Abigail Ndooka

Abigail Ndooka is a lawyer and development practitioner with expertise spanning international law, human rights, policy advisory, and investment climate reform. She holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Rule of Law for Development from Loyola University Chicago and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B. Hons) from the University of Zimbabwe. She is currently a PhD Candidate of the International Doctorate Programme – Business and Human Rights: Governance Challenges in a Complex World at the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU). Her research investigates the intersection of International Investment Law (IIL) and Business and Human Rights (BHR) within the context of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Southern Africa’s extractive sectors.

Professionally, Abigail has served in advisory and analytical roles across international institutions, including the International Finance Corporation, World Bank, United Nations Development Programme, UN Women, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the United Nations Volunteers regional office. Her work has encompassed legal and policy research, monitoring and evaluation, programme and project management, and multistakeholder engagement with governments, civil society, and UN partners. Abigail’s contributions include supporting legal and regulatory reform to enhance private sector growth in emerging markets, advancing genderresponsive governance, and promoting inclusive legal frameworks for disability inclusion and human rights accountability.