Imane Helmy

Imane Helmy

Senior Economist at World Bank’s Poverty and Equity Global Practice

Imane Helmy is a microeconomist and development practitioner with over ten years of work experience in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Currently, she is a Senior Economist at World Bank’s Poverty and Equity Global Practice. Prior to joining the bank, she was Associate Minister of Social Solidarity for Economic Affairs and Financial Inclusion. Her fields of interest include social protection, financial inclusion as well as poverty and inequality analysis. She worked as consultant for international organizations including the World Bank, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and International Policy Center for Inclusive Growth (IPC). She contributed to operational and analytical engagements related to targeting and evaluating the impact of cash transfers and economic inclusion programs, development of social registries, development of payment systems for shock-responsive safety nets, measuring poverty and inequality as well as assessing the welfare impacts of policies. Previously, she worked at UNDP on supporting different projects and flagship reports addressing poverty alleviation. Imane also served as research fellow at American University in Cairo and senior researcher at the German University in Cairo working on research projects related to Islamic microfinance and women empowerment. Imane holds a Ph.D. in Economics from German University in Cairo and a dual degree Master of Arts (M.A.) in Economics and Economics in International Development (ECID) from American University in Cairo. She received multiple excellence awards and research fellowships including a fellowship on “Economic Vulnerability in the Arab World” at University of Minnesota, Ahmed and Ann M. El-Mokadem Fellowship and Middle-East Award for Research in Development and Sustainability. She is also the first winner of “Youth Essay Competition on Unemployment” organized by the World Bank and the Economic Research Forum (ERF) in 2017.

Areas of Interest:

  • Social Protection
  • Financial Inclusion
  • Poverty and Inequality Analysis
  • Welfare and Distributional Impact of Economic/Social Policies

Education:

  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Economics with Highest Honors, Faculty of Management Technology, The German University in Cairo (GUC). 2019
  • Master of Arts (M.A.) in Economics with Highest Honors, School of Business, The American University in Cairo (AUC). 2016
  • Master of Arts (M.A.) in Economics in International Development (ECID) with Highest Honors, School of Business, The American University in Cairo (AUC). 2015
  • Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) with Highest Honors, Faculty of Management Technology, The German University in Cairo (GUC). 2010

Experience:

  • Senior Economist at World Bank’s Poverty and Equity Global Practice, 2022-Present
  • Associate Minister of Social Solidarity for Economic Affairs and Financial Inclusion, Ministry of Social Solidarity (MOSS), Egypt, 2020-2022
  • Consultant, World Bank, Cairo, Egypt, 2017- Present
  • Programme Assistant, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Cairo, Egypt, 2014-2017
  • Senior Researcher, German University in Cairo (GUC), 2012-2014

Latest Publications:

  • Atallah, S. and Helmy, I. (2019). How Does Access to Credit Affect the Saving Behavior? Journal of Economic & Management Perspectives, Volume 12, Issue 2, 561-574
  • Bloch, C., Bilo, C., Helmy, I., Osorio, R. and Soares, F. (2019), Fiscal space for child-sensitive social protection in the MENA region, No 36, Research Report, Brasília: International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth (IPC) and UNICEF Middle East and North Africa Regional Office.
  • Tebaldi, R. et al. (2019). Building Shock-Responsive National Social Protection Systems in the MENA Region. Brasília and Amman: International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth (IPC) and UNICEF Middle East and North Africa Regional Office (Research Assistance).
Social Safety Nets in Tunisia: Comparison of Different Targeting Methods

Areas of Interest: Social Protection Financial Inclusion Poverty and Inequality Analysis Welfare and Distributional Impact of Economic/Social Policies... Read More

October, 2022

Working Papers
The Tunisian Social Protection System: Key Strengths and Challenges

Areas of Interest: Social Protection Financial Inclusion Poverty and Inequality Analysis Welfare and Distributional Impact of Economic/Social Policies... Read More

September, 2022

Policy Briefs
Alternative Targeting Mechanisms for Social Safety Nets in Tunisia

Areas of Interest: Social Protection Financial Inclusion Poverty and Inequality Analysis Welfare and Distributional Impact of Economic/Social Policies... Read More

September, 2022

Policy Briefs
The Landscape of Social Protection in Tunisia

Areas of Interest: Social Protection Financial Inclusion Poverty and Inequality Analysis Welfare and Distributional Impact of Economic/Social Policies... Read More

September, 2022

Working Papers
Household Vulnerability and Resilience in Egypt: The Role of Social Policies

Areas of Interest: Social Protection Financial Inclusion Poverty and Inequality Analysis Welfare and Distributional Impact of Economic/Social Policies... Read More

October, 2019

Policy Briefs
2
National Dialogue on the Social Protection System
Reimagining Social Protection in Jordan, Tunisia and Egypt

Areas of Interest: Social Protection Financial Inclusion Poverty and Inequality Analysis Welfare and Distributional Impact of Economic/Social Policies... Read More

2020-11-17

Improving Rigorous Evidence for Better Civic Engagement on Social Protection
Improving Rigorous Evidence for Better Civic Engagement on Social Protection and Supporting the Network’s Institutional Strengthening

Areas of Interest: Social Protection Financial Inclusion Poverty and Inequality Analysis Welfare and Distributional Impact of Economic/Social Policies... Read More

2020-06-15

Webinars
Policy Dialogue on the Impact of the Russia-Ukraine Crisis on Children and Vulnerable Households in Egypt

Areas of Interest: Social Protection Financial Inclusion Poverty and Inequality Analysis Welfare and Distributional Impact of Economic/Social Policies... Read More

Dec 05, 2022

Annual Conferences
Revisiting Macroeconomic Management in Times of Crisis and Beyond

Areas of Interest: Social Protection Financial Inclusion Poverty and Inequality Analysis Welfare and Distributional Impact of Economic/Social Policies... Read More

Mar 26, 2022

Webinars
National Dialogue on the Social Protection System in Tunisia

Areas of Interest: Social Protection Financial Inclusion Poverty and Inequality Analysis Welfare and Distributional Impact of Economic/Social Policies... Read More

Jan 24, 2022

Webinars
National Dialogue on the Social Protection System in Tunisia

Areas of Interest: Social Protection Financial Inclusion Poverty and Inequality Analysis Welfare and Distributional Impact of Economic/Social Policies... Read More

Sep 07, 2021

Initiatives & Partnerships

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The Forum

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