Hala Abushama is a Research Analyst in the Development Strategies and Governance Unit (DSG) at the International Food Policy Research Institute. She is a development economist with particular research interest in political economy and institutional economics, labor economics, and economics of education. Hala holds a BSc (Hons) in Economics and Finance from the University of Khartoum (2016), and a MSc in Development Economics from SOAS University of London (2019). Prior to joining IFPRI, she worked as Research Consultant at the World Bank’s Digital Development Practice and Education Global Practice, Junior Economic Advisor in Government of Sudan – Khartoum State’s Ministry of Finance, Junior Economist (PG Fellow) at the African Development Bank (Burundi Country Office), Researcher Collaborator at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a Research Assistant at SOAS University of London. Hala is also a Founding Member of the Sudanese Women Economists Association (2020).