Ruslan Yemtsov is a Lead Economist and Global Lead for Solutions Group on Social Safety Nets in the World Bank Social Protection and Labor Global practice. Prior to his current position, he worked as a poverty economist in the Middle East and North Africa region, and in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region. His experience includes: preparing poverty assessments (Egypt, Georgia, Serbia, Croatia, Macedonia, Bosnia and more than a dozen others), working on targeting and social assistance projects (Morocco, Russia, Croatia), fuel subsidy reform dialogue (Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco) and leading regional flagship reports on poverty, subsidy reforms and statistical capacity. He has also worked on operations focused on food crisis response (Djibouti), structural adjustment credits (Georgia), energy sector reform, social funds, and social welfare development projects. He is the author and co-author of over 30 research papers, articles reports and book chapters.