Sarika Saluja

Driving Global Sanitation Impact Mission Leadership & Strategic Governance: Directed organizational strategy and governance with the Founder and Board, ensuring long-term vision, financial resilience, and global policy alignment. Oversaw finance, IT, and program delivery, enhancing operational efficiency and resource optimization. Innovation in Program Delivery & Capacity Building: Led flagship initiatives like the World Toilet College in India and Singapore, advancing vocational training through robust international partnerships. 100k trained and placed Executed mission-driven, scalable programs that championed sanitation equity and access. Flagship Event Leadership: Designed and delivered high-impact World Toilet Summits across continents, engaging diverse stakeholders and catalyzing systemic change. Global Advocacy & Partnerships: Acted as spokesperson and thought leader at global platforms, influencing policy and forging alliances to mobilize support for sanitation justice. Fostered a performance-driven organizational culture through mentorship, accountability, and volunteer engagement. Co-Creator & Lead World Toilet Summit (2017–Till date) Global Scale & Strategic Vision: Spearheaded annual Summits in Australia, India, Brazil, Singapore, and Nigeria—uniting public and private sectors to transform the WASH landscape. Resource Mobilization & CSR Impact: Raised over USD 598K through strategic CSR alliances and philanthropic networks (India: $350K, Brazil: $38K+, Nigeria: $210K). Policy & Investment Influence: Enabled USD 97.4B sanitation economy vision in India by aligning with national and corporate stakeholders (2018). Drove legislative reform in Brazil, unlocking investment for water infrastructure (2019). Supported Nigeria’s open defecation-free roadmap by engaging national leadership (2022). Adaptability & Continuity During Crisis: Seamlessly transitioned WTS to a virtual format during COVID-19 (2020), maintaining global engagement and momentum.

Serve as the strategic lead and organizational anchor at the World Toilet Organization, working closely with the Founder, Board, and global stakeholders to drive the mission of equitable access to safe sanitation and dignity for all. Oversee general management, programmatic strategy, and multi-sectoral partnerships, ensuring alignment with the organization’s impact goals and operational excellence across global initiatives. Conceptualized and lead the World Toilet Summit (WTS)—the organization’s flagship global advocacy platform—catalyzing cross-border collaboration, public policy innovation, and investment in sanitation economies. Notably led WTS 2019 in São Paulo, Brazil, influencing national sanitation policy and enabling private sector investment in WASH infrastructure through strategic partnerships. Founded and scaled the World Toilet College (WTC) as a systems-change intervention to professionalize the sanitation workforce and close capacity gaps in the WASH sector. Established two WTC projects across India, training 35000+ sanitation professionals over four years and embedding inclusive skilling within local governance and CSR frameworks. Spearheaded WTC operations in Singapore since 2015, delivering capacity-building programs to over 1,000 participants, including government officials, NGO leaders, university students, and corporate partners, promoting cross-sectoral learning and innovation in sanitation.

Provided strategic consulting and advisory support through Development Support Services Network (DSSN), a social enterprise dedicated to strengthening NGOs and social institutions by enabling them to focus on their core mission. Delivered knowledge-based, integrated, and scalable solutions across program design, monitoring & evaluation, and institutional development—leveraging cross-sectoral experience to build organizational capacity, improve operational efficiency, and drive sustainable impact. Collaborated with diverse stakeholders to co-create innovative approaches tailored to contextual development challenges, ensuring alignment with local priorities and global best practices.

Led a comprehensive 360-degree value chain assessment of Mentha Arvensis (Japanese Mint) for Agribusiness Systems International, funded by the Wrigley Company Foundation, to identify sustainable livelihood opportunities, market gaps, and inclusive growth strategies for smallholder farmers. Applied systems-thinking and sustainability frameworks to deliver actionable insights, enhance agricultural productivity, and align stakeholder interests across corporate, community, and development sectors.

Successfully managed vocational training projects in 5 states of India, Five new MOUs signed. Was instrumental in motivating the AIF team to control and develop in-house Intellectual Property/resources essential for the smooth implementation of projects in varied geographies. A major strategic shift in the implementation model/strategy that enhanced AIF’s ability to scale up the program across geographies and partners. Raised grants worth USD 44,800 from UNDP and International Labour Organization.

AIF works closely with the public and private sector to create inclusive and sustainable livelihoods for individuals, families, and communities across India with a long-term goal of equalizing the informal and formal sectors to provide equitable opportunities for all citizens. Led programmatic strategy for vocational training initiatives across five Indian states, forging multi-sectoral partnerships and securing five new MOUs to expand equitable access to skilling opportunities. Spearheaded the development of in-house Intellectual Property and implementation frameworks, enabling scalable, outcomes-based delivery of livelihood programs across varied geographies. Mobilized USD 44,800 in institutional grants from UNDP and the International Labour Organization, catalyzing the growth and sustainability of inclusive economic development efforts through skill-building and employment generation for marginalized youth.

Led the design and execution of impact assessments, training modules, and action research initiatives under the mandate of the State Resource Centre in Uttarakhand, India, strengthening adult and continuing education systems. Provided academic and technical resource support for curriculum development, stakeholder training, and environmental motivation campaigns, embedding data-driven strategies and inclusive education frameworks to enhance program effectiveness and community engagement. Lead and designed impact assessments, research, and training programs in the State of Uttarakhand, India

Designed and led rights-based development programs for Indigenous communities, women, and marginalized populations in Uttarakhand, India—focusing on education, legal awareness, and access to entitlements. Spearheaded multi-stakeholder partnerships with organizations such as Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, UNDP, The Hunger Project, Room to Read, and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation to drive inclusive and sustainable development outcomes. Conducted in-depth research, monitoring, and evaluation to inform adaptive program strategies and ensure accountability and impact across multiple thematic areas. Developed and delivered gender-sensitive training content for Pragati – Panchayati Rule and Gender Awareness Training Institute, strengthening grassroots leadership and institutional capacity for gender equity and decentralized governance.

National Standing Committees approved three projects worth USD 2,40,000/-

• Got approval for three projects worth USD 2,40,000/-