Christina L. Madden

Criterion Institute; KWR International; Carnegie New Leaders

Christina L. Madden is a director at Criterion Institute, a non-profit think tank focused on global financial systems. She specializes in the intersection of investment, security, and social and economic development. Madden has also been a senior advisor to KWR International since 2012, and led research and analysis on the development of Myanmar's energy and electrification sectors after the country opened its doors to foreign investment following 60 years of isolation.

Madden previously led U.S. operations for a Nepal-based community development non-profit, coordinating the organization's response to the 2015 Gorkha earthquake, and was assistant editor of MediaGlobal, a United Nations-based publication focused on economic and social development in least developed countries. Madden has worked in dozens of countries across Southeast Asia, Latin America, and West Africa and has served as an advisor to governments, United Nations agencies, private firms, and non-profits.

Her articles have been published in Foreign Affairs, The Asia Times, Latin America Energy Advisor, World Politics Review, Carnegie Council's Policy Innovations, and in the book Perspectives on Peacekeeping and Atrocity Prevention.

Madden is a member of Carnegie New Leaders, chairs the board of directors of Global Action to Prevent War, a United Nations-based non-profit, and is president of Women in International Security-New York.

Featured Work

JUN 6, 2019 Podcast

Global Ethics Weekly: A Firsthand Account of Electrification in Myanmar, with Christina Madden

Christina Madden, now a director at Criterion Institute, discusses her work on Myanmar's massive electrification project in 2013-2014. With less than one-third of the population ...

APR 11, 2019 Podcast

Global Ethics Weekly: Finance for Social Change & #MeToo, with Criterion Institute's Christina Madden

Criterion Institute's Christina Madden discusses her think tank's strategy of demystifying finance for non-profit and grassroots organizations and using these global systems to create transformative ...

Gas drilling sites dot the Utah landscape.

OCT 7, 2010 Article

Shale Gas Goes Global

Shale gas reserves are being explored on nearly every continent, with the United States leading the way in the controversial drilling practice called hydraulic fracturing ...

CREDIT: <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/meanestindian/156516309/">Meena Kadri</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

FEB 19, 2009 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Briefings: Managing Water Well

The economic stimulus bill signed this week by President Obama includes billions for water projects in the United States, but this is just a drop ...

CREDIT: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/23065375@N05/2234742693/">ThinkPanama.com</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

OCT 27, 2008 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Briefings: Medical Tourism Causes Complications

Medical tourism has started to globalize an industry long considered immune to outsourcing, increasing the need to reform public health programs.

CREDIT: <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/arkntina/241070625/">RK & Tina</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

OCT 2, 2008 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Briefings: Laws Gone Wild in Ecuador

Ecuador is the first country to constitutionally enact ecosystem rights, expanding the mandate of environmental protection beyond personal injury and corporate license to pollute.

Security camera, friend or foe? Photo by <br><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/thomashawk/32557536/">Thomas Hawk</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

JUN 25, 2008 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Briefings: U Made an Illegal U-Turn

The South Korean metropolis of New Songdo is slated to be the world's largest "ubiquitous city," with tracking devices everywhere. The entrenchment of social surveillance ...

The Kuwait Investment Authority was <br>created in 1953. Photo by <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/asam/423855130/">Sam</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

MAY 21, 2008 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Briefings: Sovereign Wealth Funds under Scrutiny

Sovereign wealth funds could face a backlash if they fail to allay concerns over transparency.

Greenwash may backfire during recession. <br>Photo by <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/velo_city/221532423/">velo_city</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

APR 22, 2008 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Briefings: Growing Green During Downturn

With the threat of recession, the emphasis on green in business is shifting from the environment back to dollars.

"One World One Dream" is the official <br>slogan for the 2008 Olympic Games in <br>Beijing. Photo by <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/xiaming/207664986/">Ming Xia</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

APR 4, 2008 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Briefings: One World, Many Slogans

Just as China is using the Olympic Games to improve its image, some companies are using the Games to improve their corporate responsibility profiles.