provides the important link between the corporate sector and the CSR programme implementation.
DR. RIAZ AHMAD
Director - Academic Programmes & Professor SBC
He holds an MA and Ph.D. in Political Science from University of Delhi. He has completed a Diploma in Conflict Resolution from Uppsala University, Sweden. He has taught graduate, postgraduate courses and guided research at University of Delhi for 45 years. He represented India as an ICCR Chair Professor at University of Colombo during 2015-16. Dr Ahmad has facilitated SBCC trainings for Education in Chhattisgarh, and has been a National Lead Trainer for BRIDGE trainings.
Languages: English, Urdu, Hindi
MAZHAR KHAN
Senior Programme Manager & Child Protection Coordinator
Brings over 20 years of experience in social development & behaviour change, training, social research, and programme implementation. He holds Master’s degrees in Commerce and Sociology, along with a Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Development from IGNOU. He has also completed the internationally recognized course on Social Norms, Social Change from the University of Pennsylvania.
Throughout his career, Mazhar has been actively involved in designing and implementing SBC interventions, conducting social research, and building the capacities of development professionals, frontline workers, and community stakeholders. He has facilitated numerous Training of Trainers (ToT) programmes and spearheaded projects on behaviour change communication, community engagement, WASH, Livelihood, Nutrition and participatory approaches, helping organizations strengthen programme effectiveness and achieve sustainable social outcomes.
Languages: English and Hindi
SUTANUKA DEB
Senior Programme Manager & PSEA Coordinator
Completed MSW from North-Eastern Hill University in 2015 and began her career as a District Project Coordinator in WASH and Rural Development. She has worked on community conservation, ecosystem services, and landscape governance with Foundation for Ecological Security.
Currently serving as Senior Program Manager at EID, she supports public health and disaster risk reduction programs, collaborating with government and development partners across community development, conservation, and public health sectors. She has also completed the Social Norms Social Change I & II certification from University of Pennsylvania.
Languages: English, Bengali, Hindi, Assamese, Khasi
ANAM NAAZ
Officer - Finance & Administration
Holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree and is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA), further strengthening her knowledge and skills in management, finance, and organizational operations. She has professional experience in accounting and administration, where she has been responsible for maintaining financial records, bookkeeping, budget tracking, and supporting project-based accounting processes for EID.
In addition to her finance and administrative experience, Anam has worked as a Computer Teacher at Jamghat NGO, where she played an active role in imparting computer literacy and digital skills to children and young learners. She supported educational activities, developed engaging learning experiences. Her diverse experience across education, administration, and financial management reflects her commitment to community development and her ability to contribute effectively to both organizational and educational initiatives.
Languages: English, Hindi and Urdu
DAMODAR KHOBRAGADE
Regional associate
Damodar Khobragade, holds a Master degree in Psychology, Sociology and an MBA from Nagpur University. He has completed a certificate course in Internal Coaching from International Coaching institute, USA. Damodar is also trained in Training and Internal Consulting in the UK under Colombo Plan. He has 35 years of experience in various areas of HR. He was a team member of Internal Coaching team that had spearheaded the Organizational Transformation in Bharat Petroleum.
HEMANT KILORIKAR
Regional associate
Hemant Kilorikar holds a B.Sc., M.A., and LL.B., and brings over 34 years of experience in petroleum retailing with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL).
He is associated with Envisions Institute of Development, New Delhi, supporting the implementation of key public health and development programs in partnership with UNICEF. A skilled trainer and capacity builder, he has led large-scale training initiatives, including grassroots-level field force development. As a National Lead Trainer associated with UNICEF-supported initiatives, he has contributed significantly to Government of India health programs by training master trainers, including medical officers and health staff, who further strengthen frontline workers in rural areas.
DR. INDUMATI RAVISHANKER
Regional associate
She has been in the Development field for 25 years, as a field worker and as a Trainer. Her work has been mostly with rural youth and in empowering women. She has imparted training in leadership, counselling, supervision and Mindfulness. She has trained CBOs to build and strengthen their organization. Most of her work in the past has been in the field of HIV and AIDS. She has earlier worked with UNICEF, UNDP, NACO and TNSACS.
