Mandal is a Program Development Manager responsible for grant writing, development of the new projects and programs.
She has more than 26 years of experience in development and emergency contexts in Mongolia and Central Asia. She was one of the first employees of Save the Children UK in Mongolia and initiated the training for the child welfare workers that became the foundation of the first Social Work Faculty in Mongolia. She advocated for the expansion of the pre-school education at the critical time when access to early childhood development was available for only 23 percent of children. Later, Mandal worked for SCUK in Tajikistan as a Program Manager implementing primary education, child participation and protection programs in a country that was recovering from the consequences of the civil war. She also initiated an emergency project assisting displaced Afghan children and their families. As a Civil Society Director of Mercy Corps Mongolia, Mandal managed the program in 12 provinces focusing on strengthening the rural civil society, disability rights, good governance, partnership between CSOs, government and businesses. As a Team Leader of the Child-Friendly Communities Program of UNICEF, Mandal promoted child-focused planning, decision-making and budgeting and integrated delivery of social services for the vulnerable children.
Mandal holds a Bachelor degree from the Moscow Medical Academy in Public Health and Master degree in Social Policy and Planning from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Mandal is passionate about child rights, the rights of persons with disabilities and is a firm believer of participatory, community driven approaches in development.
In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, yoga and cooking.