Elizabeth Graff

About Elizabeth Graff

I’m an international development professional who’s long had a passion for working with governance and social programs in developing countries. I love using research skills in impact evaluation to find out how to improve our industry and better serve communities. Most of all, I enjoy hands-on problem solving, relying on my program management experience, ability to craft policy positions, and leadership skills to develop optimal solutions. My passion for international development began in undergrad, where I studied Arabic and regional topics in Jordan and Morocco. This experience was foundational for my career. After two years with AmeriCorps, I worked as an administrative and communications assistant with USAID. Here I gained insight into recruitment and contract management as well as intensive writing experience. My first international role came as a recruiter and business development associate with Development Alternatives, Inc. This experience opened a world of possibilities. I identified candidates through research, interviews, and field recons in Lebanon, Tunisia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Having spent three years recruiting, I wanted to break into the policy and research side of international development. So, I entered graduate school at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy, where I learned econometrics and how to use qualitative and quantitative methods to design impact evaluations. I tested my new skills through an internship with the Treasury’s Office of International Development Policy. There, I learned how to craft data-backed climate change policy initiatives and present them to senior staff. In addition to my internship, while in graduate school I contributed to client-commissioned studies related to employment, education, development economics, public finance, and women’s empowerment, gaining the research and analysis skills needed to develop evidence-based decisions. Examples of clients include USAID’s Asia Bureau, the Deloitte Center for Government Insight, Durham\'s local governments, and the Durham Public School Foundation. As a Senior Business Development and Programs Associate at Devtech Systems, I’ve tracked and prepared for opportunities in Nepal and Georgia, written portions of a Mexican green value chain proposal, tracked projects’ technical deliverables in Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam, and managed budgets. My work took me to South Sudan, where I worked alongside technical consultants to train remarkable government staff. If you connect with my story, feel free to email me at e••••••••@gmail.com.

Experience

1. Policy Manager

   Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL)

   Sep 2022 — Present

Education

• University of Jordan

  Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies

  2010 — 2010

• Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy

  Master's degree

  2019 — 2021

• Cedarville University

  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

  2008 — 2012