- tarana.sayed@gmail.com
- +(91) 99371 23307
About Tarana Ahad Sayed Tarana Ahad Sayed is a passionate and dynamic sustainability strategist, life coach, and social development professional with over 25 years of diverse experience across India and overseas. She is known for designing and executing impactful, scalable programs that integrate sustainability, social equity, and grassroots empowerment. Currently based in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, Tarana is engaged as a Marketing Strategist with GIZ GmbH and GOPA Infra GmbH under the SUD SC II project, supporting city branding and strategic outreach for Bhubaneswar’s upcoming “New City” initiative. Her work is focused on inclusive urban development aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Tarana has played leading roles in projects involving circular economy, plastic and solid waste management, skill development, financial inclusion, and women’s empowerment. She led the UNDP’s “PRITHVI” project in Odisha, establishing Material Recovery Facilities and formalizing the role of informal waste workers through innovative micro-enterprise models. Her initiatives under this project included community campaigns like “Plastic Lao, ThailaPao” and collaborations with municipal bodies of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, for awareness, livelihood creation, and sanitation.
She also served as Senior National Consultant with GIZ and GOPA Infra, where she conducted Capacity Needs Assessments and designed training modules for municipal staff, sanitation workers, and bulk waste generators in Bhubaneswar and Sambalpur. Her strategically supervised and implemented training programs during the COVID-19 pandemic, supported by UNICEF, by training of over 4,400 frontline workers in personal hygiene and safety practices.
As Regional Lead at Drishtee Foundation, she drove financial inclusion and rural entrepreneurship across Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh. She successfully helped vaccinate over 90,000 rural women in partnership with SHG networks and mobilized over 300 service points for community outreach, for Covid-19 prevention, post pandemic.
With a unique mix of corporate, grassroots, and international experience, Tarana’s earlier career includes her tenure in the Netherlands Antilles as a branch head in the life and health insurance sector and leadership roles in pharmaceuticals, FMCG, and healthcare marketing. She holds an MBA in Marketing and an MA in Geography, and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Sustainability Sciences. She also holds certifications from Erasmus University (SDGs & Businesses) and the World Bank Group (Solid Waste Management).
Tarana’s work is deeply rooted in a vision of inclusive progress—bridging people, planet, and prosperity. Beyond her professional roles, she is an author, social volunteer, and advocate for women and children’s rights, regularly organizing health camps, awareness drives, and sustainability-focused campaigns.Her story is one of passion, purpose, and persistent pursuit of change, making her a respected voice in sustainable development and community transformation.
Make CallTarana has played leading roles in projects involving circular economy, plastic and solid waste management, skill development, financial inclusion, and women’s empowerment. She led the UNDP’s “PRITHVI” project in Odisha, establishing Material Recovery Facilities and formalizing the role of informal waste workers through innovative micro-enterprise models. Her initiatives under this project included community campaigns like “Plastic Lao, ThailaPao” and collaborations with municipal bodies of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, for awareness, livelihood creation, and sanitation.
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