Sara Litke-Farzaneh has expertise in designing and implementing monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) frameworks that facilitate data-driven decision making for foundations. Her primary research interests lie at the intersection of gender equity and social inclusion in international agriculture and social protection programs. Her geographic areas of focus are francophone sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
Litke-Farzaneh supports the design, implementation, and analysis of several evaluations and strategic learning initiatives for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, including projects on gender-inclusive agricultural markets and digital financial inclusion for women’s economic empowerment in India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Her work also encompasses Millennium Challenge Corporation programs focused on gender-intentional land reform in Morocco and irrigation access in Niger.
Before joining Mathematica, Litke-Farzaneh was a consultant for the World Bank, 3ie, and the University of California at Berkeley. Before she entered the field of research, she worked in international development program implementation for a South Asia-based nonprofit organization, and through the Peace Corps in Mali, West Africa, where she served as a natural resource management volunteer. She holds a Master’s in public policy from the University of California at Berkeley.
During COVID-19, governments and employers provided digital payments at a massive scale, leading to rapid opening of bank accounts in developing economies. Mathematica explores why women may not be using these accounts in more meaningful ways, and what the private sector can do about it.
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