Æ

About 

Natasha de Francisco is international economist, researcher, linguist, educator, author, and illustrator.

​

With 20 years of international experience with UNICEF (2004-2007), WHO (2007-2015), and World Bank (2019-now) in the field of public health and global development, she has been focusing on the conceptualization and implementation of human capital projects at the intersection of health, economics, agriculture, and environmental protection. She worked in the regions of Europe and Central Asia, Southeast Asia, Middle East, Latin America, and Sub-Saharan Africa, where she led the establishment of strategic political and technical partnerships and research networks. Her professional portfolio includes health emergency and disease outbreak response and recovery cases, programs on reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health services, communicable diseases, and governance. In 2013-2015, Natasha served on the Editorial Board of the UN Special Geneva advocating for international development priority topics.  

​

Since 2015, Natasha has been actively engaged in the design and implementation of early child development programs and educational curricula in Switzerland and the United States, working both as an implementing partner and a contributor to Georgetown Montessori, Whittle School & Studios, Rochambeau Lyceum, and numerous children and youth clubs and associations in the US: Maryland Youth Ballet (MYB), DC Fencers Club, Chia Chinese School, Casa Italiana Ente Promotore DC, Alliance Française Washington DC (AFDC), Swiss Club of Washington DC, Meadowbrook Stables, Children’s Chorus of Washington DC and ABRSM, Lessons in Your Home, Levine Music School, British Swim School, Lavner Tech Camp, Rochambeau Chess Club, Wheaton Ice Skating. 

​

In 2016, Natasha has established a DEFRANCISCOART design agency (now part of ÆRAS) that has been specializing on commissioned artwork, book illustration, interior design, and support to philanthropic events for DC italophone, hispanophone, and francophone diplomatic communities. Natasha has been named among the world’s best contemporary illustrators in 2018 (Pictoria Volume.2). 

Natasha holds a Ph.D. in International Economics from the Moscow State University of International Relations (MGIMO) and a Post-doc in Health Economics and Epidemiology from the London School Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She speaks English, Russian, Spanish, French, and Italian and has knowledge of Portuguese, German, Chinese, Arabic, and Kinyarwanda. 

​