Sarah Shahyar is an accomplished professional in social policy, currently serving as Chief of Social Policy at UNICEF Thailand. With over two decades of experience across United Nations system in Asia and the Middle East, Sarah has driven transformative initiatives in data and analytics, public finance management, and social protection. Her work has focused on advancing evidence-based policy, sustainable financing for social sectors, and expanding inclusive social protection systems—particularly for children, families, and vulnerable groups. Sarah’s leadership has been pivotal in designing and implementing national poverty monitoring systems, scaling up humanitarian cash transfer programs, and strengthening government capacity for policy evaluation and results-based management. She has managed multi-million-dollar portfolios, led donor relations, and chaired research review committees. Her academic background includes an MSc in Social Policy and Planning from the London School of Economics (LSE), where she was awarded a full scholarship, and a BA in Social Sciences from the University of Tehran. Sarah’s career is distinguished by her ability to bridge humanitarian and development agendas, foster cross-sectoral partnerships, and champion innovative solutions for social development and shared prosperity.