SUMERA RAFIQ

Pakistan

Field of Study: Economic Development

Ms. Sumera Rafiq is a Civil Servant working in Federal Secretariat with around 9 years of experience. During that time, she has served in various roles in Ministry of Finance and Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), a Social Safety Net Programme in Pakistan. She has extensive experience of working on Federal Public Sector Development Programme in consultation with Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives. While spearheading the International Cooperation department at BISP, she has worked on various social protection projects in collaboration with World Bank, Asian Development Bank and DFID/FCDO. After establishment of Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety to oversee all social protection initiatives launched under Ehsaas (Empathy) Strategy, she has taken up the new role to work at the policy level. Her current responsibilities are to deal with various policy and administrative matters related to Ehsaas Initiatives and BISP.

During her fellowship year, Sumera plans to advance her knowledge and professional skills in social protection sector with special focus on financial inclusion and financial literacy programmes.  She further hopes to learn about the designing of financial literacy and education, implementation strategies and institutionalization and to gain the hands on experience of US organizations. With the knowledge and professional experience acquired during Humphrey year, her goal is to contribute to the development of social sector by replicating financial education and literacy programmes in Pakistan.

Ms. Rafiq has earned a Masters in Poverty Reduction: Policy and Practice (Inclusive Growth) from SOAS University of London. She also holds an MSc in Organic Chemistry from Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan.