Gemma Nifasha Todd is a Tanzanian national with experience in research, education, and child protection. She has an MSc in Urbanization and Development from the London School of Economics and a BA in Human Geography from the University of Southampton. Gemma began her career on the ground with an international NGO in Tanzania, working closely with local government authorities, vulnerable households, and children, to build supportive platforms and non-formal education systems for children at risk of (or living on) the streets. She then joined a research organization for three years as a research scientist and lead investigator, specializing in the social determinants for learning and health in Tanzania’s urbanizing context and using data and evidence for policy making. She also worked in edutainment supporting the development of content for children and youth.
Gemma joined the World Bank in January 2019 as an Education Specialist based in Tanzania. She has been working with the World Bank Tanzania education team in the basic education sub-sector – specifically on the Education Program for Results (EPforR), Secondary Education Quality Improvement Program (SEQUIP), and Boosting Student Learning Outcomes Project (BOOST) — as well as supporting analytical work in the portfolio. She is passionate about early grade literacy, ensuring schools are safe, empowering teachers and school leaders, equity in education, and the opportunities of ed-tech, all things that make school an exciting and safe place for children to learn and reach their potential.