Informed by Rigorous Evidence

Niriksha Shetty serves as PxD’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Niriksha has been at PxD since its inception, holding several strategic positions. As India’s Country Director, Niriksha led the smooth transition of two programs from PxD to government management, ensuring the long-term sustainability of these programs – demonstrating her ability to collaborate and navigate complex stakeholder environments effectively. As Chief Program Officer, she spearheaded program management and service delivery initiatives in these capacities, leveraging technology, data science, and behavioral economics to support over 7 million farmers across South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Prior to PxD, Niriksha worked at LEAD at Krea University, formerly known as Center for Microfinance, and J-PAL South Asia. Niriksha holds a Master’s in Public Administration in International Development from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics (with honors) and Mathematics from Franklin and Marshall College.

Craig McIntosh is a professor of economics in the School of Global Policy and Strategy at the University of California, San Diego. He is a development economist whose work focuses on the evaluation of programs intended to contribute to the financial livelihoods of poor households. He has worked on randomized evaluations of credit, savings, and insurance programs, as well as cash transfer and entrepreneurship investment projects in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and South Asia. Craig earned his PhD from the University of California, Berkeley. In addition to serving as Co-Chair of J-PAL’s Agriculture Sector, Craig serves on the review board of J-PAL and CEGA’s Agricultural Technology Adoption Initiative.