Florentina Mulaj is the Program Manager for the World Bank’s Development Impact Fund (DIF), a global multi-donor umbrella facility Trust Fund dedicated to integrating scientific knowledge into policymaking to improve development effectiveness. Managed by the Development Impact (DECDI) group under the World Bank’s Development Economics Vice-Presidency, DIF operates at the forefront of global development, ensuring our interventions are grounded in rigorous evidence and real-time data for greater impact. The approach involves fostering evidence-informed adaptive policy change, redefining the production function of research, and leveraging data and AI analytics for just-in-time policy advice. DIF conducts research in over 60 countries with 200+ projects, shaping the design and implementation of approx. $20 billion in development finance. The recent DECDI report Driving Revolutionary Ideas into Practice showcases how investments in evidence-based policy transforms development outcomes, unlocking pathways to prosperity and equity. Florentina has an MPA in International and Public Affairs from Princeton University and a BA in IR/Economics from Saint Joseph’s University.
