Ayushmita Samal

About Ayushmita Samal

I’m a feminist researcher, evaluator, facilitator, and policy practitioner working at the intersections of gender, disability, and inclusive public and social policy. With a decade of experience across South Asia, as well as global spaces (Sub Saharan Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific) I specialize in designing and implementing feminist and decolonial monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) frameworks, and in producing research that challenges extractive knowledge systems. So far, I have worked with colleagues from 14 countries. My work spans grassroots movements, international NGOs, and policy think tanks—often bridging them. I\'ve worked on the National Menstrual Health Policy, developed inclusive budget statements for the government of Assam, and led a study on invisible disability assessments in three Indian states, the first of its kind in the Indian context.I am currently associated with Mission Accessibility (and OPD in Delhi) and RAISE Global Health (a global consultancy firm rooted in feminist decolonial practices, specialising in global health and SRHR). I was recently also a WOSSO fellow under an FCDO-funded global project. Under WOSSO, I worked on disability assessments at the grassroots and trained the government of Uttar Pradesh on human rights-oriented disability assessments.My recent work has been with Kaleidoscope Trust, Clinton Health Access Initiative, IPPF, Ipas, Women Win, the Martha Farrell Foundation, and the Center for Inclusive Policy. My current projects include disability-affirmative school curriculum and disability assessments with Mission Accessibility and end-of-term evaluations of projects funded by the Dutch government with RAISE Global Health. With Mission Accessibility, I run CertLine, a weekly disability assessment and UDID helpline. I have also recently written a chapter on disability research that will be published by Routledge in the fall of 2026. Additionally, I am working with a team on disability affirming SRHR in rural Uttar Pradesh- an Amplify Change-funded project, and I was amongst the proposal development team. I’m particularly interested in:Disability-inclusive policy and data systemsGender-transformative evaluationsIntersectional approaches to SRHR, GBV, and social protectionResearch that centers lived experience as critical knowledge Let’s connect if you work on equity-focused research, inclusive evaluations, or feminist policymaking—or if you\'re building something slow, thoughtful, and just.I am at a••••••••@gmail.com

Experience

1. Evaluation Consultant

   Terre des Hommes Netherlands

   Jul 2025 — Present

   With RAISE Global Health, I am conducting the end term evaluation of the project \"Step Up the Fight Against Child Sexual Exploitation (SUFASEC)\", funded by the Dutch MoFA in 12 countries- India, Nepal, Bangladesh (SA), Indonesia, Phillipines, Thailand, Laos (SEA), Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Guatemala, Dominican Republic (LATAM). I am leading the South Asian Evaluation and am part of the Global Evaluation team.

Education

• Hansraj College University of Delhi

  Bachelor of Science hon, Zoology/Animal Biology

  2016 — 2019

• National Law School of India University

  Postgraduate Diploma, Child Rights Law