Satyendra Prasad

Dr. Satyendra Prasad is the Principal Technical Lead for Abt’s climate initiatives in the Asia-Pacific region. Dr. Prasad is a diplomat and governance expert with over two decades of governance experience across international organizations, including the United Nations (UN), World Bank, and the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) – now known as the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

In his current role at Abt, Dr. Prasad offers strategic guidance for programs funded by Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) aimed at integrating climate considerations into various sectors, including education and justice. Leveraging his diverse sectoral expertise, he employs participatory methodologies and deep technical knowledge to deliver concise, insightful assessments of climate impacts on specific sectors, aiding policymakers in crafting effective responses.

Previously, as Fiji’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Dr. Prasad led diplomatic and policy engagements on climate change, nature and oceans, and the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly focusing on the unique climate challenges faced by small island developing states.  He held several roles as Ambassador, including High Commissioner to the U.S. and Canada, Chair of Pacific Small Island Developing States at the UN, Chair of Pacific Islands Forum Ambassadors at the UN, and Sherpa to the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy.

Before serving as Ambassador, Dr. Prasad was the CEO of the Papua New Guinea Governance Facility and oversaw economic governance programs within the Facility. Before that, he served as Senior Governance Adviser at the World Bank, where he directed public sector governance and service delivery programs in large developing states like India and Pakistan, as well as in fragile and small states like the Solomon Islands. At DFID, he focused on law and justice, public sector governance, public finance management, and center of government reforms in Serbia, Albania, Kosovo, and Bosnia Herzegovina. 

Prior to his diplomatic career, Dr. Prasad shared his expertise in international development, governance, employment, and labor markets through academic roles at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University in Japan, the University of South Pacific in Fiji, and University College in Cork, Ireland.

Expertise

• Climate Finance
• Community and sector resilience
• Blue Economy
• Governance