Tanvi Nagpal

Background and Education

Tanvi Nagpal has over two decades of experience in international development policy research and program management in East Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. She has applied her academic training in political economy to a wide range of development issues including sustainable and equitable water, sanitation and solid waste service delivery; supporting communities and local governments to manage environmental resources; and generating support for pro-poor urban policies and programs.  Dr. Nagpal is a dynamic and effective leader, building coalitions and consensus among a range of actors including non-governmental organizations, bilateral and multilateral funders, foundations and civic groups. Her work experience ranges from positions at the World Bank to think tanks and non-government organizations. She has also served as a consultant to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. In addition to leading policy research and programs, her professional responsibilities have included fund raising and managing budgets. Professor Nagpal has authored numerous papers and reports for scholarly and non-scholarly publications. She anchors the Social Programs and Policy track and leads the Practicum capstone for MA students in the International Development Program. Professor Nagpal teaches classes on delivering services in developing countries, and new trends in poverty and inequality in the developing world. Professor Nagpal is an affiliated scholar at the Urban Institute where her research focuses on city-level financing for pro-poor sanitation improvements.