Alexandra Robinson works at the nexus of data, technology, systems change, and social impact. Throughout her career, she has prioritized programs that leverage digital technology, private sector engagement, and open innovation to address complex development and human rights challenges. Robinson has advised Fortune 500 companies, major bilateral donors, private foundations, and global non-profits on data strategies in some of the world’s most sensitive contexts. Robinson has deployed cutting edge data practices to support Ebola-recovery in West Africa, peacebuilding in South Sudan, counter-trafficking interventions in Qatar, Thailand, and Nepal, as well as impact investing funds at a global scale.
Robinson began her career in Nepal where she created and digitized forensic counter-trafficking systems, directed interventions on the India-Nepal border, and utilized data analytics to inform intelligence-led investigations. After returning to the United States, she worked in data science-driven private sector consulting before joining USAID/the Global Development Lab’s Ebola Recovery team to lead monitoring, evaluation, and learning. There she supported interventions advancing internet connectivity, health information systems, mobile health, digital financial services, and private sector partnerships. She designed a ground-breaking baseline assessment to evaluate the impact of USAID’s partnership with C-Squared to bring fiber internet to Monrovia and modernize the Government of Liberia’s eGovernance capabilities.
At Humanity United, an entity of The Omidyar Group, Robinson applied best practices in measurement, design, and analytics to develop, test, and adapt strategies to support peacebuilding in Mali, Zimbabwe, and South Sudan, counter-trafficking in Qatar, Nepal, and Thailand, and impact investing ventures targeting corporate supply chain transparency. There, she evaluated the viability of digital tools aimed at enhancing supply chain transparency and led the development of internal data and technology policy. She also supported pre-series A enterprises to mitigate data security threats and apply responsible data best practices.
As the Director of Evidence Learning and Impact at a boutique consulting firm, Robinson continued to advance strategies to drive open innovation through evidence, while maintaining a commitment to responsible data and technology. There, she grew and led a team of data scientists and learning advisors to support USAID’s Center for Development Innovation. For USAID, she advised international open innovation programs to develop sound strategy, test and measure program effectiveness, and carry out complex evaluations. She proudly led the development of USAID’s Open Innovation Competitions strategy, using systems-thinking-rooted approaches to develop a three-year strategic plan and evidence, learning, and impact measurement plan.
In 2019, Robinson also grew her client practice in responsible data and technology ethics advisory, supporting foundations and donors to institutional data policy and tools (e.g. breach protocols, data sharing agreement templates, ethical partnerships due diligence guides, etc. etc.), and also mentored teams, grantees, and social enterprises.
As an independent consultant, Robinson continues to support private foundations and major donors as a responsible data and technology advisor, impact evaluator, and social impact strategist. Robinson is an active member of the international responsible data, ICT4D, and MERLTech community, and is often featured as an expert speaker at Tech Salons, MERLTech, and other sector thought leadership hubs. She is co-authoring a paper alongside Michael Bamberger on the use of Big data in international monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning practices. The paper, titled the State of the Field of MERLTech and Big Data, will be released in February, 2020.