Key skills and expertise

Bringing over 26 years of professional experience, this expert is a seasoned financial and business development strategist with a strong background as a financial/research analyst. Key qualifications include strategic planning, risk assessment, data science, and financial modeling. They have led significant projects within international organizations such as the IMF and World Bank, as well as in private sector roles focused on credit risk management. Career highlights include negotiating distressed asset portfolios exceeding $230 million and implementing operational improvements that enhanced service delivery efficiency. Leadership responsibilities have involved spearheading business strategies and promoting ESG-related initiatives.

Project experience and donor exposure

With a background in collaborating with international organizations such as the FAO, IFAD, IMF, World Bank, and IFC, the expert has contributed significantly to international development cooperation projects. Their involvement encompassed technical assistance, project finance, and risk management, addressing thematic areas like macroeconomic and public finance, social development, and SME/private sector development. The scope of work spanned regional and national scales, with a primary focus on the EMENA region, including countries such as Afghanistan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.

Sectors and geographic focus

Worked across diverse sectors, including labor market and employment, macroeconomics and public finance, social development, SME and private sector, finance and accounting, and risk management. Responsibilities have included strategic planning, risk assessment, project finance, and stakeholder management. Their interdisciplinary expertise encompasses financial modeling and ESG. The expert has contributed to both regional and country-specific initiatives, particularly in the EMENA region, leveraging skills in international organizations and private sector project management. Extensive geographic experience across the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe includes professional engagements in Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, China, Egypt, Haiti, Kuwait, Montenegro, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Ukraine. This diverse experience has provided deep familiarity with local governance, cultural dynamics, and regional development issues.

Languages and education

With language competences that include native English and fluency in French, Arabic, and Italian, as well as basic proficiency in Spanish, the expert has effectively utilized these skills in international settings. This includes work in multilingual teams and collaboration with stakeholders in regions such as the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe. The expert holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a specialization in International Finance from the European School of Economics in Rome, Italy, graduating with merit. Additionally, they earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Mathematics and Third World Development Studies from Smith College in Northampton, MA, USA.