Laura B. Rawlings

Laura B. Rawlings is an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service in the Global Human Development program. With over 30 years of experience, she serves as Lead Economist at the World Bank, leading global initiatives such as the 2024-2030 Gender Strategy and spearheading work on social protection, gender equality, and human development analytics. Her career includes roles as Lead Economist for the Human Capital Project, Team Leader for the World Bank’s Social Protection and Labor Strategy, and Sector Leader for Human Development in Central America.

Her research focuses on international human development, social protection systems, gender policy, and behavioral economics. She has authored influential works like Impact Evaluation in Practice, a globally used resource with nearly a million downloads. Her interdisciplinary work bridges academic research with practical policy implementation, particularly in Africa and Latin America.

Rawlings collaborates with global institutions including the Global Reference Group for Children Affected by Crisis and has advised on poverty reduction programs with Michael Bloomberg in New York City. She actively contributes to policy dialogues and knowledge-sharing through teaching and strategic partnerships.