Backman-Levy’s research focuses on the relationships between gender norms, poverty and global reproductive health.

Backman-Levy has served communities in the United States, Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East. She has provided research support and technical guidance to multilateral and bilateral agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and major philanthropic institutions, including the former United States Agency for International Development, the Gates Foundation, the Asian Development Bank, and several UN agencies. Her expertise focuses on how gender roles, expectations, and inequalities shape global reproductive health and broader health and development outcomes. She collaborates with governments and development partners to design and evaluate programs and policies that improve health and well-being by addressing the social and structural factors—such as access to resources, decision-making power, and caregiving responsibilities—that influence people’s lives. More recently, her scholarship and practice have examined emerging issues such as the care economy and the responsible use of artificial intelligence to strengthen gender analysis and decision-making.

As a part of her practice, Backman-Levy is a Senior Associate with Iris Group, a global consulting firm dedicated to advancing equity and improving outcomes for populations facing social and economic disadvantage. She also co-founded and serves on the board of the Minga Foundation, a nongovernmental organization that partners with community-based organizations to strengthen health equity and socioeconomic opportunity among vulnerable populations worldwide.

Backman-Levy teaches Planning, Implementation, & Evaluation Evidence-Based Programs & Interventions (PIE); Gender, Poverty and Global Health; and Global Reproductive Health.