Kavita Desai

Kavita Desai is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in international relations and sustainable development. Currently serving as the Quaker UN Representative at the Quaker United Nations Office since July 2021, Kavita develops innovative programs focused on youth inclusion, good governance, and civic space, while also overseeing office management. Prior roles include serving as the Advisor on Sustainable Development and Global Policy at the United Nations Foundation, where Kavita contributed to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda. Additional experience includes advising the Permanent Mission of Timor-Leste to the United Nations on human rights and sustainable development, along with consultancy positions linking UN policy with advocacy strategies. Kavita holds a Juris Doctor from the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, specializing in Environmental and International Law, and a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Political Science from Rutgers University.