Nitya Rao

Nitya Rao is a Professor of Gender & Development at the School of Global Development, University of East Anglia (UEA), where she also serves as Director of the Norwich Institute for Sustainable Development. She is a member of several research groups including ClimateUEA, the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, and the UNESCO Chair on Literacy and Social Transformation. Her work bridges gender, climate change, and sustainable development across South Asia and Africa.

Her research interests include:

• Gender and climate change adaptation
• Food and nutrition security
• Women’s agency and empowerment
• Migration and rural livelihoods
• Intersectional inequalities in development
• Sustainable food systems and policy

Nitya’s recent publications reflect a strong focus on gendered vulnerabilities in food systems, climate-resilient agriculture, and participatory governance. Her work combines qualitative and interdisciplinary methods, often co-produced with communities. Key themes include the role of women in fisheries and farming, migration patterns, and the integration of indigenous knowledge with scientific policy frameworks like EAT-Lancet.

She has been recognized with the Outstanding Achievement Award 2024 and serves on high-level advisory panels such as the EAT-Lancet Commission 2.0, UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, and UKRI International Strategic Advisory Group.

Nitya has supervised over 30 PhD students and is actively involved in mentoring early-career researchers. She previously served as editor of the journal Compare (2010–2016). Her leadership extends to fostering transdisciplinary research through the Norwich Institute, promoting equitable and just futures through science-policy engagement.

She is also involved in multiple active research projects funded by FCDO, IDRC, and the British Academy, focusing on climate adaptation, migration, and food system transformation.