Commonwealth Secretary-General's Special Envoy for SDG Implementation, Distinguished Professor, world thought leader in government performance management, and the first Indian elected Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA), USA.
Prof. Prajapati Trivedi is a globally recognized economist and public administration expert whose career spans academia, international development, and the highest levels of government. Born on August 9, 1953, he has spent over four decades shaping how governments measure and manage their performance.
Educated at St. Stephen's College (Delhi), the London School of Economics (M.Sc., 1972), and Boston University (Ph.D., 1985), Prof. Trivedi began his academic career as a lecturer at St. Stephen's College in 1974 before rising to become the youngest Chaired Tenured Professor at the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta.
His professional journey — from IIM Calcutta to the World Bank, the Government of India's Cabinet Secretariat, and the Commonwealth Secretariat in London — reflects a rare blend of academic rigor and real-world impact across more than 50 countries.
St. Stephen's College · LSE · Boston University (Ph.D. in Economics)
Direct professional governance consulting spanning 50+ nations
First Secretary of Performance Management, Government of India
14 years of service as a Senior Economist in Washington, DC
From the classrooms of St. Stephen's College to the corridors of global power, Prof. Trivedi's career is a masterclass in bridging theory and practice.
Began his academic career at one of India's most prestigious colleges, teaching economics and laying the intellectual foundations for his future work in public policy.
Completed doctoral studies in economics, deepening his expertise in microeconomics, public policy analysis, and institutional performance evaluation.
Became the youngest Chaired Tenured Professor at IIM Calcutta, directing the Centre for Public Enterprise Management and pioneering research on public sector reform.
Advised the Government of India on economic policy during a highly pivotal era of economic liberalization, structural adjustments, and strategic policy reforms.
Spent 14 years at the World Bank in Washington, DC, advising on governance, public enterprise privatization, and administrative performance management across developing economies worldwide.
Served in the Prime Minister's Office Cabinet Secretariat, designing India's whole-of-government performance evaluation system. Simultaneously chaired the National Authority for Chemical Weapons Convention.
Currently serves as Special Envoy for SDG Implementation, Distinguished Professor at MDI Gurgaon, Visiting Economics Faculty at Harvard Kennedy School, and IBM Center Visiting Fellow.
Decades of experience at the intersection of applied economics, global governance, and institutional reform.
Designing and implementing whole-of-government performance monitoring systems. Created India's Results-Framework Document (RFD) system used across all central government departments.
Global expert in privatization transactions and public enterprise management, with practical analytical frameworks adopted by major governments and international institutions.
As Commonwealth Special Envoy for SDG Implementation, bridges the gap between high-level SDG vision and actionable national government programs across 56 member nations.
Deep expertise in applying microeconomic principles to public policy analysis, with over 40 years of teaching at Harvard Kennedy School and other leading academic institutions.
Successfully bridging academic theory with practical governance challenges, advising senior government officials on policy design, implementation, and assessment frameworks.
14 years at the World Bank and extensive work with the Commonwealth Secretariat across 50+ countries on governance reform, economic advisory, and institutional capacity building.
A comprehensive body of scholarly and practitioner-focused work spanning over three decades.
Commonwealth Secretariat, London
Latest Edition
Rutledge Books, USA
2000
International Management Publisher, India
1992
International Management Publisher, India
1991
International Management Publisher, India
1990
Indian School of Business (ISB), Mohali
2015
The American Review of Public Administration
2020 · Citations: 16
Governance (Wiley)
2017 · Citations: 10
SSRN Electronic Journal / ISB Mohali
2016 · Citations: 2
Indian Journal of Public Administration
1986 · Citations: 1
Indian Journal of Public Administration
1990
First Indian to receive this prestigious global award recognizing significant contributions to the theory and practice of public administration worldwide.
ASPA · 2017First Indian elected as a Life Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration, acknowledging outstanding lifetime leadership in governance and public sector reforms.
NAPA, Washington DCAwarded for exceptional teaching, training, and institutional consultation in performance management that has shaped administrative policies globally.
CAP & ASPA · 2019Visiting Economics Faculty
Special Envoy for SDG Implementation
Distinguished Professor
Visiting International Fellow
Life Fellow (First Indian Elected)
Board Member
Board Member
Board, School of Management
Whether for academic collaboration, speaking engagements, advisory boards, or public sector performance consultations — I welcome the opportunity to engage.