Romina Bandura

Senior Fellow, Project on Prosperity and Development
Romina Bandura

Romina Bandura is a senior fellow with the Project on Prosperity and Development at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Ms. Bandura is an economist with 25 years of experience in international development research, policy analysis, and project management. Her current research focuses on foreign aid and development finance, Ukraine recovery and reconstruction, digital transformation, financial inclusion, and the future of work in developing countries. She has also conducted extensive research on the United States’ economic engagement in the developing world and enhancing the reach and impact of the multilateral development bank system. Her work is often cited in prominent media outlets. Before joining CSIS in September 2017, she was a senior consultant at the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). She worked closely with clients to design research and manage projects that included index building, quantifying qualitative variables, policy analysis, and strategies for investment and growth. EIU flagship projects include benchmarking indices like the Global Microscope on Financial Inclusion and the Latin America and Caribbean Infrascope project. She also held positions as an economist at the International Labour Organization's Washington office, a business manager at DAI’s Economic Growth Sector (managing a $90 million private sector development portfolio of projects in Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe), and a policy analyst for the UN Development Programme. Early in her career, she worked in the banking sector in Argentina. Ms. Bandura holds an MPA in international development from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and a BA in economics from the Universidad Católica Argentina, Buenos Aires.

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Assessing the Current Peace Deal for Ukraine: Opportunity or Strategic Trap?

Amid negotiations to end Russia’s war on Ukraine, the West must ensure that any agreed-upon peace deal includes Ukraine and provides it with security guarantees that prevent Russia from attacking in the future. Without them, Europe's security at large will be compromised.

Commentary by Sergiy Tsivkach and Romina Bandura — December 5, 2025

A New Landscape for Development: Examining Impacts, Capabilities, and Opportunities

Cuts to foreign assistance have been among the most sweeping changes of the second Trump administration. This compendium dives deep into the impacts on fields across the development ecosystem and potential opportunities within this new landscape.

Digital Report by Hadeil Ali, Andrew Friedman, Noam Unger, J. Stephen Morrison, Katherine E. Bliss, Romina Bandura, Caitlin Welsh, David Michel, Rose Parker, and Joely Virzi — November 13, 2025

The Power of Educational Exchanges in Strengthening U.S.-LAC Relations

Promoting educational exchanges between the United States and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is a powerful way to strengthen economic ties, build human capital, counter Chinese influence, and foster positive public opinion across the Hemisphere.

Report by Romina Bandura and Mirka Martel — November 4, 2025

Defending Democracy: Why Moldova’s 2025 Parliamentary Elections Matter

On Sunday, September 28, 2025, Moldova will hold pivotal parliamentary elections. This vote comes at a critical juncture for the small European nation, as it continues to navigate complex domestic challenges and struggles to position itself between Europe and Russia.

Commentary by Leah Kieff and Romina Bandura — August 29, 2025

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Defending Democracy: Why Moldova’s 2025 Parliamentary Elections Matter

An audio version of “⁠Defending Democracy: Why Moldova’s 2025 Parliamentary Elections Matter⁠,” a new commentary by CSIS’s Leah Kieff and Romina Bandura. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs. 


 

Podcast Episode by Leah Kieff and Romina Bandura — August 29, 2025

Audio Briefs

The Strategic Future of Subsea Cables: Ireland Case Study

As Ireland finds its strategic position no longer shielded from evolving geopolitical forces, this paper analyzes Ireland's subsea cable infrastructure— a lynchpin and chokepoint in worldwide connectivity— for key risks and presents recommendations for greater resilience.

Report by Romina Bandura and Thomas Bryja — July 23, 2025