Silke Staab
Senior Research Specialist
Brooklyn,NY
Summary
15 years of experience in quantitative and qualitative policy research, programme development and management with a focus on women’s economic empowerment, social protection and the care economy and excellent knowledge of the Latin American and Caribbean region. Unique blend of technical expertise, networking skills, strategic vision, and clear, action-oriented communication.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
10
10
years of post-secondary education
4
4
Languages
Work History
Research Specialist (P-3)
U.N. WOMEN
03.2014 - 04.2017
- Designed, developed and coordinated research and analysis on gender and social protection for UN Women’s flagship report 'Progress of the World’s Women 2015-2016: Transforming Economies, Realizing Rights'
- Coordinated and co-authored the first-ever regional companion report 'Progress of Women in Latin America and the Caribbean: Transforming Economies, Realizing Rights' in collaboration with the UN Women regional office
- Prepared technical briefs on a wide range of social protection issues from a gender perspective, including gender-just transitions, social protection floors, care, and the gender pension gap
- Led on research and writing of the 'Women and poverty' chapter for the Secretary General’s Beijing+20 review which positioned social protection as a key tool for reducing poverty and inequalities of multiple kinds
- Supported UN Women regional and country offices to develop and strengthen their policy and programmatic work on gender-responsive social protection
Senior Research Specialist (P-4)
U.N. WOMEN
04.2017 - Current
- Developed and managed research programmes on gender equality, care, social protection and crisis response and resilience
- Led on research, drafting and presentation of knowledge products, including global flagship reports, position papers and policy briefs
- Represented UN Women in technical expert meetings and interagency groups on economic and social issues
- Provided capacity building, guidance and hands-on assistance to regional and country office
- Established and strengthened partnerships with academia, civil society, other UN agencies, IFIs, and donors to translate research, data and evidence into policy action
- Mobilized resources for research and data work at global, regional and country level and managed donor relations for research and advocacy programmes
Consultant
U.N. ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARRIBEAN (ECLAC/CEPAL)
09.2012 - 11.2012
- Conducted a technical review of social protection policies and programs in Chile from a child rights perspective, drawing on official data and statistics, an analysis of policy documents and key informant interviews with policymakers
- Drafted a discussion paper on progress and challenges and how to address them to inform technical assistance work provided under a joint ECLAC/Unicef project on child poverty, inequality and citizenship in Latin America and the Caribbean
Consultant
CARE International
10.2010 - 01.2011
- Prepare a comprehensive technical report on the contribution of existing policies and programmes to reducing and redistributing unpaid care responsibilities in Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru
- Conducted interviews and hold consultations with key stakeholders, including experts, state bureaucrats and representatives from civil society and women’s organizations.
- Developed recommendations for CARE’s advocacy and programmatic work in the region based on the gathered evidence
Research Analyst
U.N. Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD)
06.2008 - 05.2010
- Conducted background research and comparative analysis for the project 'The Political and Social Economy of Care'
- Contribute to technical reports, analytical papers and policy briefs as well as UNRISD’s 2010 Flagship Report 'Combating Poverty and Inequality'
- Co-edited special journal issues and book volumes based on findings of the research project
- Designed and conducted assessments of childcare policies in Chile and Mexico, including their contributions to women’s economic empowerment
- Supported the organization of two large conferences held in New York, accompanying the 53rd session of the Commission on the Status of Women
- Contributed to resource mobilization strategies for new research projects
