Aishwarya Patil

Aishwarya is a Policy Manager at J-PAL Africa, where she leads the Firms sector portfolio. She identifies opportunities to generate policy-relevant research, and develops partnerships with policymakers, researchers, and the private sector to apply evidence- based approaches to foster growth in African firms and combat unemployment.

Aishwarya brings over 8 years of experience working with multilateral and private financial institutions on projects across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East Regions. Prior to joining J-PAL Africa, Aishwarya provided analytical and technical support to World Bank projects on human development topics covering education and skills, employability, women empowerment, and the use of technology to deliver services. Her work involved conducting policy-relevant research, designing and implementing lending operations, and facilitating partnerships.

Aishwarya began her career in the private sector, managing loan risks at the Tata group’s financial services arm in India, where she was selected as the youngest ever alumna of the Emerging Leaders Program. Aishwarya holds a Master’s in International and Development Economics from Yale University, and a Bachelor’s in Statistics and Economics from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai.