Sanjana Chettri

Sanjana Chettri is a Policy Manager – Scale-Ups at J-PAL South Asia, based in New Delhi, where she works closely with the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) on evidence-based policymaking and scale-up efforts in rural livelihoods, economic and social inclusion for the poorest households, and addressing gender-based norms that affect livelihoods and agency. Previously, she was an ASPIRE Fellow at J-PAL South Asia, coordinating the organisation’s knowledge and learning relationship with the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) as an embedded fellow. She supported the national scale-up of the Graduation Approach through Samaveshi Aajeevika Yojana (SAY), a livelihood intervention for socially and economically vulnerable households.

Prior to joining J-PAL South Asia, Sanjana worked with the Government of Delhi on institutionalising a preventive mental health programme for adolescents in government schools. Her experience also includes roles with Oxfam and Belongg on human rights, social discrimination, and inclusive policy, and with 60 Decibels, supporting the evaluation of development programmes. She is interested in bridging the gap between evidence and implementation through government systems and developing social welfare mechanisms for vulnerable communities.

Sanjana holds a Master’s degree in Development Studies from SOAS University of London, which she pursued as a Chevening Scholar, and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi.