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Governance · Strategy · Multilateral Affairs
Governance & Strategy | Multilateral Affairs | Federalism, Migration & Peacebuilding
Building bridges between governance systems, international institutions, and the communities they serve. Over a decade of work across the United Nations, parliamentary institutions, and humanitarian organisations — driven by a family tradition of public service and a commitment to meaningful, lasting change.
Learn moreAbout
My work sits at the intersection of governance, strategic analysis, and multilateral coordination. Over twelve years, I have worked across the United Nations system, the Indian Parliament, humanitarian organisations, and international development institutions — always at the point where policy meets people, and where institutional decisions shape real lives.
I began within India's parliamentary system, supporting legislative processes, drafting policy briefs, and coordinating across ministries during a formative period in Indian governance. That foundation — understanding how government works from the inside — has informed everything since: from humanitarian coordination with the Red Cross during Spain's COVID-19 response, to resettlement case management with UNHCR, to strategic partnerships and external relations across the UN system in Spain.
Much of how I approach this work is shaped by where I come from. I grew up in a family with deep roots in public service — from my great-grandfather's role in India's independence movement, to my grandfather's quiet leadership among farming communities, to my father's career in government. That background gave me an early understanding that institutions matter most when they serve the people closest to them.
Today, I focus on governance strategy, multilateral engagement, and policy analysis — combining analytical rigour with the diplomatic sensibility required to navigate complex institutional landscapes. Whether producing analytical briefs for senior leadership, managing resettlement caseloads for vulnerable populations, coordinating across government ministries, or building partnerships between international organisations and local authorities, my aim is always the same: to contribute to systems that work better for the people who depend on them.
Spain
Governance Strategy, Multilateral Coordination, Policy Analysis, Federalism, Migration & Refugee Protection, Peacebuilding, External Relations
Founder, The Hooria Foundation — advancing gender equality and community development
Experience
United Nations & International Organisations
Over five years working within and alongside the UN system in Spain, across policy, external relations, resettlement, and peacebuilding. Currently producing analytical reports, policy briefs, and donor-facing documentation while contributing to the "Building Local Capacities for Peace" project in Mozambique. Previously served as a Senior Resettlement Case Worker within UNHCR's Durable Solutions Unit, managing casework on the proGres platform and coordinating with government ministries and international partners on protection and resettlement policy. Earlier roles focused on external relations, partnership development, and resource mobilisation across municipalities in Spain.
Cruz Roja Española (Red Cross Spain)
Two stints with the Spanish Red Cross — first coordinating social integration programmes for vulnerable communities in Andalusia, then supporting the COVID-19 emergency response through situation reporting, evidence-based analysis, and coordination with municipal authorities and social services.
Indian Parliament & State Legislature
Over a decade supporting legislative and governance processes within India's parliamentary system — drafting policy briefs and analytical notes, coordinating across ministries, embassies, and civil society, and preparing briefing materials for high-level political engagements. Served across both the Lok Sabha (Lower House) and the Delhi Legislative Assembly.
Commonwealth Games & International Consultancy
Led strategic planning and execution across 34 functional areas for the Commonwealth Games 2010, one of the world's largest multi-sport events, coordinating across government bodies, international federations, and operational teams. Also delivered strategic reviews for UK-based firms during MBA studies at Lancaster University.
Advisory
Drawing on over a decade of experience across parliamentary governance, the United Nations system, and humanitarian field operations, I offer strategic advisory services to international organisations, think tanks, governments, and development actors seeking to navigate complex institutional and policy landscapes. My approach combines deep institutional knowledge with analytical rigour and cross-cultural diplomatic sensibility.
Strategic advisory on institutional design, government engagement, and policy coherence across national and multilateral frameworks.
Support for organisations engaging with UN agencies, inter-governmental bodies, and diplomatic processes — from strategic positioning to stakeholder mapping.
Expert analysis on forced displacement, resettlement frameworks, and protection standards, informed by hands-on casework within the UNHCR system.
