Atia Byll-Cataria

Dr. Atia Byll-Cataria, Senior Social Development Specialist, leads the implementation of the gender strategy at the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), the political risk insurance and credit enhancement arm of the World Bank Group. Her work involves integrating gender across the agency's portfolio at the corporate and operations levels, as well establishing strategic partnerships to further MIGA’s gender work. She co-led the establishment of MIGA’s Gender Leadership Award (formerly Gender CEO Award). She previously served as a Senior Environmental and Social Development specialist at MIGA.

Prior to joining MIGA in 2012, she worked as a Senior Socio-Economist in the Fragile States department at the African Development Bank. Earlier in her career, she worked for the International Monetary Fund, the United Nations Foundation, and the Global Fund for Women where she supported various impactful advocacy workstreams on labor issues, equal rights in health, and gender justice.

She holds a PhD in African Studies with a concentration on development and public policy from Howard University, where she was also a Graduate School 50^th Anniversary Presidential Doctoral Scholar. She is a member of the Edward A. Bouchet PhD Honor Society at Yale University. She also holds an MA in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies with a concentration on International Development from George Washington University and a BA in Political Science from Spelman College.