Kaavya Singh

Rights Lab PhD Student in Politics and International Relations

Email: kaavya.singh@nottingham.ac.uk

Kaavya Singh is a PhD student in Politics and International Relations, supervised by Professor Todd Landman and Dr Katarina Schwarz. Her research focuses on the trafficking of third-country nationals across Europe and the UK, to explore the intricate relationships between perpetrators, victims, and the broader tapestry of social, economic and political factors that sanction rights violations. Kaavya draws on qualitative and participatory methods to explore the experiences of marginalised communities and key vulnerable population groups as they intersect with wider issues in the development space. She holds an MA in Development Studies from the University of Sussex (Institute of Development Studies) and a BA Honours in History from the Indraprastha College for Women, University of Delhi. Kaavya's research expertise has been sought by various organisations, including bilateral bodies like the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), multilateral organisations such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and international development firms like Tetra Tech Europe and TechnoServe. She has supported projects spanning diverse geographies, including South Asia, Southeast Asia, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe. In addition, Kaavya has consulted for multiple non-profit organisations across the UK and India, focusing on issues related to human rights, supply chains, labour migration, forced displacement, gender justice, and climate change. Notably, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she served as a National Specialist UNDP country focal point for the UN Results Groups in India.