Yolande Wright

Global Director Child Poverty, Climate and Urban, Save the Children International

Yolande leads Save the Children’s global team on child poverty, the climate crisis and ensuring child wellbeing in an increasingly urban world. She focuses on ensuring the movement delivers the best-evidenced programming and advocacy – with and for children – working with a network of colleagues in over 100 countries. 

Yolande has worked in international development for over 20 years, mainly for the UK government (formerly DFID) in a range of roles including as Head of the Conflict, Humanitarian and Security Department (CHASE), and as Head of the Livelihoods Profession.  She worked for over a decade in Africa and Asia – including in Bangladesh where she led some ground-breaking work on extreme poverty and climate change working with national and international partners – including BRAC, World Bank, UNDP and WFP.

Her particular experience is on child-sensitive and shock-responsive social protection, cash and ‘graduation’ approaches, as well as on climate adaptation and food security. She is passionate about a rights-based approach to social justice, gender equality and disability inclusion - ensuring every child can grow up and meet their full potential free from discrimination and deprivation, on a planet that can sustain and enhance their life and the life of future generations.

Her academic background includes an MSc in Environmental Change and Management from Oxford. She has also worked in consultancy and for the private sector.