With over 20 years of extensive experience in rural development and sustainable agriculture, Rupendra is a dynamic leader committed to fostering transformative change in rural communities. As Program Director for Rajasthan and thematic anchor of agriculture at SRIJAN, he has been at the forefront of designing and implementing strategies that promote sustainable livelihoods, natural resource management, and climate-resilient farming practices. Starting as a grassroots practitioner, Rupendra now leads and manages large-scale, critical projects, collaborating with key stakeholders across public, private, and non-governmental sectors.

He has demonstrated exceptional expertise in initiating and scaling sustainable agri-horticulture programs tailored to local farming practices with work spanning from holistic village transformation, watershed development, and crop diversification, to a strong emphasis on empowering women farmers and building resilient community institutions. Key initiatives under their leadership include projects funded by the National Stock Exchange Foundation, Aditya Birla Capital Foundation, HDFC Bank, RBL Bank etc. addressing critical issues like food and nutrition security, efficient energy use, and regenerative agriculture. Rupendra has also played a pivotal role in organizational strategy, including programmatic supervision, resource mobilization, and stakeholder liaison for Rajasthan's regional operations. By leveraging participatory tools and analyzing data insights, he ensured the effective design and implementation of impactful programs. His contributions to projects such as the Rajasthan Agriculture Competitiveness Project (RACP) and the Madhya Pradesh Rural Livelihood Project (MPRLP) have set benchmarks for sustainable agricultural practices and rural development. Besides implementation, Rupendra has developed critical resources for the sector, such as the user manual ‘Building Sustainable Livelihoods of the Poor through MGNREGA’ in collaboration with UNDP and the Government of India. He consistently worked on capacity building through knowledge-sharing materials, training programs, and fostering partnerships with organizations like Standard Chartered Bank, HSBC Bank, and Capri Foundation.

His unwavering commitment to rural development continues to inspire and drive efforts for a more equitable and sustainable future.