Tavinder Nijhawan is Senior Programs Advisor based at the headquarters of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) in Ottawa, Canada. IDRC funds research in developing countries to promote growth, reduce poverty, and drive large-scale positive change. Tavinder’s current role at IDRC focuses on the management and strategic planning of IDRC’s research programs which includes the development of policies, performance frameworks and organizational processes. Tavinder also manages corporate projects that facilitate institutional collaboration and explore new research areas. With experience in East Africa and South Asia, her areas of interest include entry points for applied research towards improving governance and transparency models, linking research to policy, and improving organizational effectiveness. Tavinder has studied at the University of Ottawa as well as the University of Guelph.