She leads the organization’s strategy work in IFAD’s key areas, targeting agriculture, climate, gender, nutrition, youth, and social inclusion as well as provides the vision for evidence-informed advice on programme designs and implementation, contributing to resource mobilization, and supporting IFAD’s global remit in providing state-of-the-art policy advice related to these topics. The Strategy and Knowledge Department is also responsible for ensuring that IFAD’s programmes build in social, environmental and climate safeguards while ensuring that IFAD’s investments generate benefits in these areas.
Puri has worked previously at the Green Climate Fund, 3ie, UNEP, the World Bank and UNDP. She is also adjunct associate professor at Columbia University, New York where she was also a research scientist. She has published in many academic journals, written for newspapers, and provided advice as a board member to several development organizations.
She holds a PhD and MSc in Agriculture and Resource Economics and an MA in Development Economics. She is a national of India.