BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
Dr Anthony Simpasa
African Development Bank Group (AfFB) has appointed a Zambian economist, Dr. Anthony Simpasa as the Director of Macroeconomics Policy, Forecasting and Research.
The appointment was effective September 1, 2024.
Simpasa is a thorough-bred professional with over two decades of experience in academia, central banking, and international development.
He is highly conversant with Africa’s development and policy landscape, even as he led teams on complex flagship projects, country operations and research initiatives.
Simpasa joined AfDB in 2011as Principal Research Economist and has held several positions. Between February 2022 to March 2023, he served as acting division manager, Macroeconomics Policy, Debt Sustainability and Forecasting, as well as lead economist for the Nigeria Country Department.
The economist played a pivotal role in producing the annual African Economic Outlook, which is the bank’s flagship publication. He was also the founding Manager of Africa’s Macroeconomic Performance and Outlook report, which debuted in 2023.
Before joining the AfDB, he was the Manager of Market Studies in the Financial Markets department at the Bank of Zambia, where he led efforts to enhance monetary policy implementation.
He also served as a lecturer in the Economics Department at the University of Zambia and was a visiting scholar at the International Monetary Fund.
Throughout his career, Simpasa has contributed significantly to policy development. This, he achieved by producing AfDB's inaugural Country Diagnostic Note, and co-led Nigeria’s COVID-19 Crisis Response Budget Support.
He currently leads a team of bank staff and external experts for the flagship project: "Measuring the Green Wealth of Nations Natural Capital and Economic Productivity in Africa."
Simpasa holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Cape Town, South Africa (2010); a Master of Arts in Economics from the University of Botswana (1998), and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Zambia (1996).
Reacting to his appointment, he said: "I am greatly honored by President Adesina’s mark of confidence in entrusting me with the responsibility of leading the bank’s analytical work and policy dialogue, as well as generating knowledge to support its operations.
"This role will accord me an opportunity to work with colleagues to reposition the department as the center of intellectual excellence in delivering on the bank’s knowledge strategy and building its franchise value as an institution and partner of choice for advisory services and policy dialogue in Africa."
The President of AfDB group, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina was pleased to appoint Dr Anthony Simpasa as Director of Macroeconomics Policy, Forecasting and Research Department.
He described him as a versatile and passionate applied economist with sound knowledge of Africa’s socio-economic landscape, which he gained through a career spanning more than 20 years in academia, central banking, international development, and policy research.
Akinwumi, who is also the chairman of AfDB's board of directors assured that Simpasa would play a critical role in helping to provide strategic vision, delivery and leadership on economic policy and research at the bank Group.
Simpasa's vast experience in leading country policy dialogue coupled with the ability to build strong partnerships and networks will be a key asset in enhancing and developing the bank group’s knowledge profile, influence and impact.
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