Elana Banin is a Policy Advisor with International Rescue Committee, focusing on early childhood development in crisis and conflict, igniting commitment and investments for young children and their families. Elana has a decade of experience in public policy strategy development and execution, most recently leading strategic planning in UNICEF’s Division of Communication’s advocacy team and research analytics for the advocacy and public policy team at PATH, a global health organization.

Other focus areas have spanned national and human security in Thailand and ASEAN region; Middle Eastern failing states with a case study on Syria at the onset of the Syrian war; and the role of politicized funding in the Arab-Israeli conflict. Elana holds an MA in International Security and Diplomacy from Tel Aviv University and a BA in international studies and communications from Muhlenberg College.