DIEGO UBFAL

I am Senior Economist in the World Bank's Gender Group, where I am part of the core team working on the 2024-2030 World Bank Group Gender Strategy. I manage the initiative to fast-track the Strategy implementation in 14 Focus Countries.   I am leading work on entrepreneurship, financial inclusion and gender,  and coordinate the Federation of Gender Innovation Labs. 

My research projects have a focus on entrepreneurship (business training, soft-skills development, networks, digital tools and innovation), the transition from school to work, and financial inclusion.  My current work is centered around the differential constraints faced by women-led businesses.  My publications cover a range of areas including  work-study programs, access to savings accounts, time preferences,  attitudes towards minorities  and extension services in agriculture. 

Before joining the World Bank, I was Assistant Professor at Bocconi University, and research affiliate at JPAL. I earned a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Buenos Aires, a Master degree from the University of San Andres, and a PhD from UCLA. I was Fulbright Scholar and I taught courses on  Impact Evaluation and Development Economics at Bocconi and Columbia University. At the World Bank, I was the thematic leader on entrepreneurship at the Africa Gender Innovation Lab, with focus on randomized control trials to understand how to develop women-led businesses. 

Contact: dubfal@worldbank.org