Shri Sanjit Kumar Behera
Shri Behera is a highly respected development professional, sustainability expert, and social entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience at the convergence of technology, grassroots development, climate action, and public policy. He currently serves as the Honorary Director of Practical Action Foundation (India) and Director of Practical Action Consulting India Pvt. Ltd., both affiliated with the UK-headquartered international NGO Practical Action, known globally for pioneering sustainable and technology-driven development solutions.
In his public role, Shri Behera contributes as a Member of the CSR Council, Government of Odisha, chaired by the Chief Secretary, where he plays a key part in guiding and monitoring the effective utilization of corporate social responsibility funds towards ESG-compliant and socially impactful interventions.
Shri Behera began his career as a Project Engineer for community-based programs in rural Odisha under the aegis of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Odisha, where he worked in various capacities for five years. His on-ground insights and commitment to participatory development inspired him to co-found i4 Infotech Pvt. Ltd., a pioneering IT start-up, and Dev4India Foundation, a social enterprise focused on grassroots innovation and inclusive entrepreneurship.
A strong proponent of climate resilience and environmental sustainability, Shri Behera is a Certified Sustainable Lake Management (SLM) Professional and has led several large-scale ecosystem restoration, climate adaptation, and natural resource management projects across India. One of his innovative development models was shortlisted for the World Bank Development Marketplace (DM) Award in 2008—a testament to his ability to fuse innovation with social impact.
In his mentoring roles, Shri Behera supports the next generation of change-makers. He serves as a Mentor at I-Hub, IIM Sambalpur, and is a Start-up Mentor for IIT Bombay and the Wadhwani Foundation, providing strategic, sustainability-focused guidance to emerging entrepreneurs and climate-tech innovators.
He has undergone international training in Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) from PRAXIS International and has been part of numerous national missions on livelihood development, damage assessment, and disaster recovery in collaboration with UNDP and state governments. His approach to development is grounded in systems thinking, community empowerment, and inclusive sustainability, positioning him as a sought-after advisor in India’s climate and ESG ecosystem.
Shri Behera holds a B.Tech in Agricultural Engineering from Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) and an MBA from Fakir Mohan University. He continues to drive impact by linking policy frameworks, grassroots action, and sustainable business models, contributing meaningfully to India’s green and inclusive growth journey.