Kay Atanda is a Non-Resident Fellow at the NYU Center on International Cooperation (CIC).
A development finance and public policy specialist, he brings more than 15 years of experience in international development, multilateral policy, and operations. He has spent more than a decade at the World Bank, working across climate finance, economic inclusion, poverty measurement, strategic partnerships, and digital development. He has worked extensively with economically and climate-vulnerable countries, helping strengthen their access to financing and develop policy responses to their unique challenges. More recently, he has focused on inclusive digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence (AI), and the opportunities and risks posed by emerging technologies.
He has also contributed to major global policy initiatives, including leading a joint United Nations (UN)–World Bank report on the Blue Economy, helping negotiate the landmark UN resolution on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and supporting Gavi’s US$9 billion replenishment to expand access to lifesaving vaccines. He began his career in US public service, serving in roles at the White House and in New York State and City politics.
He holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Oxford, a master’s degree in human rights studies from Columbia University, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the City College of New York.