Scott Rankin has worked extensively along the research-design-evaluation continuum with clients ranging from small community-based organizations, to the private sector and philanthropic, through to UN agencies, leading bilaterals and development banks. In that time he has lived and worked in Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Bolivia.

To this day, Scott is deliberate in ensuring his work portfolio continues to be varied in terms of sector, organization type and geographical location, with the objective of keeping abreast of the different contexts, approaches, needs and synergies of various development partner types. As of mid-2021, he has undertaken assignments in 32 countries across Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.

Common themes cutting across his work have been support to post-conflict and fragile states; humanitarian response; understanding and better supporting resilience of vulnerable populations; extractive industries and the social license to operate; as well as an interest in the intersection of livelihoods and sustainable agricultural development.

Over recent years, Scott has commonly taken on the role of ’team leader’, where he has been successful in facilitating smooth running, output focused teams where all members feel a strong level of agency. In 2011, Scott completed a Master of Assessment and Evaluation at the University of Melbourne, and continues to strengthen and update his evaluation understanding and capacity on an ongoing basis.

In recent years, Scott has focused on design and evaluation of larger rural livelihoods programs and funding facilities (US$40–50 million) for clients such as the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and USAID in SE Asia, the Middle East and Africa. He has also become more involved in research and evidence development, including both team leadership and research roles within RCG’s study of the Seafood Sector Landscape in SE Asia. Scott has also undertaken research in the occupied Palestinian Territories, defining resilience in the context of the West Bank and analysis of the impact on children of the blockade of Gaza.

Recently, Scott has undertaken a range of work focused on private sector development in structurally constrained economies, with a special focus on the economic empowerment of women.

Scott is a member of the Australian Evaluation Society and in 2004, Scott was awarded the Australian Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal by the Australian Government, and in 2006, a Cambodian Service Medal for his work in the Cambodian mine action sector.