Mariam

Mariam Claeson, M.D., M.P.H., is the program coordinator for AIDS in the South Asia Region of the World Bank since January 2005. She was the lead public health specialist in the HNP, Human Development Network, World Bank, 1998- 2004, where she managed the HNP Millennium Development Goals work program and co-authored the synthesis report The Millennium Development goals for health; Rising to the Challenges. As coordinator of the Public Health Thematic Group of the World Bank (1998- 2002), she led the development of the note: Public Health and World Bank Operations and promoted multi sector approaches in Bank analytical work and lending operations. She worked in several health sector development teams in low- and mid-income countries, including China, Jordan and Egypt.

Mariam was one of the co-editor of the Disease Control Priorities in Developing Countries, second edition (2006), and participated in the Bellagio study group on child survival: Knowledge into action for child survival (2003). She was also a member of the What Works Working group of the Center for Global Development that produced the report Millions Saved; Proven Successes in Global Health (2005) identifying the elements of successful public health programs.

Since joining the South Asia Region, Mariam has worked on project preparations in India and as team leader for the first HIV prevention project in Afghanistan. She was a coauthor of AIDS in South Asia: Understanding and Responding to a Heterogeneous Epidemic (2006) which informs the Bank’s HIV and AIDS analysis, policy and operations in the region. She is currently team leader for the South Asia Development Marketplace, tackling AIDS related stigma and discrimination through support to innovative ideas of civil society groups throughout the region.

Prior to joining the Bank, Mariam worked with the World Health Organization (1988-1995), for several years as program manager for the support to country operations of the WHO Global Program for the Control of Diarrheal Diseases (CDD), and on the development and implementation integrated management of childhood illness. She has several years of field experience at the rural district level (Tanzania, Bangladesh and East Bhutan); and in national program management (Ethiopia 1984-1986).