Dr. Ambika Prasad Nanda
Development Practitioner and Public Policy Expert
Dr. Ambika Prasad Nanda is a development practitioner and public policy expert with over three decades of experience in corporate social responsibility (CSR), governance, sustainable development, and institutional strengthening. Currently, he is a Professor of Practice at Berhampur University. He also holds several key academic and advisory positions, serving as an Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) member at NISER, an Academic Council member at FM University in Balasore, and a Founding Advisor of the Avoidable Death Network at the University of Leicester. Dr. Nanda served as the Head of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at Tata Steel, Odisha, where he led initiatives on community development, livelihoods, environmental sustainability, and inclusive growth. Prior to his work with Tata Steel, he headed the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) office for Odisha and Jharkhand and worked extensively with ActionAid India on rights-based development. His work spans public policy, climate resilience, disaster risk reduction, land rights, and democratic governance, with a strong focus on improving outcomes for marginalized communities through evidence-based and participatory approaches.
Past Affiliations:
- Head - Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Tata Steel, Odisha
- Head of Office, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Odisha & Jharkhand
- State Director, Rural Development Institute (RDI)
- Programme Manager, ActionAid India
- Member, State Planning Board, Government of Odisha
Educational Qualifications:
- Ph.D. in International Relations and Affairs, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi
- M.Phil. in International Relations and Affairs, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi
- Postgraduate Degree in Analytical and Applied Economics
Selected Publications:
Books Edited
- Development in South Asia: Issues and Challenges (2021)
- Covid-19, Migration and Sustainable Development (2020)
- Climate Change, Agriculture and Environment (2019)
- Collective Social Responsibility: A Tribal World View (2018)
- Development, Environment and Sustainability (2018)
- Tribes in Contemporary India: Orality, Identity and Development (2016) Multiple Article Published in various referred and peer-reviewed journals
