Ioana Botea is a Senior Economist in the Social Policy Department at the World Bank. Her research focuses on social protection, labor markets, and women’s empowerment, with a particular interest in how social programs can strengthen livelihoods and resilience among vulnerable populations. She has worked extensively across Africa and East Asia on cash transfers, economic inclusion, and adaptive social protection, combining rigorous impact evaluation with policy engagement. She holds an MPhil in Development Studies from the University of Cambridge.