Department/College/UnitSocial Sciences Division

TitlePhD Student, Graduate Student Researcher and Teaching Assistant

AffiliationGraduate

Mail StopMerrill College

Biography, Education and Training

Malashree Bhargava is a PhD researcher at the Department of Politics, specializing in urban resilience, disaster risk reduction, human rights, and social inclusion. A seasoned international development professional, she brings over 15 years of experience as a policy advisor, collaborating with multilateral and bilateral organizations, governments, and civil society across the globe. Her work integrates disaster risk reduction, sustainable development, and resilience-building, shaping policies that address global challenges through an interdisciplinary and human rights lens.  

She holds a Master of International Humanitarian Action, funded by the Erasmus Mundus scholarship from the European Commission, and a Master of Political Science.   She also completed a professional course in Advanced Studies in Disaster Risk Reduction at EPFL, Switzerland. As a scholar at the United Nations University, she has provided technical expertise and policy recommendations to UN member states on disaster resilience.

Summary of Expertise

• Policy Advisor
• Research
• Report Writing
• Multistakeholder Facilitation
• Trainer and Educator

Research Interests

• International norms and laws
• Public Policy
• Disaster risk reduction and climate change
• Gender and social inclusion
• Mixed Methods
• Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies for human and sustainable development

Teaching Interests

International Relations

International Law

Human rights

Fenimism

Disaster Risk Reduction

Climate Chnage

Awards, Honors and Grants

1. Center of Climate Coastal Resilience Fellowship by the University of California, Santa Cruz (2025)
2. Resilience Academy Fellowship by the United Nations University (UNU) - Environment and Human Security and Munich Re Foundation (2013-2017)
3. Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation Fellowship (2012) 
4. European Commission’s Erasmus Mundus Scholarship( 2006-2007)

Academic Paper Presentation

American Political Science Association (APSA) 2025: Presented paper on International and National Norms for disaster risk reduction, climate change, and gender and social inclusion: Community and Household Perspectives

Reports and Professional Publications 

1. Report with a work plan and recommendations for gender and social inclusion in the Africa Plan of Action for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030), in collaboration with the African Union Commission and its Regional Economic Communities. (2024) 

2. Developed  Guidance Notes and tools for gender mainstreaming for the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030) based on the literature review analysis and consultations with the key stakeholders. (2023)

3. Training for Trainers (ToT) Manual Package for Gender-responsive Disaster Management, the National Disaster Management Committee (NCDM) for Cambodia (2022)

4. EmPower Evaluation Report: Strengthening Human Rights and Gender Equality through Climate Change Action and Disaster Risk Reduction, a Joint Regional Project by UN Women and the UN Environment Program (UNEP). (2022)

5. Funding for Gender Equality and Women's Rights CSOs, in Bangladesh During Covid-19, Research Report and Recommendations, Research report for the gender and funding landscape for COVID-19 in Bangladesh, United Nations Bangladesh (2021)

6. Developed recommendations on ASEAN Vision 2020 and ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) Work plan based on the analysis of the Agenda 2030 - SDGs, World Humanitarian Summit – Agenda for Humanity, SFDRR, climate change agreements, ASEAN Vision 2025, and AADMER Work plan. (2018)

7. Technical leadership, coordination, and report writing support to the Government of Indonesia to develop Indonesia's Disaster Risk Management Baseline Status Report 2015-2030 (2016)

8. Developed Indonesia's Roadmap to implement the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) for Sustainable Development (2015-2030) and annexes. (2017)

9. Developed Standard Operating Procedures, Coordination Architecture, and Provincial Disaster Management Plan (PDMP) for Badakhshan province, Afghanistan. (2013)

10. Formulated gender in disaster risk management policy for Badakhshan province in Afghanistan. This was the first-ever gender-in disaster risk management policy in Afghanistan (2013)

11. Technical contributions in United Nations University's Working Paper: Livelihood resilience in a changing world – 6 global policy recommendations for a more sustainable future, UNU-EHS Publication Series  No. 22 | December 2015

12. Technical contributions in The United States Federal Policy Brief: Drought as Disaster "2021" Goals―5-Year Plan: Taking Steps towards a Drought-Resilient Future Drought Response, Risk Reduction, Preparedness, Mitigation, & Climate Change Adaptation (2015)

 Published articles and videos

• Green Accountability: A View from Affected Women in Building Back Greener - Building Back Greener: Environmental Accountability in the Post-Pandemic Context, AIDMI and Accountability Now (2023)

• The Sendai Framework and its gendered implementation (Oct 2021) in the Women's Resilience to Disasters Knowledge Hub, hosted by UN Women.

