Ritika Iyer

Rikita is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area and graduated from UC Davis in 2016 with degrees in economics and international relations. She previously worked as a finance management consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and the strategic partnerships manager at the Asante Africa Foundation. In early 2018, while conducting research-based fieldwork with a non-profit organization in rural India, Rikita learned firsthand the heightened development challenges rural communities face, particularly in regards to lack of access to markets, institutions, media, and education. Rikita plans to work in the rural education space after graduation, specifically in evaluating impact of rural access programs.

Protecting the safety of Bangladeshi garment workers

After a tragic fire at a garment factory, the Bangladeshi government passed the Accord on Fire and Building Safety. While the reform has been successful in preventing more tragedies, its future is uncertain. Ahead of the upcoming Supreme Court ruling on April 7th, Online Editor Ritika Iyer argues that the accord should be protected. On November […]

Why male inclusion in female advancement matters for international development

Studies consistently show that when women succeed, their communities see high rates of return across many areas. Boys need to be included in female empowerment programs, however, for these efforts to be successful, as their buy-in is key for dismantling the sexism and rigid gender roles that hold girls back. There is enormous growth potential […]