Alexandra M. Cech is a Consultant with the World Bank’s Competitive Industries Practice, Finance and Private Sector Development. She works on the Competitive Cities project, conducting in-depth research for case studies, highlighting key investment and strategic decisions made by cities to improve their economic competitiveness. Alexandra previously worked with ACDI/VOCA, implementing projects funded by USAID and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, focused on SME growth, improvements within global value chains, and women’s empowerment in Bolivia, Paraguay, Pakistan, India, and Kenya. She has a Master’s degree in International Development and an Honors Certificate in International Business Diplomacy from Georgetown University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Government from the College of William and Mary