Krittika Gorur

Background

About Krittika Gorur

I seek to explore, explain and intervene upon the reduced opportunities faced by those on the fringes of society. My work draws heavily from behavioural science to figure out how we can reduce the forces that push marginalised individuals further to the sidelines and the factors that pull individuals towards opting out of the education, employment or governance fold. Why do I do this? I believe that issues of gender or social justice are more than checkboxes in programs or policies. Having observed a decade or more of efforts fall short of closing gaps in majority-world and LMIC settings, I've recognised that root causes often come with cognitive or social costs. These challenges need solutions that are psychological-informed and grounded in behaviour. Even after structural barriers are dismantled, we must address the lenses through which individuals view themselves and the world. What's my approach? I believe in needing to consider the broader ecosystems in which these problems exist, avoiding band-aid fixes but creating solutions from the ground up (one that factors in the daily realities individuals face), and thinking critically about what good evidence is. I often ask: Is this even a good idea? Could it have unintended consequences? Currently, I lead Busara's research and advisory work in Social Inclusion. Over the past 8+ years, I've collaborated with non-profits, implementation partners, philanthropic foundations and academic researchers to develop and evaluate programs. I bring strengths in qualitative and quantitative data analysis, conducting field research, developing methods for measuring behaviour, and co-creating interventions that put communities at the heart of the process. I am particularly interested in questions of preferences and behaviour change especially when they are shaped by social dynamics and norms. I strive to use the tools of social science to explore these questions, and it's a journey I'm incredibly passionate about.