Dario  Zanardi

Dario Zanardi

Senior Social Development Specialist

Dario is a Senior Social Development Specialist at the World Bank. He has been contributing to and leading youth socio-economic inclusion and community-driven development operations in the Maghreb, the Mashreq, and in the Eastern and Southern Africa region. He also does analytical work on disability inclusion and social entrepreneurship. His expertise includes youth and women entrepreneurship, social cohesion, inclusion of refugees and displaced populations, and cultural heritage, with significant field experience in fragile, conflict, and violence (FCV) countries such as Iraq, Lebanon, West Bank and Gaza, Niger, El Salvador, Mozambique, and Burundi.

Prior to joining the World Bank, he worked for the UNESCO Maputo office on youth skills development in UNESCO intangible cultural heritage and women’s empowerment local initiatives. He also worked for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Lebanon on strengthening access to decent job opportunities for young Palestinian refugees through dedicated apprenticeship and internship programs. Prior to that, he worked in the humanitarian response to the Syrian crisis in Jordan, establishing a non-formal education program for Syrian children.

He holds a master’s degree in international relations and diplomacy from the University of Trieste (Italy).