The Jacobs Foundation appoints three new global program managers

The Jacobs Foundation is delighted to announce the appointment of three new global program managers to support its expanding global portfolio and strategic goals.

Inês Charro, Yasmine Bekkouche, and Nelson Amaya joined the Foundation in March 2025, bringing extensive experience in education, international development, and data-driven knowledge management.

Inês Charro joins the Global Learning and Evidence team, drawing on her extensive background in education financing, impact investment, and international management. Previously, Inês was the Education Practice Area Manager at Dalberg Advisors in New York City, leading projects such as the Education Finance Network for USAID, with support from CIFF and SDC. Her experience also includes impactful roles at MAZE and Boston Consulting Group. Inês holds a Master’s in Finance and International Management from NOVA School of Business and Economics, with international studies spanning Lisbon, Maastricht, and Warsaw.

Also joining the Global Learning and Evidence team is Yasmine Bekkouche, a development economist with deep expertise in education quality and gender equality. Her experience includes technical and analytical roles at the World Bank, European Union, United Nations, and the Agence Française de Développement, where she led initiatives in education policy, research, and impact evaluation. Yasmine holds a PhD in Economics and an MA in Public Policies and Development Economics from the Paris School of Economics, along with an MA in Data Science from ENSAE Paris-Tech. She previously served as a postdoctoral fellow at both the Center for the Study of African Economies (University of Oxford) and ECARES (Université Libre de Bruxelles).

Nelson Amaya joins the Knowledge and Communications team as a Global Knowledge Manager, bringing significant expertise in data science and knowledge management. Nelson most recently served as a Data Scientist with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and previously led research for the OECD Centre on Philanthropy. His expertise includes applied research, statistical modelling, and the innovative use of open-source tools for data management. Nelson holds a Master’s in Public Administration from Columbia University and a BA in Economics from Universidad de los Andes in Colombia.

Welcoming Inês, Yasmine, and Nelson—with their deep global expertise in research and education—is an important milestone as we sharpen our focus and direct our efforts where they can have the greatest impact on children’s learning. Their contributions will be key in driving evidence-informed decisions in our work and advancing the strategic goals of our 2030 vision.

Donika Dimovska, Chief Knowledge Officer

Donika Dimovska, Chief Knowledge Officer

These new hires underscore the Foundation’s commitment to achieving inclusive and equitable quality education (SDG 4), especially as global funding landscapes become increasingly challenging. The Foundation remains dedicated to collaborating closely with governments, private sector partners, and civil society to ensure that every child has access to the quality learning opportunities they deserve.