Social Impact Leader · 22 Years · Delhi, India
Building
lives
that matter.
Born in a remote Aligarh village, grown up in a Delhi slum, to leading global CSR at OakNorth — 22 years, $50M+ deployed, 1.4M+ lives transformed.
The philosophy
“मौका · माहौल · मार्गदर्शन
Opportunity · Environment · Mentoring”
Areas of expertise
Where the work lives.
Designing and managing CSR programmes aligned with business objectives and community needs. Expertise in CSR strategy, grant management, monitoring, evaluation, and stakeholder engagement — working closely with corporates, NGOs, and implementation partners to create high-impact social investments.
Supporting social enterprises and grassroots innovators tackling development challenges. Established and strengthened organisations including AWSAR India, Indian Association of CSR & ESG Professionals, VillageHomestays, IndiaVillageTours and Swan Sanitary Pads — focusing on scalable, sustainable social impact.
Leading and supporting initiatives improving access to quality education for underserved children and youth — foundational learning, digital education, school strengthening, and teacher capacity building programmes. Advocate for equitable, inclusive education systems that enable long-term social mobility.
Extensive work on programmes promoting child protection, safeguarding, and the realisation of child rights. Collaborating with civil society to strengthen systems ensuring children’s safety, wellbeing, and holistic development — with an emphasis on prevention, community engagement, and child-centred programming.
Supporting nutrition-focused interventions targeting women, children, and adolescents — addressing malnutrition, maternal health, and integrated early childhood development. Promotes evidence-based approaches that improve health and nutrition outcomes at scale.
Contributing to programmes enhancing women’s social, economic, and leadership opportunities — gender equality, skill development, financial independence, and entrepreneurship. Committed to advancing women’s agency and participation in decision-making processes.
Working with organisations implementing livelihood enhancement programmes for marginalised communities — skills development, entrepreneurship promotion, income generation, and market linkages. Creates sustainable economic opportunities that improve household resilience and wellbeing.
Supporting initiatives expanding access to financial services for underserved populations — financial literacy, digital finance, entrepreneurship, and inclusive growth. Believes financial inclusion is a critical enabler of long-term social and economic development.
Supporting integrated rural development programmes addressing education, health, livelihoods, water, sanitation, and community resilience. Works with grassroots organisations to strengthen local institutions and community participation, prioritising sustainable and community-led solutions.
Engaging with initiatives focused on environmental sustainability, climate resilience, and responsible business practices — natural resource conservation, climate adaptation, and sustainable development. Aligns social impact initiatives with broader ESG objectives and reporting frameworks.
Engaging with government agencies, policymakers, and development stakeholders to advance social impact initiatives and strengthen public-private partnerships. In previous roles with the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, involved in drafting rural development policies implemented across India.
Knowledge & thought leadership
Publications & Research.
Contributing to research, knowledge products, and thought leadership on effective CSR strategies and implementation models. Work focuses on strengthening alignment between corporate social investments and sustainable development priorities — documenting best practices, impact insights, and lessons learned from CSR initiatives across sectors.
Developing research and publications that promote evidence-based and outcome-oriented philanthropy. Contributing to studies and reports that help donors and institutions maximise the effectiveness and sustainability of social investments — with emphasis on collaborative giving, systems change, and long-term impact creation.
Contributing to research on child wellbeing, education, nutrition, protection, and holistic development. Supporting knowledge resources that highlight challenges, emerging trends, and effective interventions for improving child outcomes — advocating for child-centric approaches that promote equity, safety, and lifelong development.
Supporting the design, analysis, and dissemination of research related to social impact assessment and programme effectiveness. Contributing to frameworks and studies that help organisations measure outcomes, demonstrate accountability, and improve decision-making — promoting the use of data and evidence to strengthen social sector performance.
Contributing to publications and research advancing sustainable and inclusive development — exploring poverty reduction, education, health, livelihoods, gender equality, climate resilience, and community empowerment. Supporting knowledge-building efforts aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and national development priorities.
Contributing to research and documentation on improving access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene services in underserved communities. Work includes analysing programme outcomes, identifying implementation challenges, and highlighting scalable solutions — supporting evidence-based WASH approaches that strengthen public health, dignity, and community wellbeing.
“Nothing is impossible. If I could do it, anyone can — provided they receive timely guidance and opportunities.”
Tara Chand