Manuel Soares de Souza de Faria

Manuel is a Brazilian economist born in Rio de Janeiro. His strong belief in the transformative potential of governments to impact social outcomes motivates him to focus on building long-term institutional capacity within the public sector. Prior to Princeton, he contributed to the Institute for Health Policies Studies (IEPS) aiding policymakers in improving the governance of the public health system by connecting applied research insights to key challenges. His professional background includes research assistance for Harvard University alumni, policy making at Rio de Janeiros´s Transportation Secretary, and private consulting on infrastructure policies. Manuel is also the vice-president of “RioMais”, an NGO promoting the approximation of academia and public sector in Rio de Janeiro. This past summer, Manuel worked as a Research Fellow in Data Analytics at the Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose at University College London. At SPIA, he is eager to further develop his skills and knowledge to approach Brazilian development challenges with a comprehensive multidisciplinary orientation. During his free time, Manuel enjoys exploring the coast of New Jersey, surfing its peaks, reading and watching movies.