Languages: English, Urdu, Hindi
Dr. Rituparna Rajendra
Regional associate
An academician and social work professional with over a decade of experience in education, research, and community engagement. She earned her PhD in Adult and Continuing Education from North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) in 2013, where she also contributed to establishing the Social Work department.
Currently serving as Head of Department, PG-MSW in Social Work. Her areas of expertise include group work, case work, and community field practice. She has published five papers across key areas in social work and has facilitated multiple Training of Trainers programs for Social and Behaviour Change.
She has also completed the Social Norms, Social Change I & II courses from the University of Pennsylvania.
Sarika R. Yadav
Regional associate
Holds an MBA in Social Entrepreneurship from Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (2020) and Master’s in Sociology from University of Mumbai (2017).
A development professional and trainer with over 14 years of experience in maternal and child health, nutrition, malnutrition, and social development. She has extensive expertise in designing and facilitating capacity-building programs for government stakeholders, frontline workers, and community organizations. Her work focuses on maternal and child health, community management of acute malnutrition (CMaM), SBCC, and community engagement.
Sarika has led training initiatives with organizations such as Action Against Hunger Foundation, SNEHA,Committed Communities Development Trust, Apanalaya, Americares, and SAAD Foundation. She is skilled in training facilitation, program management, digital data collection tools, and mentoring community leaders to drive sustainable development outcomes.
Adv. Sunita Bhane Choundhe
Regional associate
A development and social sector professional with over 25 years of experience in program management, capacity building, research, and strategic consulting across health, education, gender, livelihoods, and community development. She holds a Master's in Social Work from TISS and an LLB, and has worked with partner organizations including UNICEF, UN Women, Plan India, Pathfinder International, and Maharashtra State Rural Livelihood Mission.
Her expertise spans Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC), gender sensitization, adolescent health, training design, and stakeholder engagement.
As a trainer, researcher, and program strategist, she has led large-scale government and NGO initiatives across multiple states in India.
Shabeer N. K.
Regional associate
A social development professional with over 20 years of experience in community development, child protection, counselling, training, and programme management. He holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) in Family and Child Welfare from the University of Calicut and has worked with government departments, NGOs, and educational institutions across Kerala. His experience includes leading the KAVAL Project under the Department of Women and Child Development, Government of Kerala, and coordinating local governance and development initiatives under the Thaddesa Mithram (KLGSDP) Project. Presently working as superintendent in a CBSE Senior Secondary School at Wayanad, Kerala.
An experienced trainer and resource person, Shabeer has facilitated capacity-building programmes on child protection, psychosocial care, life skills education, routine immunization, and community awareness for government departments, UNICEF-supported initiatives, and civil society organizations. His expertise spans programme coordination, counselling, community mobilisation, training facilitation, and stakeholder engagement, with a strong commitment to child welfare and community development.
Languages known: Malayalam, English, and Hindi.
Maya S.
Regional associate
She holds a Master of Commerce (M. Com) degree and is certified in DCA and Tally Computer Applications. She has served as a Resource Person on various community and development initiatives. Maya is a former Councilors of the Kollam Municipal Corporation, Kerala, and has also worked as a Monitoring and Evaluation Officer with the Kerala State AIDS Control Society. Currently, she manages a Janaseva Kendra and Business Online Service Centre, providing a range of citizen and digital services to the community. She has supported EID for SBC trainings and programs as a lead trainer.
Languages known: English and Malayalam.
DR. R JERAJANI
Regional associate
An MBBS, MD with 40 years of experience, he has worked as the State Director of Essential Advocacy Project in Maharashtra. Dr. Jerajani has also worked with Constella Futures as State Coordinator for the World Bank and NACO study of Data Demand & Utilisation of Health. He is regularly involved in research, presenting papers at conferences and seminars, and is able to bring a good combination of field research and training at the field level and training and capacity building interventions at the highest policy making level.
Languages known: English, Marathi, Gujarati, Hindi
