Saroj Mahapatra is the Executive Director of PRADAN, with over 28 years of experience working on rural development, livelihoods and multi-stakeholder programmes. His work has spanned state government programmes and initiatives supported by organisations including WFP, IFAD and UNICEF, with a particular focus on marginalised and tribal communities in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. He has led PRADAN's work on smallholder irrigation, climate resilience and Integrated Natural Resource Management, and was instrumental in preparing the INRM manual for MGNREGA implementation for the Ministry of Rural Development.

He has also contributed to work on rural livelihoods, participatory planning, convergence of government programmes and climate-resilient development. Saroj holds a Master of Engineering in Hydraulics and Irrigation Engineering and continues to work on sustainable livelihoods, natural resource management and community-led rural development.

‍