Rachna Sharma

Background

About Rachna Sharma

With three decades of experience spanning education, public diplomacy, and social inclusion, I possess comprehensive expertise in orchestrating transformative and inclusive national and regional development programs. As the inaugural Inclusive Development Advisor at USAID-India, I have architected cross-sectoral initiatives that systematically integrated gender equity and social inclusion principles into national health, economic, and education frameworks. This multifaceted role required extensive collaboration with senior government officials, technical teams at USAID, and civil society organisations to ensure sustainable developmental impact for underrepresented populations. During the past two years, I have conducted rigorous social impact evaluations for regional multilateral bank projects, facilitated comprehensive training sessions on policy integration, coordinated high-level leadership exchanges, and developed sophisticated engagement frameworks for persons with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, youth, and indigenous communities. My previous role with the Public Diplomacy Office of the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi played a key role in guiding my trajectory in the international development space. As the Regional English Language Specialist for India and Bhutan from 2010 to 2023, I administered the U.S. State Department's Global English Access Microscholarship Program - creating transformative educational pathways for thousands of underprivileged youth and educators across 17 Indian states. My responsibilities encompassed forging strategic partnerships, managing intricate multi-stakeholder relationships, designing regional youth leadership initiatives, cultivating alumni networks, advancing teacher development programs, pioneering innovative curricular frameworks, and establishing comprehensive monitoring and evaluation systems. The foundational bedrock of my professional philosophy, however, was established during my fifteen-year tenure as a teacher-trainer with the Punjab Education Department. This formative experience highlighted the critical nexus between policy formulation and grassroots implementation, profoundly shaping my approach to sustainable education reform and program evaluation methodologies. The anticipated global cessation of USAID operations has not diminished my unwavering commitment to development paradigms rooted in inclusivity. Moving forward, I seek collaborative opportunities and senior leadership roles with international nonprofits, foundations, and social enterprises dedicated to inclusive education and policy advocacy.