Paola is a social economist with more than 13 years of experience in social policy and international development. She has extensive experience managing international development projects, conducting policy research and evaluations for a range of clients (governments, UN agencies, IFIs and NGOs) and providing capacity building to researchers and practitioners in developing countries. She has strong expertise in the management, design and implementation of qualitative and quantitative research projects in a range of developing countries.

Current foci of Paola's work include: women and girl’s economic empowerment; girls’ education; gender and child sensitive social protection; violence against women and girls; child protection; child and youth poverty and vulnerability analysis; youth economic opportunities, children’s social exclusion; social budgeting and policy responses to mitigate impacts of economic and environmental shocks (climate change) on vulnerable groups.

Paola has work experience in the following countries: BiH, CAR, DRC, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Jordan, FYR Macedonia, Mali, Mozambique, Mexico, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, OPT, Peru, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Vietnam, and Yemen.

She is fluent in English and Spanish, has working knowledge of French and speaks basic Portuguese.