• Professionals in Humanitarian Assistance and Protection (PHAP) Community Update: Preparedness, DRR, and resilience (May 2019) GPDRR, Sendai Framework targets, rapidly changing risk landscape, ecosystem-based approaches for DRM.

• Professionals in Humanitarian Assistance and Protection (PHAP) Community Update: Preparedness, DRR, and resilience (July 2019): High-level Political Forum on the SDGs.

• Conceptualized, scripted, and directed a short film on the public-private partnership between Pratham and Dalit schools operated by the Jaipur Municipal Corporation in India. (2006).

•  Connect magazine July 2018 N.18, Network of Humanitarian Action (NOHA) Universities - Share your shots- Kashmir floods.

• United Nations University (2013): Video interview on What is Resilience?

• The Network of Humanitarian Action (NOHA) (2013)  - NOHA 20 Years video interview

• United Nations Burundi Project: AMC, A ray of light for single mothers in Burundi; European Commission Stagiaire's Journal, 2008-2009. (2009)

Provided technical inputs for the following global, regional, and national documents:

1. Analyzed and developed a work plan and recommendations for gender and social inclusion in the Africa Plan of Action for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030) in collaboration with the African Union Commission and its Regional Economic Communities.

2. Developed Gender Mainstreaming Guidance Notes and tools for the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction based on the literature review analysis and consultations with the key stakeholders. Conducted capacity development of staff members of the UN Women and UNCTs in the southern and Eastern Africa region on mainstreaming gender in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

3. Evaluated EmPower: Strengthening Human Rights and Gender Equality through Climate Change Action and Disaster Risk Reduction, a Joint Regional Project by UN Women, and the UN Environment Program, with the support of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.
4. I drafted an Advocacy Paper on gender and inclusion for the Asia-Pacific Regional Plan for Disaster Risk Reduction (2021 -2024) and the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (AMPCDRR) 2022, based on an extensive desk review and input from the Asia-Pacific Gender Stakeholder Group. Provided technical support for several consultations with the Gender stakeholder group on the rollout of disaster risk management frameworks in Agenda 2030, such as SDGs, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Paris Agreement, the New Urban Agenda, and the World Humanitarian Summit.

5. I drafted concept notes for APMCDRR 2022- Realizing Women's Leadership for Resilience in the Asia-Pacific region. The concept note was selected for the partner's event at the APMCDRR 2022 in September in Brisbane, Australia. Reviewed and provided technical inputs for around 20 concept notes for the APMCDRR 2022 to mainstream GESI.

6. I developed the Training Manual Package (training modules, facilitators' notes, tools, group work, exercises, and PPT presentations) for the Asia-Pacific Regional Training on Gender-Transformative Disaster Risk Reduction, organized by UN Women for member states and civil society organizations in September 2023.

Policy advice and technical support to ASEAN and UN Women country offices:

ASEAN

8. I developed the concept note and the stocktake of gender in disaster risk management laws for six ASEAN countries. The stocktake was based on desk research, with consideration of UN Women and partners' feedback, including the ASEAN Secretariat's Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance Division, the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management, Working Groups, and AADMER Partnership Group members.

9. Reviewed ASEAN's Drought Regional Plan of Action 2021 and provided recommendations on gender and social inclusion.

10. Developed a Report on the Workshop on Protection, Gender, and Inclusion in Disaster Management in ASEAN

11. Analyzed the Gender and Social Inclusion in disaster risk management laws, policies, and plans for ten ASEAN member states.

·      Provided policy and technical advice to UN Women's country offices:

12. Cambodia - Developed Training for Trainers (ToT) Manual Package for Gender-responsive disaster management for Cambodia's National Disaster Management Committee (NCDM).