Research-informed advisory on territorial governance, asymmetric federalism, and community-level peace infrastructure — drawing from academic research and field experience.
Research & Publications
Master's Thesis · Federalism & Territorial Governance
A comparative analysis of asymmetric federalism in Canada (Quebec) and India (Jammu & Kashmir), examining how federal arrangements shape minority accommodation, territorial autonomy, and national integration. The thesis evaluated the constitutional and political dimensions of Article 370 and concluded in favour of federal symmetrisation — a position that gained unexpected salience when the Indian government abrogated the provision just two months after the thesis was completed in June 2019. The study contributes to broader debates on how democracies balance unity with diversity through institutional design.
Academic Paper · Nationalism & Identity Politics
An application of competing nationalism theories — Gellner's modernism, Hobsbawm's instrumentalism, and Smith's ethno-symbolism — to the Kashmir question. The paper argues that Kashmiri nationalism is not merely a subset of Indian secular nationalism but represents a distinct form of ethnic nationalism with its own historical, religious, and cultural foundations. The analysis examines how partition created competing nationalist frameworks (India's secular nationalism, Pakistan's religious nationalism) and how Kashmir's ethnic-religious dimensions are captured by neither — with implications for institutional design and minority accommodation in federal democracies.
Academic Paper · Electoral Systems & Institutional Design
A quantitative analysis across 67 transitioning democracies examining whether the choice of electoral system — proportional representation or majoritarian — affects levels of political violence during and after democratic transition. Using Spearman's correlation analysis across Freedom House and International Conflict Research datasets, the study found no statistically significant relationship, suggesting that electoral systems alone do not determine conflict outcomes in transitional contexts. The finding underscores the importance of broader institutional ecology — judiciary independence, federalism, civil-military relations — in shaping democratic stability.
Ongoing Research Interest
Ongoing engagement with questions around how local governance mechanisms can be strengthened to support sustainable peace. Drawing from direct involvement in the "Building Local Capacities for Peace" project in Mozambique and experience in refugee protection and resettlement, this research interest explores the intersection of institutional capacity, community agency, and durable solutions for displaced populations.
Perspectives
Governance is not merely about institutions — it is about the relationship between those institutions and the people they exist to serve. These reflections draw from experience working across parliamentary systems, multilateral organisations, and humanitarian contexts.
Federalism & Territorial Governance
Asymmetric federalism is often presented as the answer to minority accommodation within diverse states. But when does asymmetry entrench division rather than resolve it? Drawing from comparative research on Canada and India, these reflections examine the conditions under which federal symmetrisation may better serve national integration and democratic governance.
Governance & Institutions
Having worked within both national parliamentary systems and international organisations, the gap between policy intention and institutional reality is a constant theme. Understanding that gap is the first step toward bridging it.
Migration & Protection
Resettlement is measured in targets and statistics, but behind every case file is a family navigating displacement, uncertainty, and the hope for a durable solution. Working within the UNHCR system offered a window into how institutional processes intersect with individual lives — and where they can do better.
Peacebuilding & Local Governance
International development frameworks are only as effective as their implementation at the municipal and community level. Working with local authorities in Spain and contributing to peace initiatives in Mozambique has reinforced the importance of this connection.
Education
Master's in Political Science
Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona
Nationalism, Federalism, Electoral Systems, Comparative Political Economy, Qualitative Research Methods, Political Theory
MBA, International Business
Lancaster University, England
Strategic Management, Business Economics, Leading Change, International Business, Global Society & Responsible Management
BSc (Hons) Information Systems
Brunel University of London
Certificate Programmes
WHU Otto Beisheim (Germany) · University of Toronto (Canada) · IIFT (India)
Contact
I welcome conversations about governance, multilateral cooperation, policy, and opportunities to contribute to meaningful institutional work. Whether you represent an organisation, a think tank, a government initiative, or simply share an interest in these areas — I look forward to hearing from you.
unvsp@icloud.com