Kaitlin Cordes is a lawyer by training and a senior researcher who focuses on human rights, sustainable development, and climate action. Kaitlin leads in-depth research projects, develops resources and tools, and supports training of government actors, activists, and the private sector on human rights and sustainable development. Kaitlin is the creator of 31 Days of Climate Action, an initiative that encourages taking simple and effective climate actions. She serves on the boards of 350 Chicago and Corporate Accountability Lab.

Previously, Kaitlin spent 8 years leading the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment’s work on investments in land, agriculture, and food systems, as well as the Center’s crosscutting work on human rights and investment. Kaitlin has also worked with the Africa Division of Human Rights Watch, served as an advisor to the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food (Olivier De Schutter), and clerked for Justice Virginia A. Long of the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Kaitlin is based in the US and is proficient in French.

Select experience

• Research and analysis focused on rights over biosequestered carbon, in partnership with the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)

• Co-developed and co-managed flagship program combining technical support, research, and other work to advance land rights and land governance in the context of investments

• Developed and taught at annual training on sustainable investments in agriculture, which drew participants from around the world coming from governments, civil society, and the private sector

Select publications

• With Jeffrey Sachs, et al, Ensuring Economic Viability and Sustainability of Coffee Production, Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (2019).

• With Sam Szoke-Burke, Innovative Financing Solutions for Community Support in the Context of Land Investments, Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment, (2019).

• With Rachael Knight, et al, Community-Investor Negotiation Guide 1: Preparing in advance for potential investors and Community-Investor Negotiation Guide 2: Negotiating contracts with investors, CCSI and Namati (2018).

• “Investments and Human Rights in the Agricultural Sector.” Research Handbook on Human Rights and Investments. Ed. Yannick Radi. Edward Elgar (2018).

• With Olivier De Schutter (eds.), Accounting for Hunger: The Right to Food in the Era of Globalisation. Oxford: Hart (2011).

Education

• J.D. – Columbia Law School (James Kent Scholar, Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, Valentin J.T. Wertheimer Price Recipient)

• B.A. (Political Science and International Studies) – Northwestern University