Sarah is currently at researcher at the International Growth Centre (IGC).
Sarah was the former Head of the State Fragility initiative (SFi), a team dedicated to working on issues of state fragility and with governments of fragile and transitioning countries. SFi also serves as the secretariat of the Council on State Fragility and co-hosts the DFI Fragility Forum with the IFC, AfDB, and CDC Group. Sarah has worked extensively with governments of fragile states, including Sudan, Yemen, Somaliland, Zimbabwe, Myanmar, and South Sudan on a wide range of economic policy issues, including private sector development, trade and investment, fiscal federalism, and mobile money regulation.
Prior to leading the State Fragility initiative, Sarah led the IGC’s former Flexible Engagements Programme and established and managed (in partnership with ANDE) the SGB Evidence Fund, which supports collaborations between researchers and practitioners to understand the most effective ways to support small and growing businesses in developing countries. Prior to joining the IGC, Sarah worked for a law firm in New York City providing legal and policy advice to developing country governments on natural resource governance issues.
Sarah holds an MPA from Columbia University, an LLB from the University of Cape Town, and is an admitted attorney and member of the New York State Bar, American Bar Association, and Law Society of the Northern Provinces (South Africa).