• Local governance
• Decentralisation
• Livelihood for poor and marginalised
• Development approach for ultra poor
• Participatory planning and development
• Gender and development

Sukanta Sarkar has been involved in the development sector for last 30 years since he started his career in PRADAN. He has done master’s in agriculture and thus been involved in ensuring livelihoods of poor and marginalised especially of the Women. He has been instrumental in capacitating the rural poor women of Jharkhand to take charge of water management and its governance for irrigation. He has been involved in nurturing the idea of recognising woman as an economic actor in the family while ensuring more control over income by the women members of the family. He has the experience of leading large-scale farm-based livelihood in collaboration with Government and funding agencies. 

While pursuing the idea of equity and justice with a lens of sustainability he has got involved in strengthening local governance, decentralisation while promoting citizenship and empowering Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayats. He also worked extensively with the Department of Panchayati Raj, Government of Jharkhand to bring about policy changes for strengthening the PRI system of Jharkhand. He has also successfully piloted the idea of Ultra Poor Responsive Gram Panchayat in Jharkhand. Before joining APU, he was holding the portfolio of Lead, Centre of Excellence, Local Governance in PRADAN.

In the University Sukanta teaches courses on Local Democracy, Welfare and Entitlements. He has also been involved in designing professional development courses on Local Governance, PESA, Rural Livelihoods and CSO enablement.

Sukanta has been awarded with ​“Endeavour Fellowship” by Government of Australia in the year 2009.