Nilufar Ahmad, a citizen of Bangladesh has worked on poverty, vulnerability, and social inclusion most of her life and is committed to social justice and equity. Her expertise includes empowerment, local governance, community driven development and participatory processes. She has facilitated partnerships with NGOs and other civil society organizations in South and East Asia for scaling up innovative practices within the World Bank's portfolio. She currently works in the Social Development Department based in Washington, D. C. as the senior gender specialist, supports and monitors the implementation of the Gender Action Plan within the Sustainable Development Network. She also supports local governance operations in South Asia, focusing on demand side accountability and enhancing the "voice" of the excluded groups.