Ioana Botea is a Senior Economist in the Social Protection and Jobs (SPJ) Global Practice at the World Bank. She has over 10 years of experience in designing, implementing, and evaluating social protection programs, with a focus on safety nets, economic inclusion, and women’s empowerment. Ioana has managed operations in Cameroon and Gabon and co-authored global and regional publications on social protection and gender. Previously, she worked at the Africa Gender Innovation Lab (GIL), where she conducted impact evaluations on what works to reduce gender gaps. Prior to joining the World Bank, Ioana worked for Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) in Morocco. She holds an MPhil from the University of Cambridge.