Swapnil Saxena

Swapnil Saxena is a Research Associate at United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and is currently on secondment at CDRI to work on its Biennial Report on Global Infrastructure Resilience. She has experience in development research, policy design and programme management, with a particular focus on climate change adaptation, displacement and migration, and inequality.

At CDRI, Swapnil is managing the project's thematic track on nature-based solutions as well as coordinating the development of the report's Global Infrastructure Resilience Survey. She also supports project management, stakeholder coordination, and procurement activities in the project. Before CDRI, Swapnil worked at India's National Institute of Urban Affairs where she led knowledge capitalisation and capacity building efforts for the CITIIS (City Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain) programme which is a sub-component of the Government of India’s flagship Smart Cities Mission. In the same programme, she earlier managed a portfolio of projects in the housing, public space, education, and health sectors. She began her career as a researcher and housing rights activist at the Housing and Land Rights Network in New Delhi where she undertook research, advocacy, and capacity building activities at the grassroots level.

Swapnil is a Gold Medallist from the School of Planning and Architecture in New Delhi, receiving her Master's in Planning with a specialisation in Housing. She completed her Bachelor of Architecture degree from Nagpur University in India with distinction.