Until May 2019, Paolo was country director for the International Rescue Committee in Zimbabwe. Paolo was born in Italy, raised in Zimbabwe, and completed his undergraduate studies in business administration in Dubai. After 14 years of humanitarian aid work in Sri Lanka, Lebanon, Zimbabwe, South Sudan and Yemen, he is taking a year break to pursue an MPP at the Woodrow Wilson School. His focus during the past few years has been on designing and delivering better evidence-based programs, being more effective in the use of resources, and better bridging the gap between humanitarian and development programming - all to respond to growing needs with fewer resources. He has been a strong supporter of a "cash-first" approach to humanitarian response, most recently in response to the March 2019 cyclone Idai in eastern Zimbabwe. In his spare time, Paolo is an amateur pianist and avid dog trainer; he competes internationally with his border collie, Chip, and sheltie, Stitch, both of whom will be tagging along to Princeton.