Harun is the Deputy Chief Economist for the World Bank’s Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region. He has over 15 years of experience engaging in policy dialogue across the MENA, Europe and Central Asia, and East Africa regions. In these roles, he has led complex development policy operations, core analytical products, and targeted technical assistance.
As a Senior Country Economist in the MENA region, Harun spearheaded innovative projects such as the Saudi-IPAD and managed the World Bank’s analytical program on the Syrian conflict, among other key initiatives.
Harun’s technical experience covers growth and fiscal policy problems, with a particular focus on the implications of demographic change, natural resource shocks, and conflicts and forced displacement. He has published several peer-reviewed articles and policy reports, including The Economics of Winning Hearts and Minds: Programming Recovery in Eastern Ukraine, The Toll of War, and The Mobility of Displaced Syrians. Harun holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Florida International University.
