Person:
de Berry, Joanna

Profile Picture
Author Name Variants
Fields of Specialization
Degrees
ORCID
Externally Hosted Work
Contact Information
Last updated: May 29, 2025
Biography
Dr. Joanna de Berry is a Senior Social Development Specialist in the Eastern and Southern Africa Region of the World Bank. She is currently heading up World Bank efforts to support a Government-led development response to Southern Madagascar, which has long been marked by crisis, drought and humanitarian response. She is working to raise attention to the social impacts of climate change across the region. An expert in forced displacement she has worked in many refugee and IDP responses in East Africa, Turkey and central Asia. Jo has a PhD in Social Anthropology from the London School of Economics, based on 18 months ethnographic study in a displaced peoples camp in Uganda. In 2020, she returned to LSE as a Visiting Senior Fellow in the Department of Anthropology and taught on the MA in International Development and Anthropology.

Filters

2020 - 202512000 - 20192
Reset filters

Settings

Statistics
Citations

Publication Search Results

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    Publication
    Understanding Social Vulnerability for more Effective Climate Strategies: Lessons from CCDRs in Southern and Eastern Africa
    (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-05-13) Canpolat, E.; de Berry, J.; Davis, M.; Brown, R.
    Climate change is increasingly evident across Southern and Eastern Africa, bringing higher temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns, more extreme weather, and sometimes catastrophic events. These impacts are expected to intensify in the coming decades, making it crucial to build climate resilience. Governments in the region recognize the threats and, in partnership with the World Bank, have taken steps to reduce climate risks and help their citizens adapt. Yet, without a clear understanding of how social vulnerability interacts with climate risks, these efforts may fail to protect those who are least able to cope with climate shocks. Indeed, some climate investments could leave vulnerable groups worse off. This report draws on a wealth of new analysis for eight countries, Botswana, Burundi, Comoros, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, and South Africa, conducted by the Social Sustainability and Inclusion team to provide that crucial perspective for Country Climate and Development Reports (CCDRs). It highlights how social vulnerability puts some people in harm’s way or prevents them from finding safety; limits their access to resources for adaptation; and constrains their agency and their voice. Poverty is a key factor, but so is social exclusion. The goal of the report is to show how understanding social vulnerability can help policymakers to prioritize climate investments, design projects and programs to be more inclusive, and create tailored initiatives that make households and communities stronger and more resilient overall. These insights can help World Bank teams and other development partners as they engage with countries in the region to support green, resilient, and inclusive development.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Publication
    Forced Displacement in Europe and Central Asia
    (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2011-10) De Berry, Joanna P.; Petrini, Benjamin
    This paper describes forced displacement in the Europe and Central Asia Region (ECA) and the vulnerabilities associated with being a displaced person. It analyzes the development challenges of forced displacement particularly protracted displacement in the region and the prospects for durable solutions. Displaced persons face challenges related to recovery of or access to housing and land, employment and livelihoods, access to services and public goods including health, education, and infrastructure, and accountable and responsive governance.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Publication
    Uganda : Policy Note on Social Accountability
    (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2008-03) Bitekerezo, Mary; De Berry, Joanna; Shalita, Steven
    This policy note is based on a wider study that analyzed how various stakeholders in Ugandan society can better engage to improve social accountability in service delivery. The study conducted a rapid assessment of selected public officials in three districts (Bushenyi, Lira, and Mukono), non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other civil society organizations, media associations, and parliamentary committees. Focus group discussions with members of selected community-based organizations were also held in the three districts. It also included an in-depth study of selected community-based organizations, brief literature reviews and a public opinion poll. The policy note synthesizes the report's main findings and focuses on key policy recommendations. It is intended as an input into ongoing dialogue and a number of processes and efforts that aim to strengthen civil society participation to improve governance in service delivery in Uganda.