Ss Reddy

Interdisciplinary climate-water-agriculture specialist with 18+ years of international experience spanning policy advisory, research, programme management, institutional partnerships, and capacity development across India, Africa, and the Global South. Expertise in climate-resilient agriculture, water resources management, watershed hydrology, natural resources management, remote sensing, GIS, and AI-enabled decision-support systems. Demonstrated experience working with governments, UN agencies, multilateral organizations, research institutions, and development partners in designing and implementing sustainable development, climate adaptation, and water governance initiatives.

Proven ability to lead interdisciplinary programmes, develop strategic partnerships, manage grants and technical projects, and facilitate policy dialogue for climate-resilient and sustainable resource management.

Advisor – Agriculture, Water Resources & Climate Resilience at DAKSHIN – Global South Centre of Excellence, RIS, Ministry of External Affairs (2024-03 – Present)

• Lead strategic initiatives on climate-resilient agriculture, water resources management, hydrology, and sustainable natural resources management across partner countries in the Global South
• Coordinate interdisciplinary programmes focusing on climate adaptation, agroecology, watershed management, and sustainable land-use systems
• Manage institutional collaborations with UN agencies, research organizations, ministries, and Global South institutions to strengthen climate resilience and water security initiatives
• Oversee programme development, technical advisory services, grant management, and knowledge-sharing initiatives
• Coordinate multi-country engagements and policy dialogues across 50+ Global South countries involving governments, think tanks, and international organizations
• Provide technical expertise in hydrological modelling, GIS, remote sensing, and AI-enabled decision-support systems for sustainable development planning

Theme Expert – Water Management at National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA), Government of India (2022-01 – 2024-03)

• Contributed to national-level policy and programme frameworks on water management and rainfed agriculture integrating ecological sustainability, climate resilience, and livelihood security
• Led development of GIS-based and data-driven approaches for watershed management, drought resilience, and sustainable land-use planning
• Provided technical inputs for the National Rainfed Area Development Programme and related climate-resilient agricultural initiatives
• Advised government stakeholders on sustainable water management, watershed governance, and natural resources planning
• Supported integration of AI, geospatial technologies, and hydrological modelling into development planning processes

Water Resources Specialist at UNESCO International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (UNESCO-IICBA) (2017-01 – 2022-01)

• Developed decision-support frameworks and technical approaches for climate-resilient water governance and watershed management across the Nile Basin region
• Designed and delivered institutional capacity-building programmes for governments, universities, and technical agencies across Africa
• Managed partnerships and collaborative initiatives with governments, development partners, donors, and research institutions
• Contributed to regional cooperation initiatives, policy integration, and climate adaptation strategies related to water and natural resources management
• Facilitated technical workshops, stakeholder consultations, and knowledge-sharing programmes supporting sustainable development and resilience planning

Associate Professor – Water Resources Engineering at Amrita University (2014-09 – 2017-01)

• Delivered teaching, research, and academic supervision in water resources engineering, watershed hydrology, and climate resilience
• Conducted interdisciplinary research on hydrology, climate change impacts, and sustainable water systems
• Supervised postgraduate research projects and mentored students in water and environmental engineering
• Published peer-reviewed research articles in hydrology, watershed management, and climate adaptation

Research Associate at Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) (2010-07 – 2014-09)

• Conducted research on ungauged watershed management in data-scarce rainfed regions using GIS, remote sensing, hydrological modelling, and AI techniques
• Developed innovative methodologies for watershed assessment, hydrological analysis, and sustainable water resources planning
• Contributed to interdisciplinary research projects related to climate impacts, land-use change, and water systems modelling

Project Scientist – Water Resources at National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD) (2007-08 – 2010-06)

• Worked on watershed development programmes and GIS-based rural development planning initiatives
• Developed spatial and analytical models supporting village-level natural resources management and watershed planning
• Supported implementation of sustainable land and water management initiatives in rural and rainfed regions

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Water Resources Management – Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

Master of Technology in Water Resources – Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University

Bachelor of Technology in Agricultural Engineering – Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University