Kundhavi Balachandran

Kundhavi Balachandran

EMpower – Emerging Markets Foundation

Senior Programme Officer East and Southeast Asia

Experienced international development practitioner with over 20 years of involvement in the not-for-profit and corporate sectors. Proven track record of institutional development in organisations of various sizes. Worked in Asia, Africa and Europe in strategy, grants, programmes, training, donor-relationship and people management, which have enabled a unique blend of leadership, strategic and operational skills.

Enabling a world where young people, especially those at the margins have the power to live their potential and practice their agency has aways been a deeply personal passion of mine. This is both a value and skill honed over the years be it through Meaningful Youth Engagements I have spear headed at EMpower or my voluntary role as a global leadership facilitator for the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.

My sustainability goals for 2024:

  1. Have a wider range of tools at our disposal to amplify the voice and choice of young people in all decisions that affect them.
  2. Create an eco-system which allows for multiple actors to problem solve together with representation and dignity.