Shaha Riza (also known as Shaha Ali Riza) is a Libyan-born British-Turkish international development expert and political advisor renowned for her work in governance, anti-corruption, women's empowerment, and democracy promotion in the Middle East and North Africa. Born in 1953, she holds degrees in economics from the London School of Economics and in social studies from Oxford University. Riza is multilingual, speaking at least five languages, and has built a career focused on advocating for women's rights and democratic reforms. She served as a World Bank official from 1997 to 2005, working as a senior advisor focusing on Middle East and North Africa issues, with roles including Senior Communications Officer and acting manager of external affairs. In 2005, she was appointed Senior Advisor on Middle East and North Africa issues at the U.S. State Department before being seconded to the Foundation for the Future, a U.S. State Department-funded entity promoting democracy in the region, where she currently holds an external assignment.

Riza's career has been overshadowed by controversies, particularly her romantic relationship with Paul Wolfowitz, who became World Bank President in 2005. In 2007, allegations emerged that Wolfowitz improperly used his influence to secure a significant salary increase and promotion for Riza, leading to an internal investigation. As a result, Riza was asked to leave her World Bank position and was detailed to the Foundation for the Future with a raised salary of $193,590 plus allowances. Wolfowitz resigned in 2007 amid the scandal, which was criticized by outlets like the Financial Times and The Wall Street Journal. In 2018, a Government Accountability Project report based on Freedom of Information Act documents highlighted operational irregularities at the Foundation for the Future under Riza's oversight, including issues with board selections, grant processes, financial discrepancies, and limited staff visibility.

Despite these controversies, Riza has continued her work in policy advisory roles, emphasizing governance and regional stability. She remains an influential voice in international affairs, particularly on issues of democracy and gender equality, though her personal life and professional entanglements have drawn significant public scrutiny.