Kanta Singh’s journey from a rural village in Haryana to becoming the Country Representative a.i. of UN Women India embodies over 25 years of committed work in advancing gender equality, women’s economic empowerment, and human rights in India.

From early hands-on gender training to managing India’s largest network of women’s organizations, to leading national projects that impact millions of women and girls, Singh’s career combines grassroots insights and strategic policy leadership.

She is a former national-level volleyball player and a Chevening Gurukul Fellow from the University of Oxford. Singh’s work focuses on creating sustainable employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for women while providing policy advice to governments at the central and state levels.

Growing Up and Early Activism

Kanta Singh’s early life in a Haryana village exposed her to the challenges rural women face daily. She often reflects, “My mother’s strength, working on farmland, inspired me to dream beyond immediate circumstances.”

This personal experience drove her to pursue a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Science in Rural Sociology at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, which laid the academic foundation for her career.

Starting as a gender trainer at the Centre for Social Research, she educated community leaders, government officials, and civil society members on gender sensitivity and women’s rights, sowing the seeds for her future leadership.

Pioneering WomenPowerConnect and Gender Advocacy

Between 2006 and 2010, Singh was senior programme officer at WomenPowerConnect (WPC), India’s largest network of over 1,400 women’s organizations. WPC was instrumental in pushing the Government of India to institutionalize gender budgeting and enact landmark pro-women legislation.

Singh led training workshops for senior government officials on topics such as gender-based violence and sex selection, while working closely with parliamentarians and ministers to sensitize them on gender equality. “Mobilizing such a large coalition was about creating a collective voice that policymakers could not ignore,” she said.

Transformative Work with UNDP and UN Women

Singh’s UN career began in 2010 at UNDP, where her roles included Programme Analyst and State Project Head for DISHA, an IKEA Foundation-funded initiative aimed at creating employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for women and girls across India. The project targeted skill-building while promoting gender mainstreaming in all national UNDP programs.

“In empowering women economically, we open doors to self-reliance and dignity,” Singh said. Her focus on integrating women’s issues in state and national policies helped shape programs that affected an estimated one million women.

In 2019, Singh joined UN Women India as Country Programme Manager and was later promoted to Deputy Country Representative and then Country Representative a.i. Here, she has managed flagship initiatives focusing on education, employment, and entrepreneurship for young women and girls, cultivating partnerships with governments, private sector, and civil society.

She stated, “Creating sustainable enterprises and employment for women is essential for gender justice. We work on ensuring not just jobs but growth ecosystems for women-led businesses.”

Leadership Style and Personal Drive

A former national-level volleyball player, Singh credits sports with imparting critical life lessons. “Sports taught me teamwork, resilience, and strategic thinking qualities vital in my work to navigate complex social and policy challenges,” she shared. Her leadership style combines empathy with evidence-based decision making, rooted in grassroots realities.

Her 2019 Chevening Gurukul Fellowship at the University of Oxford sharpened her leadership, enabling her to engage with global gender equality frameworks and advance India’s agenda in international forums.

The Logical Indian Perspective

From The Logical Indian’s perspective, Kanta Singh represents the powerful blend of lived experience and professional acumen necessary to advance women’s empowerment in India today.

Her journey from Haryana’s rural heartland to international leadership encapsulates the determination and strategic vision that gender justice demands. Singh’s ability to mobilize networks, influence policy, and foster economic participation exemplifies the systemic change needed across Indian society.

Her story inspires a new generation of women to pursue leadership and fuels national conversations on inclusive growth. As Singh says, “No dream is too big, and meaningful change comes from collective effort and steadfast commitment.”

Kanta Singh’s 25-year-old career in gender-focused development has created measurable impacts on women’s lives across India. She continues to lead UN Women India’s efforts to break structural barriers, providing women with tools and opportunities to thrive economically and socially. Her emphasis on collaboration, grounded leadership, and pragmatic solutions makes her both a torchbearer and trailblazer in India’s gender equality movement.