Stutilina Pal is an accomplished development professional with extensive expertise in designing and implementing programs that empower communities, particularly smallholders, women, and marginalized groups, through innovative livelihood and gender-focused initiatives. With a career spanning over two decades , she has led multidisciplinary teams and worked closely with local communities across central and northern India, specializing in agriculture, horticulture, and natural resource management. Her efforts have consistently aimed to foster economic empowerment, gender equity, and sustainable development.

Stuti’s leadership has driven the successful scale-up of numerous livelihood programs, including pioneering interventions in pomegranate cultivation, SRI (System of Rice Intensification), and dairy enterprises. She has cultivated strategic partnerships with key stakeholders, such as Axis Bank Foundation, American India Foundation, and Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium, while mobilizing resources to strengthen program implementation. Her ability to align grassroots efforts with government-aided initiatives, such as NREGA and state-level livelihood programs, has been instrumental in building resilient and self-sustaining community-based institutions. A recipient of the prestigious Chevening Scholarship from the British High Commission, Stutilina holds a Master’s degree in Gender and Development from the University of Sussex and a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Sciences from Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology. Her international exposure, including academic pursuits at STFX University in Canada, has enriched her perspective on community development and strategic planning. In addition to her leadership roles, Stutilina has contributed significantly to research and knowledge dissemination in the development sector. She has conducted national and state-level studies on agricultural practices, women’s involvement in farming, and value chain assessments for crops like minor millets. Her work includes developing manuals for sustainable livelihoods under NREGA, evaluating WASH programs, and authoring case studies on innovative interventions in agriculture and health. Stutilina is deeply committed to empowering women, as demonstrated by her leadership in initiatives such as the Bundelkhand Initiative for Land, Agriculture, and Water, which emphasized community institution building and political empowerment. She continues to drive strategic planning processes, develop knowledge materials, and foster institutional partnerships that align with her vision of inclusive and equitable development.

Stuti’s work reflects her belief in the transformative power of community institutions, inclusive markets, and gender equity. Her strategic acumen and deep field experience continue to inspire impactful change in rural livelihoods and development initiatives across India.