Yan Zhang is a Senior Urban Specialist and Program Lead for the World Bank Group’s Joint Affordable Housing Program in India and a focal point for housing sector engagement across South Asia. Since joining the Young Professionals Program in 2004, she has worked in urban development globally, spearheading projects focused on urban land supply and management, housing policy and institutional reforms, subsidy design, slum upgrading, affordable housing public-private partnerships (PPPs), and rental housing in countries such as the Philippines, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa, and Jordan.
During her tenure in the East Asia region, Yan was based in Manila, where she introduced innovative approaches and strengthened capacity-building efforts for shelter agencies, cities, and communities, particularly those supporting informal settlers in hazardous locations. From 2016 to 2019, she co-led the World Bank’s Affordable Housing Community of Practice and was pivotal in developing two global knowledge reports: Urban Land and Housing Market Assessment Toolkit and Public-Private Partnerships for Investment and Delivery of Affordable Housing in Emerging Market Economies. Yan holds a Doctorate in Public Policy and Urban Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.