Research Assistant
U.N. ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARRIBEAN (ECLAC/CEPAL)
11.2006 - 05.2008
- Evaluated, analysed and documented innovative social development projects
- Prepared reports on best practices for ECLAC and other UN Agencies
- Contributed to ECLAC flagship publications
- Participated in the planning and implementation of events
Education
PhD - Politics
UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER
01.2012 - 04.2014
PhD (c) - Politics
UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD
09.2010 - 12.2012
Diplom/M.A. - Latin American Studies
UNIVERSITY OF COLOGNE
10.2002 - 01.2005
Fulbright Fellow - Latin American Studies
SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY
08.2001 - 06.2002
Vordiplom/B.A. - Latin American Studies
UNIVERSITY OF COLOGNE
04.1999 - 08.2001
Deutsche Hochschulreife (Abitur) - undefined
PETER-VISCHER-GYMNASIUM
Skills
Robust knowledge of gender equality and women's economic empowerment issues
Excellent knowledge of the Latin American and Caribbean region
Strong research, analytical and writing skills
Strong networking skills
Honors And Awards
- 06/01/15, Thesis shortlisted for the Gender and Politics PhD Prize, European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR)
- 05/01/15, President’s Distinguished Achievement Award: Postgraduate Research Student of the Year for outstanding academic excellence and achievement, University of Manchester
- 05/01/12, Elsa Chaney Award for the best unpublished paper in Gender and Women’s Studies, Latin American Studies Association (LASA)
- 06/01/02, Different grants for field research and internships abroad, Friedrich Ebert Foundation and German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
- 08/01/01, Scholarship for one year of graduate studies in the United States, Fulbright Commission
- 04/01/99, Awarded to students of outstanding academic and extracurricular achievements, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, German National Scholar
Publications
Framing care in global and regional policy spaces., Silke Staab, Social Politics, 32, 2, 2025, Do Governments Account for Gender When Designing Their Social Protection Systems? Findings From an Analysis of National Social Protection Strategies., Cookson, Tara; Rita Sandoval; Silke Staab; et al., Social Policy & Administration, 58, 1, 78–92, 2024, Following a moving target on a global scale: Gender data collection during COVID-19., Silke Staab; Constanza Tabbush, Global Social Policy, 22, 1, 184-189, 2022, Gender-responsive social protection post–COVID-19., Gavrilovic, Maja; Silke Staab et al., Science, 375, 6585, 1111-1113, 2022, Don't Let Another Crisis Go to Waste: The COVID-19 Pandemic and the Imperative for a Paradigm shift., James Heintz; Silke Staab; Laura Turquet, Feminist Economics, 27, 1-2, 470-485, 2021, Putting two and two together? Early Childhood Education, Mothers’ Employment and Childcare Service Expansion in Chile and Mexico., Silke Staab; Roberto Gerhard, Development and Change, 42, 4, 2011, Underpaid and overworked: A cross-national perspective on care workers., Shahra Razavi; Silke Staab, International Labour Review, 149, 4, 2010, Gender and the Politics of Gradual Change: Social Policy Reforms and Innovations in Chile., Silke Staab, Palgrave, New York and London, 2017, Global Variations in the Political and Social Economy of Care: Worlds Apart., Shahra Razavi; Silke Staab, Routledge, New York, 2012, Gender and Social Policy in the Global South: Origins, Trends and Future Directions., Cook, Sarah; Naila Kabeer; Shahra Razavi; Silke Staab, Oxford Handbook of Social Policies in the Global South, Oxford University Press, 2025, Social protection for women informal workers., Silke Staab, The Informal Economy Revisited: Examining the Past, Envisioning the Future, Marty Chen; Françoise Carré, Routledge, New York, 2020, Early Childhood Education and Care from a Gender Perspective., Silke Staab, Early Childhood and Development Work—Theories, Policies and Practices, Anne-Trine Kjornholt; Helen Penn, Palgrave, 2019, ‘Nuevas’ políticas de cuidado en Chile: Expansión de salas cunas (2006-2010) y reforma de la licencia maternal (2011), Silke Staab, Redefiniendo las fronteras del cuidado: Agenda, derechos e infraestructura, Pautassi, L.; N. Gherardi; C. Zibecchi, Equipo Latinoamericano de Justicia y