13. Timor-Leste -Drafted Gender and Social Inclusion Chapter for Post Disaster Needs Assessment for Easter Floods

14. Vietnam - Developed gender-responsive flood response funding proposal and plan, and guided the UN Women Country Office on Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA).

15. Nepal: Developed project proposal for UN Women part - for ECHO- HIP Project "Strengthening Urban Preparedness, Earthquake Preparedness and Response in Western Region of Nepal (SUPER)". The project is being jointly implemented by the consortium partners – UNDP, UNICEF, and UN Women.

16. Bangladesh: Reviewed and provided policy advice on DRR and gender inclusion for the new National Plan for Disaster Management and the Cyclone Amphan Recovery Plan.

17. Bangladesh: Developed DRR Strategy and Action Plan for the Department of Women's Affairs - Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs (MoWCA) in Bangladesh (2023)

18. UNRC and UN Women in Bangladesh: Developed research report for the gender and funding landscape for COVID-19 in Bangladesh based on desk research and key Informant Interviews with international government donors, CSOs, INGOs, and the UN agencies.

19. Bangladesh: Evaluated gender and social inclusion in the National Resilience Program jointly implemented by the UNDP, UN Women, and UNOPS.

Policy advice at the global level:

20. The United Nations Plan of Action for Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience – Inputs for establishing the linkages between conflict and natural disasters with reference to the UN Secretary-General's Report on Humanity, Shared Responsibility, were included.
21. Inputs for the results-based analytical framework of the United Nations Plan of Action for DRR (UNPOA- DRR)
22. Inputs on bridging the humanitarian-development divide for Terms of Reference of the UN Disaster Risk Reduction Focal Points Group based in Geneva.
23. Inputs for the Secretary-General's report on implementing the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

24. Asian-Pacific Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) 2021:

I reviewed the Asia-Pacific Regional Action Plan 2018-2021, provided policy advice, and developed recommendations with proposed actions for the Asia-Pacific Regional Action Plan 2021-2024. Developed the following documents:

i. Main Report - "Review of the Action Plan 2018-2021 - Asia Regional Plan for Implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 and Recommendations with Proposed Actions for selected areas for the next Action Plan 2021-2024 - Asia Regional Plan."

ii. Milestones  for the Action Plan 2018-2021 with Traffic Lights, Calculations, and Graphs

iii. Eleven Annexes for the Main Report

25. Provided technical inputs for the four-pillar concept notes for AMPCDRR 2021.

26. I participated in and drafted the meeting notes for the APMCDRR Staff Retreat in January 2020, compiled the Activity Status, and drafted the wrap-up document for AMPCDRR 2020.

27. I drafted an Advocacy Paper on Gender and Inclusion for the Asia-Pacific Regional Plan for DRR (2021 -2024) and the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (AMPCDRR) 2021, based on an extensive desk review and inputs from the Asia-Pacific Gender Stakeholder Group. Provided technical support for several consultations with the Gender stakeholder group.

28. Provided technical support for the Asia-Pacific Partnership for Disaster Risk Reduction (APP-DRR) Forum 2019 - Contributed to the preparation meetings for APP-DRR and prepared the meeting notes. Developed the content and analysis for the UNDRR presentation at APPDRR 2019 in Brisbane.

Provided policy advice and technical inputs to the UNDRR Regional Office for the Asia Pacific in the following areas:

29. Local Leadership: Reviewed, analyzed, and provided the technical inputs for the publication on Local Leadership for Disaster Resilience in Asia-Pacific.

30. DRR Financing:  a. Developed the draft concept note on mainstreaming DRR Financing in Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development based on an extensive review of literature and analysis of the current trends. b. Prepared annexes containing questions and ideas for the DRR Financing scoping paper.

31. Business Resilience: Facilitated and supported the Consultative Workshop on Business Resilience of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises on 11 December 2019, UN Conference Centre, Bangkok. Facilitated the group discussion. Prepared the report with annexes.

32. Humanitarian-Development Nexus: Provided technical inputs for the Humanitarian-Development Nexus Inception Report. Provided technical and facilitation support to the Regional Consultative Workshop on Scaling up DRR in Humanitarian/Development Contexts in the Asia Pacific held on 12 December 2019 in Bangkok.

