Algerian, Gambian and Zimbabwean win Mo Ibrahim Foundation Leadership award

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation on Friday released the list of the three recipients of the 2019 professional grants for its leadership program.

This program, initiated in 2012, is designed to identify and train the next generation of outstanding African leaders by providing mentoring opportunities in major multilateral institutions.

The beneficiaries are Algerian Nadia Hamel, Gambian Anta Taal and Zimbabwean Emmanuella Matare, who were selected from over 2,000 applicants.

The President of the Foundation, Dr. Mo Ibrahim, noted that it was his wish that these fellows get involved in this unique opportunity to have a thorough knowledge and understanding of how the organizations that host them work so that they capitalize on lessons to continue working for a more prosperous Africa.

The call for applications for the 2020 fellows will open on August 12th.

Profile of Fellows Nadia Hamel, who joined the African Development Bank (AfDB), is an international development specialist with extensive experience in policy research and advice, strategic program management and communications.

She has worked for organizations such as the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). She has also led projects for the French Development Agency (AFD), the European Union and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Anta Taal is an economist with ten years of professional experience in international development, trade and investment, public-private partnerships and capital market development. She has worked in the Ministries of Finance and Economic Affairs, Trade, Industry and Employment and Economic Planning and Industrial Development of Gambia. She represented her country in important negotiations on energy, infrastructure and oil. The World Trade Organization (WTO) is her host structure.

Emmanuella Matare has joined the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) as an economist whose areas of interest are improving fiscal and socio-economic conditions in African countries. She has extensive experience in macroeconomic research, policy analysis, capacity building and program management. She has worked for the African Forum and the Debt and Development Network, USAID’s Strategic Economic Research and Analysis Program, and the Southern African Research and Documentation Center.-Credit/Sources PANAPRESS