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Passing Gifts provided program management services, including technical assistance, consultancy, monitoring support, and allied services for the following programs.

Goat-Based Livelihoods Toolkit

As the technical consultancy partner to GIZ India, Passing Gifts developed a toolkit for goat-based livelihoods under ‘Enhancing Rural Resilience through Appropriate Development Actions (ERADA)’, an Indo-German initiative aimed at strengthening rural livelihoods. The assignment focused on translating field tested goat rearing models into practical tools aligned with ‘Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)’, India’s flagship rural employment and asset creation scheme.

Drawing from interventions across eight districts in Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, as well as success stories of MGNREGA interventions in other Indian states, our team created comprehensive and relevant resources. These supported frontline workers, planners, and smallholder farmers in their efforts to implement sustainable goat-based livelihood practices.

The resources comprised the Farmer’s Handbook on Goat Rearing, a Goat-Based Toolkit for Development of Livelihoods, and a Training Manual on Goat Rearing including MGNREGA interventions. The idea of the toolkit evolved from the engagement of a substantial number of over 7,500 smallholder goat farmers under the ERADA intervention and is now guiding goat-based livelihood efforts across India. It has been shared with key government agencies and development sector partners to inform wider adoption and integration.

Bihar Sustainable Livelihood Development (BSLD)

The BSLD program aims to enable 53,620 households to bridge the living income gap, with 16,380 households expected to achieve a sustainable living income by 2025.

Our support focused on strengthening agriculture and allied value chains, with an emphasis on women-led self-help groups and farmer producer organizations.

Through this engagement, we contributed to improving the livelihoods of over 70,000 smallholder farmer households across six districts in Bihar by enhancing productivity in goat rearing and agriculture.

Hatching Hope India (HHI)

The HHI program aims to improve the nutrition and livelihoods of 200,000 individuals through the production and consumption of poultry, and reach an additional 14 million people through nutrition awareness.

Our support focused on strengthening smallholder poultry enterprises by equipping farmers with practical tools, technical expertise, and market linkages, while also promoting the nutritional value of poultry and eggs.

As part of this engagement, we contributed to outreach efforts such as the ‘Ande Ka Jadu’ campaign, which reached over 19.21 million people with key messages on egg consumption and nutrition delivered to underserved communities.

Women Entrepreneurs For Women Entrepreneurs (WE4WE)

The WE4WE initiative aims to empower women-led farmer producer organizations in rural India.

Our engagement focused on supporting producer groups involved in diverse agricultural production through mentorship, value chain development, and market access facilitation. This also included support for value-added processing.

As part of this assignment, we contributed to enhancing market access and strengthening the economic independence of women in the Koraput district of Odisha.

Hatching Hope Accelerating Income (HHAI): Bridge to Sustainability

The HHAI: Bridge to Sustainability program aims to support smallholder farmers in their efforts to build resilient backyard poultry enterprises.

Our engagement involved working with local organizations to promote improved backyard poultry management practices, strengthen farmer producer organizations, and enhance market linkages.

Through this assignment, we contributed to efforts aimed at improving the livelihoods of 10,000 smallholder farmers in Andhra Pradesh by supporting institutional capacity and facilitating access to markets.

Odisha Goat Value Chain: Bridge to Livelihood Security

The Odisha Goat Value Chain: Bridge to Livelihood Security program sought to close the living income gap for 30,000 women smallholder farmers in Odisha through goat value chain development.

Our support focused on strengthening ten women-led, farmer-owned agri-businesses by facilitating access to training, inputs, and markets to scale goat and poultry production.

Through this engagement, we contributed towards the overall goal: enabling 30,000 women farmers to access organized markets, enhance their incomes, and build resilient, women-led livestock enterprises.

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Dr Shyam Kumar Katta

Program Director, Andhra Pradesh

Dr Shyam Kumar Katta is an Atlas Corps Scholar and Climate Base Fellow with over 20 years of experience in rural economies and social development.

With a PhD in Digital Tools for Rural Economies and Social Development, he has led 23 impactful projects focused on women’s empowerment, sustainable agriculture, biodiversity, and climate-resilient farming.

Dr Katta holds five international patents and has published extensively, mentoring 54 scholars across 27 countries. A visionary leader in food security, women’s empowerment, and smallholder farmer livelihoods, Dr Katta has secured substantial funding for initiatives addressing hunger and poverty. He specializes in circular economies, women’s entrepreneurship, agri-preneurship, and agricultural value chains.

