Reham Rizk
Director of the Egypt Impact Lab, J-PAL MENA
Rizk serves as the director of the Egypt Impact Lab (EIL), a collaborative initiative between the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development and J-PAL MENA . This innovative partnership aims to strengthen poverty reduction policies by rigorously evaluating promising government programs. In this capacity as the Director of the Egypt Impact Lab, Rizk assumes a leadership role in steering the Lab's strategic initiatives and ensuring the highest standards of research, policy outreach, and capacity building. Her multifaceted responsibilities include providing both strategic and technical oversight, thereby shaping the trajectory of the Lab's growth and impact. Rizk was the Head of the Modelling and Social Planning and Development Unit at the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development. Her current research focus includes conducting an ongoing randomized evaluation of Unpacking Employment Support: Evidence from a Randomized Experiment with J-PAL MENA and constructing Egypt’s Multidimensional Poverty Index with the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative. Rizk earned her PhD and MA in Economics from Helwan University and focuses her work on establishing sustainable partnerships between universities, government entities, and development practitioners. Her efforts aim to advance policy-driven research and effective planning for development initiatives, with a specific focus on areas such as poverty, employment, microenterprise development, female empowerment and family development.
Areas of Interest:
- Poverty
- Development Economics
- Labor Economics
- Economies of Middle East
Education:
- PhD in Development Economics, Helwan University, 2012
- MA in Development Economics, Helwan University, 2008
- Bachelor of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Political Science (English Section), Cairo University, 2003
Experience:
- Head, Social Planning and Development Unit and Co-Founder of the Egypt Impact Lab at the Egyptian Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, 2020 - Present
- Associate Professor of Economics, Master’s Program for Development Economics from Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University, 2020 - Present
- Associate Professor, London School of Economics Program (LSE), European University in Egypt (EUE), 2022 - Present
- Associate Professor, Universities of Canada (UCE), Egypt, 2020 - 2021
- Associate Professor, Department of Economics, British University of Egypt (BUE), 2020 – 2021
- Senior Economist at the “Tahya-Misr Fund, 2018 – 2019
Latest Publications:
- Hlasny, V., Rizk, R., & Rostom, N. (2024). The impact of COVID-19 on women’s labour market outcomes: evidence from four MENA countries. International Journal of Manpower.
- Hendy, R., Ramadan, R., and Rizk, R. (2022).Is Covid-19 Increasing Inequalities in Jordan? , ERF Policy Report, No.41.
- Rizk, R. (2022). Drivers of inequality of education during COVID-19 pandemic in Jordan , ERF working paper.
- Rizk, R. and Rostom, N. (2021). Inequality of education attainment in Jordan: Patterns and trends, ERF working paper, No. 1491.
Drivers of Inequality in Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Jordan
Areas of Interest: Poverty Development Economics Labor Economics Economies of Middle East Education: PhD in Development Economics, Helwan... Read More
November, 2022
Working PapersIs Covid-19 Increasing Inequalities in Jordan?
Areas of Interest: Poverty Development Economics Labor Economics Economies of Middle East Education: PhD in Development Economics, Helwan... Read More
August, 2022
Policy Research ReportsInequality of Education Attainment in Jordan: Patterns and Trends
Areas of Interest: Poverty Development Economics Labor Economics Economies of Middle East Education: PhD in Development Economics, Helwan... Read More
October, 2021
Working PapersChildren of War: Conflict and Child Welfare in Iraq
Areas of Interest: Poverty Development Economics Labor Economics Economies of Middle East Education: PhD in Development Economics, Helwan... Read More
December, 2020
Working PapersDo Parents Compensate or Reinforce Child Ability Gaps? Evidence from Egypt Using Private Tutoring
Areas of Interest: Poverty Development Economics Labor Economics Economies of Middle East Education: PhD in Development Economics, Helwan... Read More
December, 2020
Working PapersThe Micro-Level Analysis of the Impact of Violent Conflict on Lives and Livelihoods in the MENA Region
Areas of Interest: Poverty Development Economics Labor Economics Economies of Middle East Education: PhD in Development Economics, Helwan... Read More
2018-09-01
Out of Pocket Education Expenditure and Household Budget: Evidence From Arab Countries
Areas of Interest: Poverty Development Economics Labor Economics Economies of Middle East Education: PhD in Development Economics, Helwan... Read More
2015-01-01
Rethinking the Distribution Effects of Informality in Egypt: A Micro-simulation Analysis
Areas of Interest: Poverty Development Economics Labor Economics Economies of Middle East Education: PhD in Development Economics, Helwan... Read More
2014-01-01
Reimagining Social Protection in MENA
Areas of Interest: Poverty Development Economics Labor Economics Economies of Middle East Education: PhD in Development Economics, Helwan... Read More
Nov 19, 2023
ERF-UNDP Webinar on The Impact of Covid-19 on Inequality in Jordan
Areas of Interest: Poverty Development Economics Labor Economics Economies of Middle East Education: PhD in Development Economics, Helwan... Read More
Sep 18, 2022
ERF 26th Annual Conference: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a Framework for MENA’s Development Policy
Areas of Interest: Poverty Development Economics Labor Economics Economies of Middle East Education: PhD in Development Economics, Helwan... Read More
Jun 23, 2020