Chaitra “Chai” Shenoy is the Senior Gender-Based Violence Advisor in USAID's Office of Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment. In this position, she provides technical assistance and guidance to USAID missions and Washington-based operating units on a variety of prevention and response gender-based violence activities. As the Sr. GBV Advisor overseeing the development portfolio, Chai has been asked to develop and strengthen policies related to gender equality, women’s empowerment, and sexual misconduct. Chai serves as the Agency’s point of contact on female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) and child, early, and forced marriage.
Prior to joining USAID, Chai had the pleasure of being the Attorney Advisor in the Office of the General Counsel at the Peace Corps. Her portfolio focused on the implementation of the Kate Puzey Peace Corps Volunteer Protection Act of 2011. Chai not only worked at various non-profit legal organizations representing clients in gender-based violence civil legal cases, she also started a non-profit in DC called Collective Action for Safe Spaces. With over 20 years of experience in the anti-violence movement, Chai has been featured in the Washington Post,Associated Press,Huffington Post,and DC television affiliate on-air news programs, including WAMU’s Kojo Nnamdi Show for her work on gender-based violence. Chai is originally from San Francisco Bay Area and received her B.A. at UCLA and her J.D. at American University, Washington College of Law.