Rhita Simorangkir
Conservation Impact Scientist, Asia Pacific
Singapore
Rhita Simorangkir Rhita Simorangkir is a Conservation Impact Scientist with The Nature Conservancy, based in Singapore and working across the Asia Pacific region. © TNC
Areas of Expertise
Impact Evaluation, Causal Inference, Environmental Economics, Development Economics
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Contact
Email: r.simorangkir@tnc.orgBiography
Rhita Simorangkir is a Conservation Impact Scientist with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), based in Singapore and working across the Asia Pacific region. She specializes in impact evaluation, leading the design and application of rigorous monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) approaches to assess the effectiveness of conservation investments. Rhita obtained her Ph.D. and M.A. in Economics from Georgia State University and B.A. in Economics from University of Indonesia.
Her work focuses on developing impact evaluation frameworks, indicators, and analytical strategies that enable teams to measure outcomes, understand causal pathways, and adapt interventions for greater impact. She works closely with country teams across Asia Pacific, especially in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, India, and Mongolia, embedding impact evaluation into conservation programs in diverse ecological and socio-economic contexts.
Rhita applies a range of methods tailored to complex conservation settings, including experimental designs (e.g. randomized controlled trial), quasi-experimental designs (e.g., difference-in-differences and matching approaches), and mixed-methods approaches that integrate quantitative and qualitative data. She also supports the use of spatial analysis, counterfactual thinking, and outcome monitoring systems to strengthen inference and learning. In particular, she is interested in advancing the use of data science and emerging technologies to improve impact measurement. She is a member of the Society for Conservation Biology’s Impact Evaluation Working Group, where she also serves as a mentor.