Rachel Bahn

Technical Director

Rachel Bahn is a Technical Director specializing in the analysis of developing country economies and international development programming. Rachel’s current work includes managing a team on a multi-year contract to expand the use of evidence in decision-making for World Vision Canada. This work includes building institutional capacity, conducting economic analysis, and pre-positioning for commercial contracting opportunities. Furthermore, Rachel managed a team to complete 14 cost-benefit analysis models of agriculture value chain investments for USAID in 2022 and is currently managing a multi-country survey on women’s entrepreneurship for USAID.

Rachel’s professional experience includes work in academia, with the U.S. Government, and the private sector. From 2014 up until joining Limestone in 2022, Rachel worked as an Instructor of Agribusiness at the Department of Agricultural Sciences and Coordinator of the Food Security Program of the American University of Beirut. Her research focused on food systems, supermarketization, value chains, food security, nutrition security, sustainable diets, and the intersection of agriculture, conflict, and crisis.

Prior to joining Limestone, Rachel completed numerous assignments to advance the use of cost-benefit analysis for assessing investments undertaken by USAID field missions. These assignments included reviewing, auditing, and conducting ex-post performance updates of cost-benefit analyses of agricultural and environmental conservancy investments, and developing guidelines for using cost-benefit analysis and cost-effectiveness analysis techniques to assess investments tailored to the needs of USAID staff and contractors.

Rachel speaks English, French, and Lebanese Arabic.

Education

  • Ph.D. in Management – Universite de Montpellier / Institut Agro, Montpellier, France (2023)
  • M.A. in International Affairs – Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) (2008)
  • B.A. in International Relations and French Literature – Saint Joseph’s University (2004)