Ms. Elisabetta Capannelli, an Italian national, is an economist with 25 years of experience in the development field. She worked in Italy as consultant and researcher for Nomisma, Bologna, started her international career with the Asian Development Bank in 1992 and moved to the World Bank in 1998.

She has worked in more than 30 countries in the East Asia and Pacific; South Asia; Middle East and North Africa and Europe and Central Asia Regions covering macro-economics, urban development, infrastructure and governance issues. Between 2005-2008 she took leave from the World Bank and worked for the European Commission. She was member of the Cabinet of Joaquin Almunia, then Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, in charge of the international portfolio, the G7/G8/G20 and the IFIs. Most recent assignment was as World Bank Country Manager for Romania and Hungary.

Ms. Capannelli holds a Laurea (MPhil) in Political Science with a Major in Economics from Bologna University, and a Master of Arts in Development Economics from Sussex University.