Dr. Priyanka Korde, co-founder and partner at PRA, has a Ph.D. in the area of juvenile justice in Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, with a national research fellowship from the Government of India. She has an M.Phil. and M.A. in Social Work from TISS and M.A. in English literature from Gujarat University. She advocates for a child rights and gender perspective with children and youth in conflict with law in her national and international publications and presentations.
Dr. Priyanka Korde headed the M&E vertical, developed a robust M&E system complete with evidence-based framework, tools, and conducted M&E exercises, trained and coordinated pan-India M&E staff while monitoring 400 skill training centres across the states of India for Don Bosco Tech Society. She is skilled in qualitative, quantitative, and mixed research methodologies and has strong documentation and communication skills.
She has rich fieldwork and research experience and has designed and coordinated robust and large-scale qualitative and quantitative research studies across India and has strong analytical and documentation experience. She has rendered her professional services in the areas of CSR research, skill development, and higher education to: TISS, Mumbai, Don Bosco Tech Society, Department of Statistics Division (Ministry of Education, then MHRD), and Department of Higher Education (Government of Karnataka).
Dr. Avadh Bihari, co-founder and partner at PRA, is a Ph.D. in the area of community engagement in Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai in community engagement in CSR, with a national research fellowship from the Government of India. He has an M.Phil. and M.A. in Social Work from TISS, Mumbai and is a Gold Medalist in Bachelors in Social Work from University of Delhi. He has published his research and field experiences in renowned international journals and publications and advocates for a community-centric approach in development programmes through lectures and presentations at national and international conferences.
Dr. Avadh Bihari has extensive experience in the field of social work and corporate social responsibility (CSR) and has worked with various governmental, non-governmental entities and think-tanks. He has conducted large-scale, pan-India studies using multiple social research methods, resulting in over 90 reports, such as: baseline surveys, needs assessments, end-line, evaluation studies, impact assessments, and proposal evaluations. He has significant experience of grant writing, fund mobilization, project designing and implementation, and partner management. He has expertise in designing and coordinating qualitative, quantitative, and mixed research studies across India, resulting in evidence-based research reports with recommendations for CSR interventions.
He conducts capacity building sessions and workshops for development sector professionals across corporates NGOs, and government with an interactive and participatory approach; some of his recent sessions were by: Government of Tripura, Chartered Accountants, NGO Founders, Corporate CSR Officials, and so on. He has been professionally associated in various full-time and Consultant roles with: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (Government of India); Don Bosco Tech Society; TISS, Mumbai; Department of Statistics Division (then MHRD); Department of Higher Education (Government of Karnataka), Nasscom Foundation, and Asha Kuteer Foundation.
‘Pluriversal’ refers to the theory that there is not only one, ultimate reality (universe) but more than one realities, plurality of worlds (pluriverse). Our work refers to the plurality in the idea of development perceived by various actors belonging to diverse communities
‘Pluriversal’ refers to the theory that there is not only one, ultimate reality (universe) but more than one realities, plurality of worlds (pluriverse). Through the Pluriversal approach to development we counter the universal model of development advocating for ‘one size fits all’ and embrace multiple realities and alternatives to development. Our work refers to the plurality in the idea of development perceived by various actors belonging to diverse communities. We firmly believe people have the knowledge and wisdom to translate their aspirations into action.
With the Pluriversal approach at the centre of PRA, we believe in people, their capacities, and knowledge-systems to define and design development. We aim to facilitate a process in which the participants are the primary stakeholders and their knowledge systems are given prime importance to govern an intervention. We aim to enhance the development sector ecosystem, where professionals have multiple skills, rooted in the value of community development by keeping 'people at the centre' of all the processes.
Top-down intervention models make people passive actors, as mere data-givers, in their own development process. To address this, PRA takes upon a facilitative role encouraging active participation of the local people in voicing their concerns and probable solutions. Engaging multiple actors through participatory approaches are needed for a better understanding of the local realities and implement interventions that are designed and owned by the people to bring lasting social change in the needed areas. Broadly, we aim to achieve this by:
Listening to and bringing voices of the people at the centre of the research and development processes.
People, their knowledge-systems, and practices at the centre of our engagement
Strengthening the development sector to prioritise focus on the people and build their capacities.
Our founder-partners of PRA are social scientists with extensive, pan-India experience of working with university, central and state government, NGOs, and public and private corporate. Since 2011, they are engaged professionally and academically in the areas of social research, MEL, CSR, skill development, higher education, child rights, community engagement, partnerships, reporting and documentation, and so on. Further, we bring on-board subject matter specialists, local surveyors, and any other required team members as per the project's needs, who bring their rich experience, local language, and local contexts to the assignment.
