COVID-19 is creating rapid and dramatic shifts in the global economy and how business is transacted. This disruption is fueling fast-paced innovation and uptake of digital technology in all spheres of life, but also poses real risks, exacerbating the existing vulnerabilities of poor women and men and leaving them even further behind. This brief is designed to equip private sector (PSD) and market systems development (MSD) practitioners with practical and actionable guidance to optimize outreach and engagement and minimize unintentional exclusion in the development sector’s move to the use of more digital technology.
Maha Elhayek
Senior Consultant
I specialize in market systems development in fragile and conflict-affected settings. Over the past decade, I have advised programs across the MENA region, Africa, and Eastern Europe. My work spans agricultural and industrial sectors, focusing on market systems assessments, program design, and strategies that expand opportunities for marginalized groups and support gender mainstreaming. I enjoy applying systems thinking to uncover structural barriers, co-create locally grounded solutions, and advise on private sector partnerships. I am currently passionate about applying MSD approaches to address climate change challenges.