Gemma, a Tanzanian national, has experience in the social sectors, being an urban planner by training and having worked in Tanzania’s education sector. She completed her MSc in Urbanisation and Development at the London School of Economics and Political Science and has a BA in Human Geography at the University of Southampton.
Passionate to return home and work in the Africa region, knowledgeable about Tanzania and fluent in Kiswahili, Gemma began her professional career on the ground in Tanzania, working with an International NGO engaging closely with Local Government Authorities, vulnerable households, and children on the streets, to build supportive platforms for children at risk of moving to the streets. Subsequently, she joined Ifakara Health Institute where she worked for three years as a research scientist and principal investigator, specialising in GIS and the social determinants of health and learning in Tanzania’s urbanising context, and using data and evidence for policy making. Gemma joined the World Bank in January 2019 as an Education Specialist, based in Tanzania. Since then she has been working with the World Bank Tanzania education team to support TTLs and the Client to achieve results under projects in the basic education sub-sector (the Education Program for Results (EPforR) and Secondary Education Quality Improvement Program (SEQUIP)) and support analytical work in the portfolio. Gemma is passionate about many things in the sector – from ensuring schools are safe, empowering teachers and school leaders, equity in education, and the opportunities of ed-tech, all things that make school a exciting, and safe, place for children to learn and reach their potential.