Each year the Mo Ibrahim Foundation selects outstanding African leaders to work at leading development institutions in Africa as part of its Ibrahim Leadership Fellowship Programme. Out of 2000 applications, only three were selected and will spend one year working with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the International Trade Centre (ITC).
“The next generation of African leaders are in the making. In the coming year, through learning and experiencing, while based in the executive offices of these multinational organisations, the Fellows will enhance their leadership capabilities,” says the Founder, Mo Ibrahim.
Since 2012, 17 African leaders have participated in the programme and contributed to the strategic advancement of good governance and improving the lives of African citizens.
Here are the profiles of the 2018 Ibrahim Fellows:
Valeria Bempomaah Mensah from Ghana has joined UNECA. She is an international development professional with extensive experience in macroeconomic and policy analysis, capacity development and programme management. She has successfully managed the EU’s budget support programme to the Government of Ghana. Additionally, she has worked with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as an Economist in its Regional Technical Assistance Center, which provides macroeconomic capacity building to Anglophone West Africa and Cabo Verde.
Zukiswa Mqolomba from South Africa will join AfDB. She is a senior researcher, senior policy analyst and scholar activist with extensive experience in research, policy development and policy analysis on economic growth, poverty alleviation and job creation. She has worked with the Department of Social Development in South Africa. Additionally, she has previously worked as an Extended Term Consultant (ETC) for the World Bank in Washington D.C.
Ines Ayari from Tunisia has joined ITC. She is a policy advisor with focus on gender and development with extensive partnership development experience; she has established strong linkages with, and liaised between, governments, international organisations, research institutions, local businesses and civil society, by organising networks in the Middle East, Africa, South America, South Asia and Europe. She has worked with organisations such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the World Economic Forum (WEF) and various NGOs.
Image source: Mo Ibrahim Foundation