Benjamin Kushner

Background

About Benjamin Kushner

With nearly 20 years of experience in humanitarian assistance, development, research, and program management, I currently serve as a Disaster Risk Management and Urban Specialist at the World Bank Group (WBG), based in Nairobi, Kenya. Since joining the WBG in 2017, I have supported stabilization operations in Nigeria and managed complex, multi-sectoral recovery programs in Somalia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, and across the region. In my current role, I provide technical leadership on disaster risk management, urban development, and government-led recovery coordination, drawing on extensive field experience and technical expertise to advise and guide client governments and partners. Prior to joining the World Bank Group, I held positions at the World Resources Institute, the Red Cross, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and several NGOs across Latin America. I also served as a Peace Corps volunteer. My career has taken me to a variety of international postings, including Kenya, Nigeria, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Trinidad, and Washington, D.C. In addition to program management, I have conducted and published multiple risk assessments and economic valuation studies. I hold a BS in Environmental Studies and dual master’s degrees in Natural Resource Management and International Affairs.