Género (ELA), Buenos Aires, 2013, Gender, Poverty and Inequality: The Role of Markets, States and Households., Shahra Razavi; Silke Staab, International Handbook on Gender and Poverty, Chant, S., Elgar Publishing, Northampton, 2011, World Survey on the Role of Women in Development: Harnessing Social Protection for Gender Equality, Resilience and Transformation., UN Women, 2024, report manager and lead author, Feminist Climate Justice: A Framework for Action., UN Women, 2023, co-author, Government Responses to Covid-19: Lessons on Gender Equality for a World in Turmoil., UN Women and UNDP, 2022, report manager and lead author, Beyond Covid-19: A Feminist Plan for Sustainability and Social Justice., UN Women, 2021, co-author, Turning Promises into Action: Gender Equality in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development., UN Women, 2018, report manager and chapter author, Progress of Women in Latin America and the Caribbean 2017: Transforming Economies, Realizing Rights., UN Women, 2017, report manager and co-author, Progress of the World’s Women 2015-2016: Transforming Economies, Realizing Rights., UN Women, 2015, chapter author, Putting gender equality at the centre of social protection strategies in sub-Saharan Africa: How far have we come?, Cookson, Tara; Silke Staab; Constanza Tabbush et al., 2023, UN Women, Policy Brief No. 24, Making national social protection floors work for women., Silke Staab, 2015, UN Women, Policy Brief No. 1, Gender Equality, child development and job creation - Reaping the 'triple dividend' from early childhood education and care services., Silke Staab, 2015, UN Women, Policy Brief No. 2, Protecting women’s income security in old age: Toward gender-responsive pension systems., Silke Staab, 2015, UN Women, Policy Brief No. 3, Protección social a la infancia en Chile, 2014, Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL), Serie de Políticas Sociales N180, Santiago de Chile, Why Care Matters for Social Development, Shahra Razavi; Silke Staab, 2010, UNRISD, Research and Policy Brief No. 9, Geneva, How Feminism Can Guide Climate Change Action, Scientific American, 12/01/21, 2024, Laura Turquet, Brianna Howell, Harnessing social protection for gender equality, resilience and transformation, Socialprotection.org, 10/29/24, Caring for carers: Recognizing the rights and contributions of older women, UN Women Data Hub, 10/27/23, Georgina Veitch, Ramya Emandi, Feminist Climate Justice – what is it and how could it help?, From Poverty to Power, 12/11/23, Laura Turquet, Constanza Tabbush, Always on the frontline in every crisis., SDG Action, 03/01/23, Laura Turquet, Constanza Tabbush, Where Covid-19 leaves gender equality, Apolitical, 02/22/21, Laura Turquet, Constanza Tabbush, Covid-19 sends care economy deeper into crisis mode, UN Women Data Hub, 04/22/20, Shahra Razavi, Director of the Universal Social Protection Department, International Labor Organizations (ILO), Geneva, razavi@ilo.org, Laura Turquet, Deputy Director of the Research and Data Section, UN Women, New York, laura.turquet@unwomen.org, Claudia Robles, Social Affairs Officer, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Santiago de Chile, claudia.robles@cepal.org
Personal Information
- Place of Birth: Heidelberg
- Date of Birth: 02/16/79
Timeline
Senior Research Specialist (P-4)
U.N. WOMEN
04.2017 - Current
Research Specialist (P-3)
U.N. WOMEN
03.2014 - 04.2017
Consultant
U.N. ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARRIBEAN (ECLAC/CEPAL)
09.2012 - 11.2012
PhD - Politics
UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER
01.2012 - 04.2014
Consultant
CARE International
10.2010 - 01.2011
PhD (c) - Politics
UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD
09.2010 - 12.2012
Research Analyst
U.N. Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD)
06.2008 - 05.2010
Research Assistant
U.N. ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARRIBEAN (ECLAC/CEPAL)
11.2006 - 05.2008
Diplom/M.A. - Latin American Studies
UNIVERSITY OF COLOGNE
10.2002 - 01.2005
Fulbright Fellow - Latin American Studies
SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY
08.2001 - 06.2002
Vordiplom/B.A. - Latin American Studies
UNIVERSITY OF COLOGNE
04.1999 - 08.2001
Deutsche Hochschulreife (Abitur) - undefined
PETER-VISCHER-GYMNASIUM
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