Graduation Dates: June 2012
Degree(s): M.A. International Policy Studies; M.Sc. Economics for Development (Oxford); B.A.
Economics and Statistics (University of Mumbai, St. Xavier’s College)
Himani worked at the UN Foundation on energy access issues. The UN designated 2012 as the Year of Sustainable Energy For All, with initiatives to try to reach the goal of universal access to modern energy by 2030 (other goals are to achieve a 40% reduction in energy intensity and a target of 30% of energy coming from renewable sources; www.sustainableenergyforall.org). The UN Foundation supports these initiatives both with communications efforts and by setting up a global network of practitioners in the field, in particular focusing on off-grid and mini-grid solutions in developing countries. The goals of the network are for practitioners' concerns and recommendations to be taken into account in various UN initiatives and to provide a global platform to practitioners for networking, information exchange, building strategic partnerships, collaborating on solutions, etc.
Part of Himani's role was to help kick start the practitioner network, accomplishing such tasks as preparing presentations on the practitioner network and its objectives, writing an operating plan for a working group process, and setting up a voting system for practitioners to self-select into various working groups. Himani also coordinated two working groups of the Network: Finance and Investment and Standards. She coordinated the production of draft documents highlighting issues and recommendations on these two topic areas. These documents, along with products of other working groups, fed into the work of the UN Secretary-General's high-level group on the Sustainable Energy for All initiative by providing the practitioner. The UN Foundation also used the output to attract funding to these efforts. Working group co-chairs presented the initial draft issues and recommendations at a Practitioner Network meeting during the UN General Assembly.
In addition, Himani produced a report on how electricity access affects educational outcomes in developing countries (including results of a survey she developed of energy access practitioners and a literature review of empirical studies on this issue). The report contributed not only to the work of the Practitioner Network, but also to the broader UN agenda of Sustainable Energy for All.
Himani attended the Social Capital Markets (SOCAP) conference in San Francisco and helped generate interest among energy practitioners at SOCAP for the Sustainable Energy for All initiative and for the work of the practitioner network.
"I learned a lot about the work of energy access practitioners in developing countries (an area of particular interest for me) and the challenges they face and how some of these could be addressed. I also found some time to review the literature on the link between energy access and education."
Himani Phadke
"[MAP Fellows] bring in a fresh perspective and skill set to help with addressing some key projects at UNF during a very busy summer."
Richenda Van Leeuwen
Senior Director, Energy and Climate Department
United Nations Foundation