Monalisa Padhee, PhD

Program Head of Education and Wellness Initiatives

Harmara

India, South Asia

Connect:

Cohort Year:

2019

Bio

Dr. Monalisa Padhee is a passionate champion for women’s health, education, and building climate leadership in rural communities. As the Program Head of Education and Wellness Initiatives at Bindi International, she co-creates interactive curricula on critical health issues that transcends literacy barriers by integrating relatable storytelling and local arts. Leveraging digital tools, the “Awareness, Access and Advocacy” approach enables grassroots health workers to disseminate health information effectively on topics such as sexual and reproductive health, nutrition, mental health and others and provide basic healthcare services and products to last-mile communities.

Beyond healthcare, she also leads an informal schooling model in last-mile communities and co-developed the Young Climate Leadership Curriculum (YCLC), enabling rural students to THINK, SPEAK, and ACT on climate issues.

Monalisa is deeply invested in supporting grassroots women leadership and representation on global platforms. A Senior Atlantic Fellow for Health Equity and alumna of Acumen, Aspen New Voices, and Swedish Gender Lab and G P Birla women fellowship, she promotes inclusive decision-making and policy reforms for underserved communities.