His insights on climate change adaptation strategies have positioned him as a thought leader in the social development sector, where he advocates for sustainable practices that empower marginalized communities and enhance resilience against environmental challenges.

Akshaya Biswal

Program Director, Odisha

Akshaya Biswal is a seasoned development professional with 29 years of experience in non-profit organizations, UN agencies, state governments, and research institutions. He holds proven expertise in designing and implementing programs, advocacy initiatives, and thematic research.

He is skilled at mobilizing diverse stakeholders towards change. This includes experience with think tanks, civil society, government, public sector units, and corporates, helping them foster meaningful dialogues on state-specific concerns and establish collaborations that address systemic social issues.

He demonstrates a strong understanding of the fundraising landscape and donor engagement. Adept at managing, monitoring, and evaluating programs with a solid track record in budget management and team performance, Akshaya has led and mentored large teams comprising senior, middle, and field-level staff. He possesses exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work diplomatically with culturally diverse groups.

Sonmani Choudhary

Program Director, Bihar

Sonmani Choudhary has over 20 years in the financial and development sectors. Her expertise extends across project implementation, government advisory, MSME management, gender mainstreaming, and policy advocacy. She has worked with SIDBI, MicroSave Consulting, PCI India, C3, and BASIX, driving women’s economic empowerment and inclusive finance.

At PCI India, Sonmani led a Gates Foundation-backed initiative in Bihar, providing technical support to the Rural Development Department to enhance MGNREGA’s impact on women and marginalized communities.

Passionate about bridging gender gaps, she leverages research, strategic advisory, and capacity building to achieve her vision. Choudhary has authored numerous publications and holds certifications in Project Management, Responsible Research, and the Farmer Field Schools Approach. She is currently exploring Development Economics.

Dr Anamika Priyadarshini

Director of Knowledge Management Research & Design

Dr Anamika Priyadarshini has over 23 years of experience in development and academia. She holds a post-graduate degree in International Development from Cornell and a doctorate in Global, Gender & Sexuality Studies from SUNY Buffalo.

A recipient of notable fellowships like the Margaret McNamara and Ford Foundation Fellowships, Dr Priyadarshini’s work has been published in journals such as The Lancet, Economic & Political Weekly, and India Development Review. At Passing Gifts, she focuses on enhancing economic opportunities for smallholder women farmers, particularly through women’s collectives.

She is dedicated to advancing evidence-based planning to develop sustainable economic models for women. In her free time, she enjoys travelling, storytelling, and music.

Kavita Sarah Nathan

Director of Finance & Administration

Kavita Sarah Nathan is a Chartered Accountant with over 30 years of experience in the development sector, specializing in financial management, donor compliance, and procurement. She has held key roles in organizations like ICRIER, Christian Aid UK, Habitat for Humanity India Trust, and SABI Consulting Pvt Ltd in Zimbabwe.

She is adept at achieving statutory compliance across multiple countries, including PF, GST, Income Tax, and ROC. She has a strong track record of emergency procurement and has successfully led multicultural teams spread across the globe.

A cornerstone of her leadership is her dedication to capacity building and team development. With strategic insight and a commitment to financial stewardship, Kavita continues to be a pivotal force in advancing our mission to enhance sustainable livelihoods.

Rina Soni

Executive Director

Rina Soni is a seasoned leader with over 28 years of experience in the financial services and development sectors. She holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and an MBA in finance. As a founding member of Max Life Insurance, Rina dedicated nearly 18 years to driving sales, business development, and strategic planning. In her transition to the nonprofit sector, she has successfully led impactful public engagement and fundraising initiatives for prominent organizations in India, employing innovative technologies and data-driven strategies to achieve meaningful results.

In her current role at Passing Gifts, Rina combines her strategic vision with a commitment to technological advancement, empowering marginalized communities and fostering sustainable growth. Her leadership mantra ‘One Team, One Dream’ reflects her collaborative approach to achieving shared goals. She is especially focused on building resilient food systems that support smallholder women farmers in adapting to the challenges posed by climate change.

Outside of work, Rina enjoys yoga and reading, which she finds instrumental to enhancing her leadership skills and fostering personal growth.

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