- Advisors Practice Manager, Access to Finance, SME Development, and Trade Facilitation at Consilium Group 
- Consultant/author of MSME Finance Guide at Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI)
- Key Expert/Trade and Foreign Direct Investment Specialist at EU-GCC - Dialogue on Economic Diversification Project
- World Bank Group at Consultant

During his long-standing career, including recent years as a senior official of the World Bank Group, Dr. Alavi has contributed to economic development in over 70 countries.  He has worked with govern design and help implement some of the most successful projects and good practices, earning him international recognition, to promote international competitiveness, development of small and medium enterprises, access to finance and trade facilitation.

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At the World Bank Group, he led the World Bank’s private sector and SME development, SME access to finance, and trade facilitation programs in the East Asia and Pacific and the Middle East and North Africa regions and managed over $3 billion dollar of investment and institutional development operations. He was also the Regional Coordinator for Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship, Competitive Industries, and Investment Climate Global Practices of the World Bank Group.

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Furthermore, he has substantial private sector experience and has taught international and development economics at the University of Maryland, University of Hawaii, Georgetown University, and George Washington University. He is on the Board of International Advisors for Limkokwing University of Creative Technology with programs in 9 countries and is among the first seven original members of the Global Expert Team for Trade Facilitation and Logistics, and a key member and contributor to Global Facilitation Partnership for Transportation and Trade.  He was also involved in the initial design of the Global Infrastructure Facility.