Ravi Kumar is a Senior Program Officer in the World Bank Group Chief Statistician Office in Washington. His interests include advancing data‑driven decision‑making, open governance, and digital transformation to support user‑centered and inclusive service delivery.
At the World Bank, Ravi has led initiatives to expand access to open data, strengthen the use of evidence among governments, and design and implement data and digital products and services in more than 20 countries. His work has supported improved service delivery, transparency, and institutional capacity.
A Nepali national, Ravi joined the World Bank in 2012 and currently manages the Data Academy, the World Bank’s flagship initiative for strengthening data and statistical skills among staff and external stakeholders. He also provides technical assistance to low‑ and middle‑income countries on digital and data‑driven initiatives.
Ravi serves on the Board of Trustees of Buena Vista University, is a member of the Society for Policy Sciences, and is a Steering Committee member of the United Nations Collaborative on Citizen Data. As a social entrepreneur, he has founded and led two nonprofit organizations, including Code for Nepal, through which he has expanded access to data, improved digital and data literacy for thousands of young people, and supported the reconstruction of dozens of schools. He holds advanced degrees from Columbia University and the University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign.