Annelisse Escobar studied International Relations and Trade at Francisco Marroquín University in Guatemala. 

Before joining the Blavatnik School of Government, Annelisse led the policy advocacy and communications efforts at Semilla Nueva, an NGO dedicated to reducing malnutrition and poverty in rural Guatemala through agricultural development.

In this role, she worked to bring together actors from civil society, academia, international organisations, and government officials to discuss policy options for reducing malnutrition in Guatemala. She also participated in the creation of a new political party in her country, contributing to the institutional strengthening policy proposals from the organisation. 
 
The foundation for Annelisse's policy interests lies in questioning how political institutions have the capacity to solve structural issues such as poverty and malnutrition. She is doing the MPP to refine her skills in identifying policy reform opportunities and measuring their impact on the most vulnerable populations.  

Annelisse is a Chevening/Weidenfeld Hoffman Scholar.