Ankita Saigal

Ankita is a development practitioner whose work focuses on addressing systemic and multidimensional inequalities, particularly at the intersection of gender, labour, power dynamics, and education. She holds a Master’s in Development Studies from the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, as a 2023/24 Chevening Scholar, specialising in gender, social policy, and development.

Across her work, Ankita brings together community-grounded insight and systems thinking to support people-centred applications of policy reform, translating lived realities into practical evidence-based interventions. She has worked on national transformation initiatives involving the development of policy recommendations and strategic frameworks for government stakeholders. Prior to that, she pioneered the Instructional Design Team at Mereka Academy and Biji-Biji Initiative, where she co-led the development of over 10 education and upskilling programmes for underserved communities, spanning civic engagement, sustainability, social innovation, and digital entrepreneurship.

Ankita’s grounding in advocacy stems from her early involvement with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), where she has held roles as a youth leader, trainer, facilitator, and Advocacy Consultant. She co-led the Listen to Girls global campaign in partnership with UNICEF, supporting the meaningful participation of over 32,000 young women worldwide. As a youth delegate to the 62nd Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the United Nations, she was part of the delegation that successfully lobbied for the inclusion of girls’ voices in decision-making processes, reflected in the official Agreed Conclusions.