Rakhi Bhavnani is a Disaster Risk Management Specialist working in the area of disaster reconstruction, risk reduction, and rapid response. She recently joined GFDRR's sustainable recovery team (Track III) working on response to the drought in the Horn of Africa. Previously, she was in the South Asia Region working on emergency operations including the response to the 2010 Pakistan Floods, India Emergency Tsunami Reconstruction Project, Bihar Koshi River Flooding Project, and India National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project. Rakhi's background is in disaster and conflict management. She holds a Master's degree from Harvard University where she developed a thesis focused on the inter-linkages between natural disasters and conflict. She is currently a PhD candidate (on leave) in Information Technology at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. Her current research areas include: impact assessments of microinsurance programs, PDNA methodological improvements, institutional arrangements for reconstruction programs, and IFI support for innovative "game changers" in international development. She is a Canadian national.