Deborah Wetzel is a U.S. national with more than 30 years of experience in development work around the world. She currently works as an independent consultant and Senior Fellow at the Institute for State Effectiveness. Dr. Wetzel served in a wide range of positions at the World Bank, including Director of Regional Integration in the Africa and MENA Regions, Senior Director of the Governance Practice, Director of Strategy and Operations for the MENA Region, Country Director for Brazil, and Chief of Staff to World Bank President Robert Zoellick from 2010 to 2012. She also held other positions in the Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Latin America, and MENA regions. Her professional expertise focuses on governance and public sector management issues such as anti-corruption, decentralization, fiscal federalism, openness and transparency, public expenditures, and public sector reform.

Dr. Wetzel has a DPhil in Economics from the University of Oxford; a Masters in International Studies from Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies; and a BA from Smith College. She is the author of publications on fiscal decentralization, public finance, governance, and sub-national affairs. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.