Professional Experience:
I was born in South Asia and have lived, worked and travelled in many countries. I consider myself to be a very open-minded person who can work well with people from diverse backgrounds, cultures and ideological orientations.
My education and career has focused on supporting the values and institutions, systems and processes that will enable people to live in free, open and democratic societies. The legal system, especially the constitution have been the prisms through which I have understood societies and worked for social and political change, but I adopt a multi-dimensional approach to my work in this area.
In South and South east Asia, I have worked with and supported marginalized communities (women, youth, indigenous peoples, ethnic minorities), the civil society groups that have advocated for them as well as with political parties and key government actors – recognizing that there has to be a coming together among these actors to ensure that democratic change not only occurs but is sustainable and becomes part of the institutional and value framework of societies. I have worked in Islamic countries, ethnically diverse countries, in countries transiting to democracy as well as those struggling to emerge out of conflict. I have been able to develop strong partners ships with national actors in civil society, in the academic community and also work with political parties, International NGOs, national governments and multi lateral organizations. I have supported initiatives to work with the contact groups (and consultative groups) established by the International Community to supports countries in crisis such as Indonesia in 2000 and Somalia at this juncture.
I have in depth field experience, strong theoretical knowledge and conceptual understanding of the democracy building field. I read widely and keep abreast with political developments around the world and have the ability to see patterns and draw lessons from national and regional political, economic and social trends, from policy outcomes as well as anticipate possible trajectories of policies.
I work well with teams and have the ability to work across disciples. I also have the ability and experience to conceptualize useful projects that can function as catalytic projects – using multiple methodologies and actors to support vital democracy building projects and programs.
At a time when democracy building remains a challenging enterprise, with as many failures as there have been inconclusive outcomes, I think a renewed commitment and fresh thinking – outside the box is required. I believe that I have the capacity to make a contribution in this field.