Murugan Ethiraj

Background

About Murugan Ethiraj

I am a development professional with over 30 years of experience driving grassroots empowerment through Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Natural Resource Management (NRM), watershed development, and livelihood promotion. My work spans India, Africa, and Latin America, where I’ve led large-scale donor-funded projects, trained diverse stakeholders, and shaped capacity-building strategies. As Program Officer (Regional Head) at MYRADA, I directed 14 CSR/NABARD projects across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Puducherry, managing a team of 114 staff and volunteers. My efforts in climate adaptation, water security, and STEM education for girls were recognized with two awards from NABARD. Internationally, I have served as a consultant/trainer with Kindernothilfe (Germany) and Palmera (Australia), promoting SHG-based development in 11 countries through 150+ workshops, manuals, and field facilitation. I’ve also contributed to SHG promotion in Sierra Leone, Swaziland, Sri Lanka, and DR Congo. Currently, I serve as SHG Technical Lead (The Share Trust, USA) and Chief Training Officer (MYRADA), focusing on strategy, training design, and building institutional capacities for sustainable community development.