Hippolyte Fofack joins the GFCC as a Distinguished Fellow

Published on February 9, 2024

We're pleased to announce that Dr. Hippolyte Fofack, a globally recognized expert in economic policy, development economics, and international finance with over 20 years of experience in leadership and management positions in multilateral organizations and academia, has been granted fellowship status in our organization.

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Dr. Fofack has led several research projects and participated in the production of national and regional development strategies and in creating and implementing multiple trade agreements and commercial strategies between the African continent and the United States.

 

He is now a Research Associate at Harvard University Center for African Studies. Previously, he was the Chief Economist and Director of Research at the African Export-Import Bank. He served in several capacities in the World Bank Group, including as head of the Macroeconomic and Growth Programme.

 

"I am delighted Dr. Fofack has joined the GFCC as a Distinguished Fellow. His contributions to our network will be manifold, as he brings to bear in our work both his intellect and deep expertise across many of the most challenging – and potentially rewarding – issues facing global competitiveness in the 21st century. I personally look forward to working with Dr. Fofack in building greater bridges to and across Africa for our GFCC leadership community", says Deborah L. Wince-Smith, GFCC President.

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Our fellows are a group of globally recognized leaders, thinkers, and experts with sterling records of accomplishment in business, government, academia, research, and non-profits. They are a significant resource that members can access and count on to advance competitiveness strategies.

 

"It is an honor to join the GFCC's esteemed group of global leaders. I am very grateful and would like to thank the Hon. Deborah Wince-Smith for sharing her vision and globally-inclusive approach to competitiveness. In a world in which competitiveness has become the leading driver of sustainable development and global convergence, the GFCC's relevance will only grow in the coming years, and I welcome the opportunity to be a part of that journey," says Dr. Fofack.

 

Dr. Fofack played an important role in developing the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), which has the potential to transform African economies and accelerate the diversification of sources of growth as corporations take advantage of economies of scale as well as competitiveness and productivity gains associated with the reduction in the risk of investing in smaller markets. Additionally, during his time at the World Bank, he worked closely with development partners—both bilateral and multilateral to establish a grant-based Multilateral Donors Trust Fund (MDTF) under the Enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative.

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He also contributed to developing the Integrated Macroeconomic Model for Poverty Analysis (IMMPA), a quantitative framework for analyzing the impact of policy and exogenous shocks on income distribution, employment, and poverty, to inform policymaking and the design of national development strategies in low and middle-income countries. He led the conception and design of the Nelson Mandela Institution for Knowledge Building and the Advancement of Science and Technology in Africa. This continental initiative envisions the transformation of Africa's industrial and economic landscape.

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Dr. Fofack is a fellow of the African Academy of Sciences and a member of the American Economic Association and the African Finance and Economic Association. He has published extensively and served as guest editor for the World Bank Economic Review, the Economic History of Developing Regions, and the Journal of African Trade. In addition to serving as the Editor-in-Chief of CIAT he has served on several editorial boards, including the Journal of African Development, the Journal of African Trade, and the Gulf Economics Journal.

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He has also taught and delivered lectures at several universities and research institutions, including the American University and, most recently at Harvard University. He holds a master's degree in economics from the University of Lille, an advanced degree (DEA) in international economics and finance from the University of Bordeaux, and a Ph.D. from American University in Washington, DC.