The Africa Growth Initiative at Brookings appoints Aloysius Uche Ordu as new director

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Aloysius Uche Ordu has been appointed Senior Fellow and Director of the Africa Growth Initiative (AGI), beginning on August 18. Dr. Ordu replaces Brahima S. Coulibaly, who was recently appointed Vice President of the Global Economy and Development program.

“Dr. Ordu is the perfect individual to lead Brookings’s Africa Growth Initiative at this present moment,” said Brookings Institution President John Allen. “With his exemplary background as both a scholar and leader within the Africa policy community, I have little doubt that he will sustain and even elevate AGI’s standing as a leading voice on the most pressing issues impacting the African continent.”

Dr. Ordu joins Brookings with more than three decades of experience working in international development and the private sector. He was previously Vice President at the African Development Bank (AfDB). As a member of the senior management team, Dr. Ordu played key roles in the 6th capital increase of the AfDB and the 12th replenishment of the African Development Fund. He was recently lead advisor of the African Development Fund Policy Innovation Lab funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

“I am thrilled that Aloysius Ordu is joining Brookings to lead the AGI team,” said Brahima S. Coulibaly. “He is a well-known and respected voice in Africa’s policy community, has demonstrated a high level of intellect, and comes to us with a strong record of engagement with thought leaders, senior government officials, diplomats, and academics. His passion for Africa and a deep understanding of African economics, the political landscape, U.S.-Africa relations, and development economics make him uniquely qualified to guide the work of AGI.”

Prior to the AfDB, Dr. Ordu had a distinguished career at the World Bank where he served in various leadership and managerial capacities, including his last role as Director of Operations Policy. Dr. Ordu holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Sussex, an M.S. in Quantitative Economics from Bristol University, and a B.S. in Economics and Law from University College, Cardiff, in Wales, U.K.

AGI is housed in the Global Economy and Development program. The initiative was established in 2008 to conduct high-quality policy research and analysis focused on attaining sustainable economic development and prosperity in Africa, while amplifying the voice of African experts in policymaking and planning.