20 Mar 2024

KI Celebrates 5 Years!

Kubernein Initiative turned 5 in February!

Conceptualised in 2018, Kubernein was formally founded in 2019 by Priyanka and Ambika, in a landscape where very few women led think tanks existed in India. We set out to probe critical questions that need a bigger space and voice; bringing a perspective that balances traditionally ‘western’ thought with new and emerging ideas from the ‘global south’. Our goals were simple, connect seemingly disparate issues, blur the lines between traditional, non-traditional and emerging security challenges, and ensure that policy making, domestic and foreign, is inclusive and future ready.

Today we have a robust team of individuals, from a diverse range of backgrounds including law, journalism, international relations, gender and management, that bring width and depth in engaging with policy topics. We dive into issues that are important but perhaps not as glamorous for security circles: from understanding gender in foreign policy to advocating for a more concentrated effort in water, climate and security across the region. We have pushed for more gender efforts in urbanisation and shone the light on success stories across the sustainability spectrum that provide valuable learnings and can be scaled. Our work has also looked at increasing the understanding of Indian Policy stemming from domestic debate, with a view of the entire landscape, as well as emerging international trends and conversations. We have especially attempted to focus on bringing new ideas and perspectives to existing challenges that are not likely to be solved otherwise. We have collaborated, engaged and strategically partnered with organisations and individuals with a shared vision that place human and environmental security at the core of their actions.

From our initial work in Foreign Policy and Sustainability to building key core initiatives, Water and Climate Security, Centering India in Global Futures, and our flagship initiative An Inclusive Indian Foreign Policy, we continue to remain committed to our goals and vision while building an institution that values its people, networks and partnerships. Our partners are governments including India, Germany, France, Sweden and others, Diplomatic Missions in India, Universities, and think tanks and organisations such as ORF, REVOLVE Media, ODI, 9Dashline, IWDA, Hinduja Foundation, adelphi, AII, Forum for the Future, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, NIUA and many others.

Our recent work across several of our Initiatives can be found below: