This summer, I interned with the World Bank’s Social Protection and Labor team, where I contributed to several impactful projects focused on labor market programs in the Global South. I applied data analysis techniques to enhance the classification and evaluation mechanisms for social protection programs, including a digital public works program in Nairobi, with a particular emphasis on understanding labor outcomes. I also helped prepare data analysis and a memo for World Bank President Ajay Banga, contributing directly to key decision-making processes at the Bank. Additionally, I developed a statistical framework to assess the effectiveness of social protection programs and to evaluate the World Bank’s engagement in these initiatives, providing valuable insights to inform future policy and program development.

This experience further solidified my interest in the intersection of development and labor economics. I was hired to work with the World Bank as a consultant in the coming year to work on labor research and I am incredibly excited about this opportunity! I plan to pursue a PhD in economics, focusing on development and labor, and this internship has provided me with invaluable skills and knowledge that will support my long-term academic and professional goals.