33. COVID-19: Provided policy advice and technical inputs for the following COVID-19 Issue Briefs: a. The Issue Brief on Leave No One Behind, b.The Issue Brief on Combating the dual challenge of COVID-19 and climate-related disasters, c.Issue Brief on Reducing COVID-19 Vulnerability Amongst Displaced Populations and Migrants, d.Issue Brief on Human Rights and DRR, e. Country Matrix for COVID-19, f.COVID-19 communication strategy.

34. ASEAN  Gender in DRM laws stocktake: Developed the concept note and the stocktake of gender in disaster risk management laws for six  ASEAN countries. The stocktake was based on desk research, with consideration of feedback from UN Women and ASEAN.

Asian Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR) 2016:

35. Asia Regional Plan of Implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 – Provided inputs to include vulnerable groups and volunteerism.
36. New Delhi declaration (2016) on Disaster Risk Management by Asian countries – Provided inputs to include vulnerable groups.
37. Provided technical support for the concept note for Technical Session 6 on Coherence of DRR, SDGs, and Climate Change response.
38. AMCDRR - Inputs for the concept note for Technical Session 4 on Disaster preparedness for effective response and 'Build Back Better.'
39. AMCDRR - Thematic Session: Experiences in Pre-Disaster Recovery Planning and How it Facilitates Build-Back-Better
40. I provided a framework and inputs for the concept note and overview of Priorities for Action for the MIKTA Experts Conference on the post-World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) process.
41. Technical inputs for improving the Sendai Monitor Prototype being developed by UNISDR.

Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) 2017:

42. Plenary Session - A Risk-Informed Approach to Sustainable Development and Resilience for Countries in Special Situations, 25 May 15:00 - 17:00, Arena A: Provided inputs on the need for an integrated monitoring system for disaster-related frameworks in Agenda 2030. Kindly refer to page 2 of the GDPRR Bulletin to see the contribution.
43. Concept note for Working Session: Achieving the Sendai Framework and SDGs target at the Local level, Thursday, 25 May, 11:15-12:45, GPDRR 2017– Cancun, Mexico
44. Provided technical inputs to the Government of Indonesia for the Words into Action Guideline - National Disaster Risk Assessment (NDRA) document and during the side event on Words into Action: National Disaster Risk Assessment Guideline.
45. Gave inputs during the Working session on Accelerating Efforts in Building Community Resilience to disasters.
46. Preparatory meeting - Capacity Development Consultation Seminar, 23 May: Following a series of email discussions, rearticulated the need for capacity development of the UNCT on the DRM-related Agenda 2030 frameworks and their coherence as mentioned in UNPOA-DRR and SFDRR documents.
47. Inputs for the key messages for use by the UN participants at the 2017 Global Platform
48. Prepared note from Indonesia for the "COSOC Special Meeting on the Impacts of the 2015/16 El Niño phenomenon: Reducing risks and capturing opportunities"
49. Inputs for the El Niño droughts pledging conference in Geneva on 26 April 2016
50. Inputs for Regional Overview of El Niño Responses
51. El Niño: Global Overview of  Impacts, Humanitarian Needs and Response

Policy advice to the UN system in Indonesia:

52. Provided technical support to the United Nations Resident Coordinator (UNRC) and United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in mainstreaming SFDRR and DRM-related Agenda 2030 commitments in the United Nations Partnership Development Framework (UNPDF) planning process and action plans. Prepared the UNCT Work Plan 2016 in Indonesia – Inclusion of SFDRR implementation

Technical support to CCEDRM Working Group:

55. Supported designing the Group's Terms of Reference and aligned it with Agenda 2030 commitments and agreements.
56. Contributed to Annex 3 on the coherence between UNPDF outcomes, SDGs, and SFDRR.

·      Technical advice to the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT):

57. Developed DRR Option paper for HCT.

58. Provided technical inputs on DRR mainstreaming when required.

59. Provided input note on the interconnectedness of El Niño, SDGs, climate change, and disaster risk management in the ENSO Briefing Note, August 2016, "Heat" peat, and haze: The impacts of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on sustainable development goals in Indonesia."

