On May 2, 2023, the African School of Economics (ASE) had the honor to welcome the Chief Economist of Africa Region at the World Bank, Dr. Andrew DABALEN, who gave a talk to ASE students on the macroeconomic outlook of Africa and the West Africa region.

A Kenyan national, Dr. Dabalen has held lead economist positions for the World Bank in Europe, Africa, and most recently was the Practice Manager for Poverty and Equity in the South Asia Region. His dynamic research focuses on poverty and social impact analysis, inequality of opportunity, program evaluation, risk and vulnerability, labor markets, and conflict and welfare outcomes. He graduated with a master’s degree in International Development from the University of California – Davis, and a Ph.D. in Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of California – Berkeley.

After meeting ASE administration and professors in a private informational meeting, Dr. Dabalen met with ASE students to share his presentation titled “Africa Update: Leveraging Resource Wealth During the Low Carbon Transition.” Students learned many insights on how global events, such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine and COVID19, have shaped the macroeconomic trends of Africa. In addition, he proposed how African countries can restore macroeconomic stability and facilitate trade within their sub-region. The Q&A session that followed sparked discussions about governance in Africa, how to economically cooperate with neighboring countries, and the pathway to reducing poverty on the continent.

The African School of Economics has a proven track record of educating and preparing students to work for large international institutions, such as the World Bank.
Dr. Dabalen emphasized the huge role of African economists and researchers in reshaping public policy and ensuring better governance. ASE and the World Bank share the strong belief that African economists and researchers play a major, active role in the empowerment of the African people.