Yamini Aiyar

Yamini Aiyar is currently a senior research fellow and director of the accountability initiative being set up at the Centre for Policy Research. The Accountability initiative aims to promote research, innovations and tools to strengthen accountability and citizen’s engagement in India’s governance processes. Prior to joining CPR Yamini was working as an independent consultant providing research and policy support to government, international donors and civil society organizations on governance reform with a focus on issues related to strengthening accountability in basic service delivery. Yamini has also worked with the World Bank’s Water and Sanitation Program and Rural Development unit in New Delhi. The focus of her work was on action research aimed at strengthening mechanisms for citizen’s engagement in local government. She was a member of the decentralization team at the World Bank that provided policy support to strengthen Panchayati Raj (local governance) in India. Yamini has also worked on issues related to decentralization and service delivery at the Ford Foundation with the Foundation’s Governance and Civil Society program. Yamini has an Msc in Development Studies from the London School of Economics, an MA in Social and Political Sciences from St. Edmunds College Cambridge University, UK and a BA in Philosophy from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University.