Zainab Allawi is an Education Specialist with the Middle East and North Africa region in the Human Development Sector at the World Bank. She holds a Master’s Degree in International Education and Human Development from The George Washington University in with a focus on development in the Middle East and a Bachelor’s Degree in International Development, Economics and Science from McGill University. Since joining the World Bank in 2008, she has worked on operational, analytical, and regional projects across various MENA countries including: Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Dubai/UAE, Syria, Oman, Tunisia, Palestine, Yemen, and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A native of Iraq, her fields of interest include educational reform at all levels, education in fragile states, and the link between public policy and educational outcomes.