Ahmed Raza

Bio:

Ahmed is a structured thinker, trained in economics, finance, data science & technology. He currently works as an economist (consultant) with Education Global Practice @ World Bank Group, where he dives into the complexities of global economic issues and pressing human development challenges. His research interests lie where development and data meet. His work on promoting evidence based policy-making has allowed him to culminate affiliations with renowned institution(s) such as World Bank Group, EPOD-Harvard, CERP, & BSE.

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Expertise:

Ahmed’s skill set combines econometric analysis with data governance & design thinking. He is a trained researcher with proven expertise in creating technical content, research management, team building, pattern recognition, artificial intelligence, and navigating complex data landscapes and markets. His unique work portfolio and background makes him a versatile professional at the intersection of economics and data science. Ahmed’s work focuses in leveraging the power of data to solve key developmental, policy, and business challenges.

Education

Degree: MSc in Specialized Economic Analysis
Institution: Barcelona School of Economics
Graduation Date: June 2014

(Evaluated by World Education Services (WES), as equivalent to a Canadian master’s degree)

Degree: BSc (Honors) in Economics & Finance
Institution: Lahore School of Economics
Graduation Date: June 2013

(Evaluated by World Education Services (WES), as equivalent to a Canadian bachelor’s degree)

Work Experience

Consultant Economist @ World Bank Group(WBG)

(April 2019 - Present)

Key Contributions
- Spearheading data initiatives for creating analytical global public goods to support results-based programming of the global education sector.
- Providing strategic and technical support for post-COVID education policy and data priorities in WBG client countries.
- Design & Analysis contribution(s) to flagship WBG projects in global and country context. (Project(s): Learning Poverty, Data Depot-Pakistan, Human Capital Review - Pakistan, and Global Education Policy Dashboard(GEPD).

Project Manager @ CERP

(July 2018 - April 2019)

Key Contributions
- Directed data collection, methodology, and analysis for a series of cutting-edge research projects and embedded randomized controlled trials (RCTs), under the LEAPS program.
- Conceptualized & deployed android applications LEAPS sample of to measure young adults’ cognitive and non-cognitive abilities. Analyzed incoming data to examine the linkages between education and labor market outcomes using psychometric analysis and item response theory (IRT) modeling of test scores.
- Assisted in conducting an in-depth investigation of Pakistan’s education ecosystem with data collected from 112 villages, covering every aspect of the educational marketplace.

Senior Research Associate @ CERP

(June 2016 - July 2018)

Key Contributions
- Contributed to research design & implementation aimed at removing credit constraints for low-cost private schools.
- Enhanced statistical analyses and data quality at CERP- Analytics.
- Provided statistical and research support to research staff and external data clients, including banks and private sector firms, to optimize analysis, conduct data diagnostics and embed data in decisions related to operations in order to increase efficiency, outreach, impact, & profits.

Research Associate @ CERP

(June 2014 - June 2016)

Key Contributions
- Conducted field experiments and behavioral lab games to assess citizens’ interaction with state resources in urban and rural settings.
- Acted as the primary point of contact to manage and build relationships with diverse stakeholders and field partners: civil servants, police, judiciary, survey & tech companies.
- Supported fieldwork, data cleaning, analysis and literature review for a published academic paper on trust in state institutions.

Recent Project(s) & Publication(s):

Global Education Policy Dashboard - (GEPD)

Guiding the implementation and analysis of the GEPD in Pakistan.
This projects combines several data iniatives at the Education Global Practice to give a detailed systematic overview of education sector and offers a strong basis for identifying priorities for investment and policy reforms that are suited to each country context.

Learning Poverty - 2022 Global Update

The Learning Poverty indicator combines primary-aged children out-of-school and pupils below a minimum proficiency in reading.
Focuses on both “more schooling” and “better learning” for a holistic perspective on education.
Utilizes data from the Global Learning Assessment Database (GLAD).
Three complementary concepts: Learning poverty level, gap, and severity.
This flagship report informs Post-COVID education policy priorities and urges stakeholders for joint action.

Pakistan – Human Capital Review: Building Capabilities Throughout Life

Contributed to the production: analysis, data visualizations and write-up of the Human Capital Review.
This report calls for a long-term commitment to building human capital throughout life and advocates for intersectoral linkages and continuity of policies to enhance human capital in Pakistan.

Data - Depot Pakistan

Devised & implemented a systematic & scaleable data cleaning, harmonization, and analysis strategy for the assembly and aggregation of 100+ complex micro-datasets from multiple data sources like household surveys, government censuses, and administrative/monitoring datasets. All applicable code behind this initiative is open-source and available on GitHub.
Calulated standardized key indicators on education with open access to standardized micro-datasets by developing a scalable platform using r(shiny) app for proactive tracking of indicators and open access standardized micro-data.
Added value in the data landscape by creating public data good for informed decision-making in the education sector.

State Authority in Pakistan

Monitored, evaluated, and conducted field experiments and behavioral lab games to assess the logic behind citizens’ interaction with state resources in both urban and rural settings.
This paper explores the determinants of trust in state institutions in Pakistan by investigating whether positive engagement can revitalize a citizen’s sense of trust in the state.

Explore the future:

Join Ahmed on his journey of exploration, analysis, and innovation as he continues to shape the future of data-driven economics. Welcome to a world where data isn’t just information; it’s a catalyst for transformation.

Discover. Empower. Transform.

Talks & Lectures:

YouTube: Coming Soon
Spotify: Coming Soon

Proficienct in software(s):

Statistical Analysis: Stata, R, E-Views
Programming Languages: Python, SQL
Data Visualization: Tableau, Stata, R
Data Collection: ODK, Survey CTO, Survey Solutions
Version Control: Github
Office Suites: Microsoft Office
Artificial Intelligence: Chat GPT, Midjourney, & many more

Other Interest(s):

Traveling
Music
Skateboarding & Snowboarding
Freestyle Football
Squash
Table Tennis
Chess