Payal Patel

Payal Patel is an experienced professional in the fields of program management, gender, and development, currently serving as Associate Director, Programs at American Jewish World Service (AJWS). Prior roles include Senior Program Officer focusing on land rights, water, climate justice, and funder advocacy, as well as Senior Program Officer for natural resource rights. Payal has also participated as an Equity in Philanthropy Fellow at Rockwood Leadership Institute and served as an Advisory Group Member for Funders Initiative for Civil Society. As an independent consultant, Payal specializes in gender and development and previously worked as a Gender and Development Specialist and Program Associate at the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW). Payal holds a BA in Economics from Wellesley College and an MA in International Development Studies from The George Washington University.