Research and Investigations
What I Offer
Investigations
I’ve worked with non-profits and academic institutions to produce factually accurate, investigative reports on global environment, sustainability, supply chain, and social issues in several countries. Here are few examples.
Dirty Fashion
Conducted field investigations for this multi-country supply chain report, analyzing sustainability & health impacts of the viscose fiber industry in Indonesia (section B of report).
Greenwashing the U.S. Carpet Industry
As a report writer and editor for Changing Markets and GAIA, I helped condense large amounts of data, and various case studies, into a groundbreaking report that exposed the carpet industry to high levels of scrutiny.
Oil: Uganda's Opportunity for Prosperity
Collaborated with Ugandan NGOs to build detailed guidelines for sustainable and ethical development of recently discovered oil fields. Final report was published in Uganda and won the prestigious Dr. Susan Aurelia Gitelson Award.
Global Field Expertise
All issues are in some way, transnational, and for you to be effective, you must be able to communicate and collaborate across borders. As a researcher, I can provide not only high-quality data, but also a journalist eye and perspective for what stories can help raise awareness and gain exposure for your organization or cause. I am available to do field research, prepare report, and do local press outreach, including media events.
Click on the pins to see the research project I focused on in each location.
Various Projects: Indonesia
- 2017 – Conducted investigation on viscose industry for Changing Markets.
- 2015 – Covered historic Indonesian fires for various global media outlets.
- Covered 2014 National Elections for Al Jazeera International
- April 2014 – Suharto’s ghost stalks Indonesia election
- May 2014 – Is Islamic Politics rising in Indonesia?
- June 2014 – What’s left of the left?
- 2013-2014 – Senior Campaigner for Walk Free Foundation (now Freedom United).
- 2010 – Communications Assistant for Kehati Biodiversity Foundation.
Land and Compensation: Nepal
Avoiding the Resource Curse: Uganda
- Worked with an interdisciplinary team to build detailed guidelines for sustainable and ethical development of recently discovered oil fields.
- Final report won the prestigious Dr. Susan Aurelia Gitelson Award during Columbia University 2012 Commencement ceremonies.
Report on Future of Development Aid: Japan
- Our widely-read report written by a team of 11 fellows from diverse backgrounds focused on the current state of Japan’s overseas development assistance, with I specifically assisting the section on sustainability. We also analyzed the effects of March 2011 Earthquake on Japan’s economy and diplomacy.
Powerful Content
I can assist your organization to create content around events, specific issues, or campaigns, and provide real, measurable metrics. I provide more than just content – I also can do promotion and outreach, and will help craft a plan to ensure that the content reaches the right audience, in order to garner maximum impact.
Covering the historic Paris Climate Talks
I attended COP21 in Paris, France, and wrote 14 articles for on a diverse range of topics for five global media outlets – The Diplomat, Southeast Asia Globe, SciDev.net, Good Magazine, and Triple Pundit.
Indonesia's Devestating Fires
Massive amounts of carbon emitted, the health of millions adversely affected, and a once biodiverse landscape in shambles. My pieces, written after conducting field research in Sumatra, were often the only story in that outlet about this disaster, and helped raise awareness about real causes, impacts, and solutions to the unprecedented catastrophe.
How Activists Beat Big Oil
Digital storytelling was key in the surprisingly decisive success of the campaign to stop Shell from drilling in the Arctic. In addition to my social media consulting work, I wrote this case study for Greenpeace’s Mobilisation Lab.
Testimonials
Nithin was so great to work with! We hired him during an extremely busy time in the #ShellNo campaign and needed someone who would be able to get up to speed and start producing content quickly. Nithin fit the bill perfectly. He created excellent, effective social and email content with minimal guidance or feedback needed. His writing is especially strong – he really knows how to write so that the reader is motivated to act. In addition to being able to turn content around quickly, he has a great strategic mind.
Nithin stands out because of his understanding and respect for local context. His personal investment in cross-cultural empathy paid huge dividends when building rapport and trust with global counterparts. Nithin never settled for campaign strategies that just looked good on paper, but rather, took the time to adapt it to the complex cultural and political realities of Indonesia, the country program he was responsible for. He is smart, articulate, and has a wealth of global field experience.
Nithin made a major contribution to the start-up phase of Walk Free’s global anti-slavery partner network. He has a very strong work ethic and great brainpower. His ability to think conceptually was very helpful in thinking through how to build the program, and his creative thinking helped us to adapt to different contexts.
Nithin worked on a project to reach out to civil society and activist groups in South East Asia for SumOfUs. He worked quickly and did whatever it took to get people to talk – no small feat considering he was working halfway around the world from those he was reaching out to!
Cost
My goal is to help make a difference. Thus, I include several factors such as location, size of organization, budget, and issue area when determining project cost. My rate is highest for for-profit enterprises and international NGOs, less for local NGOs, and lowest for community organizations. I am also willing to work pro-bono on small projects for specific causes. I am especially open to doing this for indigenous communities or indigenous rights organizations.
Content
General Blog Post/Article: 40 cents/word ($250/post)
In-Depth Feature or Longform Narrative: 60 cents/word
Discount for series or multiple posts.
Hourly Rate
Social Enterprise/Private Rate: $65/hr
Global NGO Rate: $50/hr
Local NGO Rate: $30/hr
Let’s Collaborate
Let me know what you need using the form below.
