Public Policy Researcher & Development Professional

Researching Today. Shaping Tomorrow's Public Policy.

Born on 20 October 1993 in Ara, Bihar, Shashank Shrivastava grew up in a middle-class family as the youngest of five siblings. His formative years were profoundly shaped by his father, who was not only his first teacher but also his earliest mentor in public service. Rather than limiting education to textbooks, his father introduced him to community leadership, grassroots problem-solving, and social responsibility. Through active participation in community meetings, event management, and initiatives supporting vulnerable communities, Shashank developed an early understanding of ethics, empathy, and civic engagement. A guiding principle imparted by his father continues to shape his outlook: "आशावादी मनुष्य हर कठिनाई में अवसर ढूँढ़ लेता है, जबकि निराशावादी हर अवसर में कठिनाई देखता है।" "An optimist discovers opportunity in every difficulty, while a pessimist finds difficulty in every opportunity." Although his father passed away in 2007, the values of integrity, compassion, and service continue to influence Shashank's work in research, public policy, and institution building. From Grassroots Activism to Development Leadership Shashank's educational journey followed an unconventional path. After completing a Diploma in Civil Engineering, he witnessed firsthand the social and economic costs of violent public agitations in northern India. Recognizing the need for constructive civic engagement, he founded the youth-led initiative "INDIA ITSELF." Through this platform, he launched the nationwide awareness campaign "Raise Your Voice Against Violent Agitation," mobilizing volunteers across Punjab, Haryana, Bihar, and parts of South India. The campaign encouraged citizens to recognize that public infrastructure belongs to every taxpayer and emphasized peaceful democratic participation. Using door-to-door outreach, community interactions, pamphlet distribution, and social media engagement, the initiative promoted responsible citizenship during periods of social unrest. This early experience established his enduring belief that sustainable social transformation begins with informed and engaged communities. Commitment to Community Development Following this initiative, Shashank collaborated with the National Service Scheme (NSS) and participated in numerous community development programmes. His work included supporting Anganwadi centres, promoting water conservation, encouraging group learning among students, and conducting awareness campaigns on poverty alleviation through skill development. These experiences strengthened his understanding of grassroots governance and reinforced the importance of community participation in development planning. Academic Foundation and Professional Evolution Seeking a deeper understanding of society and governance, Shashank pursued a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in History, where he developed a strong foundation in historical inquiry, institutional evolution, and social change. Alongside his academic pursuits, he established TSHC PR, a public relations initiative focused on strategic communication, and later worked as a journalist with the Rajasthan Patrika Group. Reporting on education, youth affairs, and grassroots development enabled him to translate complex social issues into accessible public narratives while sharpening his analytical and communication skills. These experiences fostered a lasting interest in the relationship between public discourse, governance, and policy-making. Building Expertise in Development Research Shashank's transition into professional development research was consolidated through his Master of Social Work (MSW) from IGNOU, where he combined academic learning with extensive field experience across research, monitoring and evaluation, social development, and community engagement. At the Centre for Advanced Research and Development (CARD), he contributed to a large-scale impact assessment of Self-Help Groups (SHGs), analysing over 1,500 household surveys. Applying statistical techniques—including Chi-square analysis, regression models, and ANOVA-he evaluated the effectiveness of livelihood training and enterprise development interventions. This experience strengthened his capacity to integrate quantitative evidence with policy analysis. With the Y4D Foundation, he implemented projects focused on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), education, and corporate social responsibility initiatives across Ujjain, Rajgarh, and Jhabua. Working directly with communities provided valuable insights into the interconnected challenges of public health, education, livelihoods, and local governance. At Adhaar Counselling Centre, he gained practical exposure to mental health counselling and urban community outreach, broadening his understanding of psychosocial well-being and social empowerment. In parallel, his work in public relations as a Crisis Communication Manager strengthened his expertise in strategic communication, stakeholder management, media engagement, and public advocacy-skills that continue to complement his policy research. Collectively, these experiences have enabled him to build an interdisciplinary skill set spanning research design, impact evaluation, statistical analysis, qualitative inquiry, stakeholder engagement, policy communication, and programme management. Leadership at Nav Bihar Renaissance Foundation (NBRF) Shashank currently serves as Manager at the Nav Bihar Renaissance Foundation (NBRF), a public policy think tank dedicated to promoting evidence-based governance and sustainable development in Bihar. His responsibilities extend well beyond organisational management. He leads the Foundation's Editorial and Research Division, overseeing the publication of the Daily Policy Intelligence Brief and the Weekly Policy Magazine, both designed to make contemporary policy debates accessible to decision-makers, researchers, and citizens. He also directs NBRF's digital communication strategy, manages institutional collaborations with academic and development partners, coordinates research publications, designs policy manuals and knowledge resources, and supports strategic partnerships across government, civil society, academia, and industry. Through these responsibilities, he contributes to strengthening NBRF's role as an emerging platform for public policy dialogue, research dissemination, and evidence-informed governance. Research Interests Shashank's research interests include: Public Policy and Governance Rural Development and Livelihood Promotion Social Accountability and Civic Participation Community Institutions and Local Governance Monitoring, Evaluation and Impact Assessment Skill Development and Social Entrepreneurship Policy Communication and Knowledge Management Sustainable Development and SDGs Behavioural Change Communication Think Tank Development and Institutional Research Professional Philosophy Shashank believes that good public policy must be grounded in rigorous evidence, informed by community realities, and communicated in ways that inspire meaningful action. His work seeks to bridge the gap between academic research and practical governance by combining empirical analysis with grassroots engagement. Committed to lifelong learning and public service, he continues to contribute to research, institution building, and policy innovation with the conviction that sustainable development is achieved through knowledge, collaboration, and ethical leadership.