 "Policy advice and technical inputs to the Government of Indonesia:

60. Inputs for Indonesia's National Review for SDGs were presented at the High-Level Political Forum 2017 in New York.
61. Inputs for the SDGs National Action Plan being implemented by the Government of Indonesia
62. Provided technical inputs to the text of Indonesia's Statement at the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) 2017—the video of the official statement.
63. Inputs for Indonesia's Paper for GPDRR  2017
64. Drafted concept note for IndonIndonesia'sonal Disaster Management Authority for the Working Session "Achi" ving the Sendai Framework and SDG'sSDG'set at the local level," Thu" sday, 25 May 2017.

Other organizations:

65. Inputs for the Research Project "Cultural Competency for Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery." The project is funded by the United States National Science Foundation and sponsored by the American Anthropological Association & the Culture and Disasters Action Network (CADAN). (2017)
66. Inputs for South Asian Disaster Report 2016.

Keynote Speeches and Presentations

1. Presented the paper at International and National Norms for disaster risk reduction, climate change, and gender and social inclusion: Community and Household Perspectives at the American Political Science Association Annual conference,2025

2. Lead Presenter and facilitator at the Validation Workshop for finalization of the report on gender and social inclusion in the Africa Plan of Action for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030), 2024

3. Conducted capacity development of staff members of the UN Women and UNCTs in the southern and Eastern Africa region on mainstreaming gender in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, 2023

4. Online Presentation on Capacity Development workshop on "Making the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction Gender-Responsive" for UN Women East and Southern Africa Regional Office and UN Women country offices, 2021

5. Online Presentation on Gender and Social Inclusion in Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) – Easter Floods 2021 for the PDNA Coordination Committee, Timor-Leste, 2021

6. Online Presentation on the "Funding Landscape for gender and funding landscape for COVID-19 in Bangladesh" for the United Nations Country Team in Bangladesh, 2021

7. Online Presentation on Key Findings - Stocktake of gender commitments in national disaster laws in ASEAN for the UN Women Asia-Pacific Regional Office, Bangkok, 2020

8. Online Presentation on "Advo" acy for Gender and Inclusion for the Asia-Pacific Regional Plan for DRR (2021 -2024) and Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (AMPCDRR) 2021" for "the Asia-Pacific Gender Stakeholder Group, 2020

9. Online presentation on the Review of the Regional Action Plan 2018-2021 and Recommendations with Proposed Actions for some themes for the next Action Plan 2021-2024, for the UNDRR Regional Office for Asia-Pacific, 2020

10. Opening address and presentation on "Droughts, Famines, and Sustainable Development" Annual Banquet organized by the International Affairs and Oxfam America club at the University of Idaho in the United States on 13 November 2017

11. Keynote speech and presentation on "Sendai Framework and its Implementation Challenges" at the Final Workshop of the German government's risk Project in Bandung, Indonesia. (2017)

12. Keynote speech and presentation on Agenda 2030 and SFDRR at the National Seminar on 'Mainstreaming disaster risk reduction into policy and development program in West Papua' in Nokwari, West Papua, Indonesia. (2016)

13. Presentation and panel discussion at Technical Session 2 "International Seminar on Science and Technology on DRR-CCA": Presentation on SDGs and disaster risk management related Agenda 2030 commitments and frameworks during International DRR Day 2016 in Manado, Indonesia. (2016)

14. Gave a presentation on SDGs, disasters, and youth involvement  at Global Youth Urban Future at Urban Youth Meeting, Habitat III Prepcom III, Surabaya, Indonesia (2016):

15. Delivered a presentation on School Safety and the 3rd International Conference on Earthquake Engineering and Disaster Mitigation (ICEEDM), Special Session on School Safety: Malashree Bhargava, Adrianus Tanjung, Victor Igbokwe, Utkarsh Pandey (2016). 
16. Delivered a presentation on the coherence of disaster risk management in Agenda 2030 at the workshop on Local Coping Mechanisms for Integrated Climate  Resilience: Opportunities & Challenges for Urban Poor, November 2016, Pg. 59: The International Emergency Management Society Newsletter - ISSUE 28 – November 2016 Update 6, TIEMS-India Chapter.
17.  Delivered a paper presentation, "Gender Mainstreaming in Disaster Risk Management, Badakhshan, Afghanistan - Opportunities and Challenges," at the World Conference on Humanitarian Studies, Istanbul, Turkey. (2013)