Qualifications:

• MSc Biotechnology IIT Bombay (2008-2010)
• PhD Biological Sciences University of Glasgow & University of Montpellier (2011-2015)
• MA Public Policy & Governance (2021-2023)

Email: sonal@dakshin.org

Profile: Sonal is part of the Sustainable Fisheries and Livelihoods Programme at Dakshin. She coordinates the ‘Small Fish for Climate Change’ project, located at various sites in Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. Her work focuses on enhancing food and nutrition security for small-scale fishing communities and improving their livelihoods and climate change resilience.

After completing her PhD, Sonal joined the Teach For India fellowship in Pune, where she directly facilitated quality education in government classrooms. Passionate about educational equity, she then took up an assignment with Sunbird Trust, a non-profit organisation that uses education as a means of peacebuilding in conflict-affected regions of north-east India. During her tenure there as a School Leader and later as Chief Operating Officer, she worked closely with tribal children and youth, local communities, armed forces, and various critical actors to promote peace through education, primarily in Manipur. She continues to serve as a Trustee of the Sunbird Trust.

Beyond her commitment to education, Sonal is deeply interested in addressing questions of rural governance and policy, particularly improving citizen voice and participation in local governance.

Sonal loves long walks, local markets, and living in the mountains (and now, hopefully, beaches too!).

Publications: