Zubayer Hossen is a seasoned professional with a strong background in economic research and policy advocacy. Holding a master’s degree in economics from the University of Dhaka, he brings a decade of experience in analysing complex socio-economic issues, including poverty, inequality, employment, trade, sectoral investment, productivity, social protection, climate change, gender equality, youth, SDG financing, and green growth.

Zubayer, currently serving as Programme Director at SANEM, provides strategic leadership in research, oversees programme operations and the communication team, leads project development efforts, and ensures the quality and visibility of SANEM’s research and policy outputs.

Previously, he served as Coordinator and Economist at UNDP Bangladesh, where he led a UK government-funded programme worth USD 5.0 million—the Transformative Economic Policy Programme (TEPP)—and represented UNDP Bangladesh at various national and international forums on LDC graduation. He also led the SDG financing component of the UNDP-UNEP SDG Support Programme.

His earlier roles, among others, include Senior Deputy Director at RAPID, Research Economist at SANEM, and Executive at Nielsen Company (Bangladesh) Ltd., where he specialised in economic and market research.

Over the years, Zubayer has led and coordinated multiple research projects funded by the Government of Bangladesh, UN agencies, and international financial institutions. He has also successfully organised and facilitated many international, national, and local-level stakeholder consultations and dialogues, promoting impactful policy engagement. These contributions highlight his extensive expertise in both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies.

His strong skills in team leadership, research project management, and data analysis have consistently contributed to the production of high-quality research outputs and policy reports.