Hadia Samaha is currently the World Bank's Human Development Practice Lead for Afghanistan. She was the World Bank's Ebola Coordinator for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)'s response from May 2018 to September 2020. She worked as the overall health nutrition and population portfolio lead in DRC for 8 years, where she has focused her work on health system strengthening and the global health security agenda, as well as donor engagement.
Hadia obtained her Bachelor of Art in 1993 from the George Washington University (GWU). She obtained her Masters of Arts in International Health Policy and Development from GWU as well.
Hadia has more than 20 years of experience in health system strengthening in the Africa, Middle East and North Africa and East Asia regions, including designing, implementing and evaluating health insurance and result-based financing schemes; reinforcing public-private partnerships; supporting primary care service delivery focusing on maternal and child health; and managing health systems research and impact evaluations; as well as a number of health financing analytical work. She has focused her work on service delivery in fragile contexts.