Dr. Rajesh Tandon

Dr. Rajesh Tandon is a distinguished scholar-practitioner in participatory development and governance. He holds a B. Tech. in Electrical Engineering from IIT Kanpur and an MBA from IIM Calcutta (Gold Medalist). While pursuing his PhD in Organisational Behaviour at Case Western Reserve University, USA, his fieldwork among tribal farmers in southern Rajasthan inspired a lifelong commitment to transparent, accountable delivery of public services for the poor and excluded.

In 1982, he founded PRIA, a pioneering civil society organisation applying management principles to participatory research, training, and organisational development. PRIA promoted community participation across literacy, women’s empowerment, primary health care, water, and sanitation. Dr. Tandon’s work influenced government programmes, leading the Planning Commission of India to integrate beneficiary participation in social development initiatives; its participatory micro-planning guidelines for Panchayats and Nagarpalikas are based on PRIA models.

He led national efforts to build capacity of over one million elected Panchayat leaders, especially women, incubated more than 300 grassroots organisations, and contributed to national and international policies on civil society partnerships. He has served on advisory panels of the World Bank, ADB, UNDP, and UNESCO, and supported community-engaged learning under India’s National Education Policy and internationally.

Dr. Tandon is founder or co-founder of several global civil society platforms, including VANI, CIVICUS, and the Forum for Democratising Global Governance, and serves as Co-Chair of the UNESCO Chair in Community-based Research. He has received numerous honours, authored 15 books, and is the first Indian inducted into the International Adult and Continuing Education Hall of Fame and the Academy of Engagement Scholarship.