Jyotsna (Joy) Khara

Joy is an interdisciplinary researcher with over seven years of experience in international development, migration, and agri-food systems. Over the years, her work has focused on the socio-economic implications of climate change adaptation and nature-based solutions, particularly in vulnerable rural communities. 

Prior to joining Proforest, she worked at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics, coordinating projects on financing mechanisms for nature-based solutions. Before that, she collaborated with multiple international organizations, including the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UN DESA, supporting projects focused on enhancing rural livelihoods, strengthening climate adaptation strategies for migrant-dependent communities, and integrating sustainable development approaches into labour mobility and agrarian systems. 

Joy holds an MSc in International Development from the University of Edinburgh and an MA in Poverty and Development from the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) at the University of Sussex. Her research continues to explore the role of nature-based solutions in addressing systemic challenges in global agri-food systems and migration governance, particularly in regions most affected by climate vulnerabilities.