Allison Merchant

Allison Merchant is the Senior Gender Advisor for the Open Government Partnership where she manages the gender thematic work and the Feminist Open Government Initiative. As a partnership of OGP, Results for Development, and the International Development Research Centre, the Feminist Open Government Initiative uses research and action to encourage governments to create commitments that advance gender equality and better governance through increased transparency, participation, accountability, and government responsiveness. Through prior roles at Inclusive Security and the National Democratic Institute, Allison designed and implemented wide-ranging programs to promote women’s participation in legislatures, political parties, peace and reconciliation processes, and civil society advocacy.

Allison received her Master‘s in Public Policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, with a concentration in Democracy, Politics, and Institutions, and holds Bachelor’s degree in Women’s Studies and Communication from Denison University.