Jumana Alaref is a Senior Economist at the World Bank. She has over a decade of experience in social protection and labor market policy across the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia. She leads analytical and operational programs aimed at strengthening social safety nets, boosting female employment, and designing active labor market programs that translate cutting-edge research into real-world policy impact.
Jumana has spearheaded major initiatives in countries including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Lebanon, working directly with governments on labor market strategies, targeting systems, and employment services. Her work spans a broad range of labor market issues — including migration, informality, and firm-level dynamics — as well as gender discrimination in hiring, entrepreneurship education, social cohesion, and youth employment. Her research has appeared in peer-reviewed journals and World Bank policy papers.
She holds a Master in Public Policy from the University of Chicago's Harris School and a Bachelor of Science from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service.