Dr. Priyanka Korde, co-founder and partner at PRA, has a Ph.D. in the area of juvenile justice in Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, with a national research fellowship from the Government of India. She has an M.Phil. and M.A. in Social Work from TISS and M.A. in English literature from Gujarat University...
Dr. Avadh Bihari, co-founder and partner at PRA, is a Ph.D. in the area of community engagement in Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai in community engagement in CSR, with a national research fellowship from the Government of India. He has an M.Phil. and M.A. in Social Work from TISS, Mumbai...
A Conceptual Review’, in A Decade of Mandated Corporate Social Responsibility: Interventions, Insights, Impact and more, Sustainable Advancements, India.
Bihari, A. (2023). ‘Corporate Social Responsibility, Social Start-ups, and a Case of Diversity and Inclusion in India’,in Diversity and Inclusion in the Start-up Ecosystem, Springer Nature, Singapore.
Read MoreThe Howard Journal of Crime and Justice, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1111/hojo.12511
Korde, P. (2023). ‘Experiences of Children in Conflict with Law with the Juvenile Justice System in India: Scope for Social Work Practice’.Perspectives in Social Work.
Read MoreThe differential factor in PRA's approach to research is the people-centric and participatory approaches using robust QUALitative and QUANTitative methods of social research. These include significant engagement of people in problematising issues and designing solutions. Our evidence-based, multi-stakeholder, and in-depth analysis and recommendations provide valuable insights to design new programmes and projects, review existing interventions, and making mid-course corrections.
Baseline Studies
Impact Assessments/ Evaluation
Mid-line/ End-line/ Project Evaluation Studies
MEL Reports
We are on a mission to strengthen the development sector by co-creating and co-learning systems that are not driven by the market but governed by, of, for, and with the people. PRA plays an advisory and facilitative role to give strategic direction to your organisation to revamp, strengthen and develop sustainable systems, programmes and teams. We analyse each organisation's unique and diverse needs through an evidence-based and multi-stakeholder approach; curate participatory workshops; and facilitate building robust, impact-oriented, and ‘people-centric’ systems to achieve their goals.
Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL)
Project Management
Organisational Development
Participatory Community Engagement
In the true pluriversal way, we strive to make knowledge accessible and not exclusive. PRA works towards building capacities of the organisations enabling them to develop proposals and develop and monitor their projects and systems independently and effectively. We integrate building capacities in our systems strengthening work to build a cadre of skilled professionals with a people-centric approach.
Frameworks: Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), Theory of Change (ToC), Logical Framework Analysis (LFA)
Knowledge sessions: CSR law, project management, community engagement, pluriversal approaches, child rights, integrating feminist and decolonial approaches to research and development
Writing workshops: grant writing, report writing, case studies, proposal, Gantt chart
Research workshops: quantitative, qualitative and mixed research methods, developing tools, data analysis, participatory approaches
We have undertaken research projects, analytical research reports, documentation, and capacity building assignments. In each of these assignments, we bring a people-centric approach by focussing on the lives, voices, and experiences of the people through rigorous research approaches. A complete list of our work in individual and firm’s capacities are available on request. In a brief span, PRA has undertaken a variety of assignments, such as:
We acknowledge and integrate diverse contexts and multiple levels of marginalisation of class, caste, gender, religion, geographies, and others existing in India in our methodologies, analyses, and approaches to development.
Education
Skill Development
Mental Health
Community Development
PRA undertakes projects across India with the team having pan-India experience of research studies and community development projects in wide ranging thematic areas. Our team has rich experience and understanding of remote and aspirational districts, rural and urban realities, and multiple marginalisations in the Indian context that we integrate in our methodologies and approaches.
Nasscom Foundation
Our collaboration with Avadh and his team on measurement studies have been effective and enriched the program. They bring in a strong perspective with their grassroots experiences and learning. The quality of their analysis, proficient use of tools, and clarity in presenting findings have been insightful. Their transparency and responsiveness have significantly contributed to fostering a productive working relationship. Their commitment and dedication in working within tight timeline builds trust and accountability
Founder, ARPAN, Uttarakhand
Association for Rural Planning and Action (ARPAN), endorse Pluriversal Research and Action (PRA ) for the studies carried out on "Raji community and their participation in National Rural Livelihood Mission: Access, challenges and recommendations“ and "Status of adolescent girls in Rural Uttarakhand“. Dr. Avadh Bihari and Dr. Priyanka Korde have been instrumental in strengthening the capacities of the ARPAN's team during their visit to ARPAN field area in District Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand. We appreciate their dedication, professionalism and strong work ethics.
Implementation Head – Well-Being,Kshitij
I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the outstanding work done for the Kshitij, a non-profit organisation by PRA Team. Specifically, their commitment to objectively conducting the documentation & assessment and meeting the tight deadlines was very encouraging. I wish all the best in their future endeavours.
