Ambika Chopra is a Social Science Researcher at BFA Global, with deep expertise in designing and scaling research and learning systems that maximize impact and drive strategic decision-making. She supports the development of research frameworks, theories of change, and evidence synthesis across inclusive development topics. Ambika is passionate about inclusive finance, gender equity, financial health, and using evidence to shape policy and practice.
At BFA Global, Ambika leads the monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) practice and supports research initiatives across Africa and Asia, guiding how evidence informs strategies for financial health, inclusive finance, digital transformation, and women’s economic empowerment. She has partnered with international development organizations and philanthropic foundations to build learning frameworks, strengthen institutional capacity, and generate insights that influence policy and program design.
Previously, she worked with the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), contributing to randomized evaluations and mixed-methods research in public health and gender. She co-authored research on healthcare disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic and developed resources to enhance data collection practices. Earlier in her career, she worked with J-PAL/CLEAR South Asia as a Research Fellow and at Inc42, producing research on digital economies and startup ecosystems in Southeast Asia.
Her areas of expertise include inclusive finance, financial health, women’s economic empowerment, monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) systems, mixed-methods research (RCTs, qualitative, and quantitative), impact measurement, and program design and scaling in emerging markets. Ambika holds an M.Phil. in Inclusive Development and Social Policy from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, and an M.A. in English Literature from Hansraj College, University of Delhi. She is fluent in English and Hindi.
