Meaza Zerhun Demissie has a long career working in international non-governmental organizations and an international institution. Currently, she works at the World Bank Group supporting regional and countrywide education programs for West and East Africa Units. Prior to joining the World Bank, she was a Program Manager for higher education and science capacity building programs at CRDF Global, an organization dedicated to building scientific and research capacity in low and middle income countries. While at CRDF Global, she managed higher education and institution building projects funded by the U.S. government, multinational organizations and foundations, and implemented in Eastern European and sub-Saharan African countries. She also worked with a leading hunger and poverty advocacy organization, Bread for the World Institute, supporting its flagship annual publication — the Hunger Report.

Ms. Demissie has a Ph.D. in International Development with an Economic Development focus, M.A. in Public Administration with a Non-Governmental Organization management focus, and a B.A. in Political Science and International Relations.