My Career 

Foundations: Academia & Research 

My professional path began in academia, where I focused on development and agricultural economics, and land markets. This period was characterized by extensive research and teaching, leading to publications in top-tier, peer-reviewed journals. This foundation solidified my commitment to generating high-quality knowledge and building strong networks to enhance the visibility and impact of evidence-based applied research.

Key Roles & Accomplishments:

• University of Rome Tor Vergata (Assistant Professor): Over eight years, I published 15 papers, including two in the Journal of Development Economics. I taught a wide range of subjects, mentored over 20 students, and successfully placed graduates in leading international organizations like the World Bank and IFAD.

• Consultancies & Grants: I led numerous projects and secured grants from major international organizations like the World Bank, FAO, and the Italian Ministry of Environment. These opportunities advanced research and built capacity in areas like rural development, climate-smart agriculture, and impact evaluation.

• Conference & Workshop Organization: I have an unparalleled record of organizing high-impact academic events, including and not limited to an impact evaluation workshop with Nobel Laureate Joshua Angrist organized with my colleague Prof. Daniela Vuri, the ICABR 2018 Conference at the World Bank, and the IFAD 2022 International Conference . 

The Transition to Policy: International Organizations 

I transitioned from academia to the world of international organizations, where my focus shifted from research to policy. This experience exposed me to a critical gap between research teams and operational teams—the challenge of translating data and evidence into actionable solutions. To address this, I adopted a guiding principle: "Stop, Think, and Innovate." This philosophy transformed urgency into creativity, helping me develop cost-effective, rigorous tools to generate evidence that truly informs policy.

Key Roles & Accomplishments:

• IFAD (Director, Research & Impact Assessment Division): As a director, I led a strategic vision focused on transforming data into actionable evidence. My key achievements included:

  • Pioneering a Cost-Effective M&E Framework: I launched the M&E4I (Monitoring & Evaluation for Impact) framework to generate sound, credible, and cost-effective data. This framework strategically integrated impact assessment and M&E surveys, allowing for the use of streamlined and rigorous surveys. By combining baseline, midline, and endline data, I was able to conduct robust causal analysis while substantially reducing impact assessment costs by 40%. This innovative approach not only ensured data was cost-effective but also improved the quality of M&E data and made it directly applicable to policy design .

  • Leading a Foundational Data Harmonization Initiative: I launched an initiative to harmonize a decade of household-level data that provided the institution with a unique longitudinal dataset by integrating socioeconomic information with georeferenced variables. This foundational work enable a comprehensive "Decade of Impact" analysis, allowing the possibility to measure the long-term effects of IFAD's contributions to rural transformation. This project significantly improved data quality, consistency, and reliability for robust causal analysis.

  • Championing Transparency & Rigor: I instituted a pioneering three-tier external peer review process for all impact assessments. This process included a highly esteemed Advisory Panel, a rigorous peer review, and a commitment to "push-button" data replication to ensure computational reproducibility and build trust with policymakers. Complementing this, I developed and deployed user-friendly tools like Data Kits and K-Packs to simplify complex evaluation methods and make them more cost-effective. By embedding these tools into local systems, I empowered national institutions to build long-term analytical skills and take ownership of their development narratives.  

• The World Bank (Senior Economist, Development Research Group): From 2016-2018, I focused on the "Enabling the Business of Agriculture" (EBA) indicators. I was responsible for developing the Land Indicator for the EBA reports and organized the ICABR 2018 conference to promote knowledge generation and dissemination.

The Next Chapter: Bridging Education & Job Creation 

Now, back at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, I am driven by a passion for building bridges between academia and the professional world. My mission is to train the next generation of economists and professionals by equipping them with the rigorous, evidence-based tools and methods they need to solve real-world problems, inform policy, and drive job creation. My career is a testament to the power of mentorship and partnership for knowledge generation, and I will continue to leverage my extensive network to strengthen institutional credibility and foster a new generation of skilled professionals.

The Past: AFRICAFFE'

Looking back, I will never forget co-founding and managing a pub-restaurant called AFRICAFFE' with my beloved sister, Candia. We built it, owned it, and ran the business from the ground up—it was a truly great experience