Payal Patel

Payal Patel has extensive experience in international development, focusing on climate justice, land rights, and gender issues. As the Interim Director of Land, Water, and Climate Justice at the American Jewish World Service since September 2014, Payal has led grantmaking strategies supporting Indigenous rights and resilience against climate change in East Africa and Liberia. Previous roles include Senior Program Officer and consultant positions, where Payal advocated for grassroots movements and contributed to projects with organizations such as the International Center for Research on Women and CARE. Payal's educational background includes a BA in Economics and International Relations from Wellesley College and an MA in International Development Studies from The George Washington University.