I'm the director of Social Policy Insights, a research consultancy which tracks the latest developments in social protection in East Africa. I’m currently on parental leave from January - May 2024.

I was previously the associate director of social protection at Innovations for Poverty Action. Before that I cofounded the Mawazo Institute, which helps East African women launch careers as researchers.

I have an MA in political science from the University of California, Berkeley; an MA in international relations from Johns Hopkins University; and a BA in geography and French from Dartmouth College.

I’m currently based in London. Originally I’m from Chicago, which is the land of Native nations including the Ojibwe, Odawa, Potawatomi, Miami, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Sac, and Fox. I go by she/her.

Get in touch: rachel@socialpolicyinsights.org