Wendy Trott

Analyst // Researcher

PUBLIC LAW & POLICY, EMERGENT TECH, INFORMATION RIGHTS

ADVISORY, ANALYSIS, RESEARCH, IMPACT

special projects, MONITORING & EVALUATION

Developing international human rights law

ABOUT WENDY

Learn more about Wendy and her work

Overview

Wendy holds a B.A. in International Relations from the University of Georgia, where she also minored in French, and an M.A. in International Development from Sciences Po Paris, where she majored in African Affairs and Emerging Economies. This helped her develop a deep understanding of the economics of development in the BRICS countries, and an appreciation for the role of social justice in economic and democratic development.

Previously, Wendy worked in Economic Research with JPAL-Africa, a branch of the global research centre working to reduce poverty by ensuring that policy is informed by scientific evidence based out of the University of Cape Town. She has also worked with Luminate, a philanthropic organisation that supports innovative initiatives to improve government accountability and civic empowerment across Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa in areas such as independent media and digital rights.

Wendy has also worked with the Center for International Development at the Kennedy School of Governance at Harvard University, and with the Brenthurst Foundation in Johannesburg, South Africa.

As a development economist, Wendy is passionate about achieving authentic, sustainable social justice by empowering the people most affected by inequality and injustice, and finding smart ways to evaluate what really works in the social impact field. She is currently broadening her understanding of the legal aspects of human rights and social justice.

In the next few years, Wendy is working to advance her understanding on the role of strategic litigation to advance social justice, particularly as it relates to womxn, youth and other marginalised communities, and how technology can be a tool for stronger, more inclusive democratic societies in Africa.

Wendy is part of the Data Protection Africa and Democracy 2.0 Special Projects.
Qualifications
- B.A. in International Affairs (summa cum laude) (University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA)
- M.A. in International Development (cum laude) (Sciences Po, Paris, France)
Contact Wendy

Promoting rights-based technology innovation

WENDY’S RECENT WORK

Learn about Wendy’s recent projects

Developing a civil society accreditation mechanism and national chapter framework for the Economic, Social & Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) of the African Union (ongoing) – Advisory, Research, Public Law & Policy.
Preparing a gender analysis and action plan to mainstream gender in the Joint Labour Migration Programme for Africa – Advisory, Research, Public Law & Policy.
Assisting the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) prepare an updated elections reporting manual and online portal for journalists reporting on the 2021 Local Government Elections in South Africa – Research, Training, Communications & Design, Public Law & Policy.
Preparing a training manual for the Association of Independent Publishers (AIP) and Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) for journalists reporting on the 2021 Local Government Elections in South Africa – Training, Communications & Design, Public Law & Policy.
Assisting the Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator with information governance and regulatory compliance in terms of South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) – Advisory, Data Privacy.
Preparing two joint written submissions on the proposed Domestic Violence Amendment Bill to South Africa’s National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces, with Research ICT Africa (RIA), Media Monitoring Africa (MMA), the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), and Feministing while African – Advisory, Research, Public Law & Policy, Information Rights.
Assisting the Health Justice Initiative (HJI) with strategic development and fundraising – Impact.
Preparing an updated research report and mapping digital rights laws and litigation in East, West, and Southern Africa for Media Defence – Research, Information Rights, Data Privacy.
Assisting the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) with information governance and regulatory compliance in terms of South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) – Advisory, Data Privacy.
Developing content and assisting with the design of an online resource hub for practicing lawyers in East, West, and Southern Africa on digital rights and freedom of expression online for Media Defence – Research, Communications & Design, Public Law & Policy, Information Rights.
Assisting the African Network of Data Protection Authorities (RAPDP) with institutional development and support, including the development of institutional policies and frameworks – Advisory, Data Privacy.