Varad Pande

Partner, Omidyar Network

Varad leads strategy, impact and new initiatives at Omidyar Network India. A social impact and public policy professional, Varad has held diverse roles across government, strategy, multilateral, investment organisations working on issues of economic development, social impact and base-of-pyramid (BOP) business models. Varad was Special Advisor to India’s Minister for Rural Development and Environment & Forests, where he drove the agenda on sustainable livelihoods, sanitation, environment and climate change. Varad was a member of the Government of India’s Low Carbon Expert Group. He was Principal Advisor to Abhijit Banerjee on the UN-SG’s Panel on the Post-2015 Agenda (SDGs) and was a Sherpa on the UN-SG’s Global Sustainability Panel. He led the set up of the Prime Minister’s Rural Development Fellowship that connects India’s youth with grassroots development. Varad holds an MPA in International Development (MPA/ID) from the Harvard Kennedy School, an MA in Economics from University of Cambridge, and a BA Honours in Economics from St. Stephens College, Delhi.