Meet the People Behind the Insights.
A multidisciplinary team of practitioners, policy experts, and field professionals shaping India’s inclusive and green rural transformation.
From fieldwork to boardrooms, EcoKargha’s strength lies in combining practical experience with strategic thinking.
Meet the Co-Founders
Co-Founder & Director
Yachna Srivastava
Research, Monitoring & Evaluation Expert with deep experience in women’s economic empowerment, financial inclusion, and institutional strengthening.
Worked with PRADAN, BASIX, JEEVIKA, CARE, Digital Green, Louis Berger, PATH, SRIJAN, DECODIS etc.
Pioneering role in creating community institutions for poultry & NRM during her stint in PRADAN and creating Banking Correspondent Model with GIZ.
M.A in Social work from TISS in 2004.
Online PGP in Data Science and Business Analytics from Texas McCombs School of Business, USA, 2022
Chevening Gurukul Fellowship for Leadership & Excellence, University of Oxford, U.K., 2025
Co-Founder & Director
Dr. Ravi Chandra
Rural Development Expert with deep expertise in agriculture value chains, women’s economic empowerment, livelihoods promotion, green economy, and inclusive growth.
Worked with UNDP, UNEP, FAO, World Bank, and IFAD, Grameen Foundation, Palladium, MicroSave, etc.
Has leadership experience with UNDP on farm & non-farm value chain and livelihoods with pioneering role in creating models of gender mainstreaming in market facing roles in agriculture value chains.
Has led the development of two value chains ( Bamboo & Tusser Silk) and launched incense stick (Sugandh Vihar) and Handloom Saree & Stoles (EcoStree) brand in market.
Development Marketplace Winner 2011
PGDRM from IRMA in 2006.
BDS from Manipal University, 2003
Team
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
EcoKargha works with a dynamic network of associates, sector specialists, and field facilitators with experience across India and expertise in more than 30 value chains. Together, they deliver research, advisory, and training services to governments, development agencies, private sector, philanthropic institutions, impact investors, and producer institutions.
Partner
Saurabh Kumar Sinha
Management Leader with experience in government and business advisory, policy formulation, program management, investment promotion, MSME and startup ecosystem development, financial analysis, and value chain studies.
Partner
Vinod Trimbak Raut
Expert in program management, capacity building, agri-business, and startup ecosystem development. Worked with UNDP, GIZ, L&T CSR, MAVIM, MSRLM, etc. Co-Founder Vruksha Synergy & Shuddha Space
Domain Leader- Women Economic Empowerment
Aarti Dayal
Expert in sustainable livelihoods, women’s economic empowerment, social protection, just transition, large-scale programme development and multi-stakeholder partnerships. Worked with UNDP, World Bank, Technoserve, etc.
Domain Leader- Agriculture & Financial Inclusion
Lokesh Singh
Expert in sustainable agriculture, agri-market systems, start-up ecosystem development, and policy advisory. Co-Founder of Sanchetna, FarMart. Worked with SKS Microfinance, MicroSave
Domain Lead -Enterprise Promotion
Swaminathan S
Expert in collective enterprises, social enterprise, micro and nano enterprises, and employability-led livelihood development. A communication expert also and NRLM National Resource Person
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Domain Lead-Environment
Mani Prakash
A legal expert specializing in environment, gender, and human rights. Work on forest and tribal rights, and led research, training, and policy advocacy to strengthen compliance with national and international human rights and environmental standards.
Specialist- SDG Localisation
Rahul Singh
Expertise in government advisory, SDG, strategic communication, multi-stakeholder project management, GovTech and Digital Governance. Founder of NeoQasi.
Specialist- Green Economy
Shashvat Singh
Expert in public policy specializing in sustainable development, climate diplomacy, governance reform, SDG localization, and leveraging green finance for inclusive growth.
Specialist-MSME
Gaurav Srivastava
Expert in social welfare, MSME, government relationship management. Founder of Inner Soul
Domain Leader-Social Inclusion
Bhanu Shyam Nakka
Expert in Financial Inclusion, Social Security, Livelihoods, Social Inclusion, Skill Development, Project Management and Monitoring & Evaluation.
Domain Lead-Gender
Vandana Mishra
Expert in gender integration and economic empowerment for women and girls
Domain Lead- Supply Chain
Manish Chandra
Expert in business strategy, operations management, retail category management,sales & distribution and Supply chain management . Worked at Amul, Reliance Industries and Walmart .
Our Advisors & Mentors
Our work is strengthened by a panel of advisors and mentors who bring diverse expertise in rural policy, agribusiness, green economy, women economic empowerment, and sustainable finance.
Dr Alka Parekh
Mentor & Advisor
Prof. Ajit Mani
Mentor & Advisor