Balikisu Osman is a Young Professional with the Transport Unit in the Africa Western and Central Region. She supports rural connectivity and urban mobility operations and analytical works, mainly in the Western African countries. Balikisu initially joined the World Bank Group as an Africa Fellow, supporting the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) in developing guidance notes and building partnerships to inform gender equality and social inclusion in the World Bank’s Disaster Risk Management (DRM) operations. Balikisu has previously worked for the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), mainly on agricultural sector risk management and food security programs in Africa and Asia. Balikisu recently holds a PhD in Environmental Studies at York University, Toronto, Canada.