About

Manzer has worked as a Policy Manager in the Scale-ups team at J-PAL South Asia, where he supported the Governments in their poverty alleviation program, with a focus on the graduation approach. 

Prior to joining J-PAL, he led the research and development team at ImpactDash, which evaluates social and environmental impact for corporate social responsibility initiatives, government projects, and philanthropic foundations. Before that, he worked as a development consultant with NABARD Consultancy Services, conducting multiple monitoring and evaluation studies for state and central government schemes. 

In addition to his professional roles, Manzer is the founder of Bridge, a social initiative that provides financial support to learners from marginalized communities, preventing academic immobility caused by financial constraints. He is also a co-founder of Project EduAccess, a non-profit organization that promotes inclusivity in higher education institutions by offering free mentorship to learners from marginalized communities in South Asia. 

As a Chevening scholar, Manzer holds an MSc. in evidence-based social intervention and policy evaluation from the University of Oxford, as well as a Masters in Social Work (Livelihoods and Social Entrepreneurship) from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. 

Research Interests

Participatory development, future of work, graduation approach, public policy, equity in higher education.

Positions at the OII

• Project Manager (Fairwork), October 2024 -