Speaker Bio

Varuni Dayaratna is a development researcher with three decades of experience in international development, specializing in rigorous evaluations, technical assistance, and policy research that enhance global development outcomes. She has worked with key organizations like USAID, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the World Bank, and various bilateral and multilateral agencies, significantly contributing to the advancement of evidence-based foreign assistance across diverse sectors and regions. Currently, Varuni serves as Senior Vice President and Director of the International Programs Department (INPRO) at NORC at the University of Chicago. She leads a multidisciplinary team conducting research in over 100 countries. Under her guidance, INPRO delivers high-quality data and evidence to governments, international aid agencies, private sector partners, and civil society organizations across multiple sectors, including education, health, governance, climate change, land tenure, and agriculture. At NORC, Varuni has directed several large evidence generation projects, including the $25 million USAID-funded Reading & Access Evaluations contract, which evaluated education initiatives aimed at improving reading outcomes in over 25 countries;and the Research Technical Assistance Center (RTAC), under which NORC created and engaged a global network of over 1000 academics to provide research services to USAID. Over the years, Varuni has implemented and/or managed research activities in Bolivia, El Salvador, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Lesotho, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Romania, Sri Lanka, and Ukraine. Varuni’s work bridges operational programming with rigorous assessment to support enhanced outcomes for foreign assistance efforts globally. In an evolving development landscape shaped by changing political and financial realities, she remains a dedicated advocate for using data-driven evidence to inform sustainable, context-sensitive interventions that empower communities and governments alike.