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Management Team

Managing Director

Dr. Ali Issa

Dr. Ali is the current Managing Director of the Horn Economic and Social Policy Institute (HESPI). He has a PhD in Economics and an MBA in International Finance. Dr. Ali was the executive Director of the National Economic Council of Somalia between 2018-2022, and worked at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on macroeconomic policy advice and technical assistance to countries in Africa, Middle East and the Western Hemisphere. He also worked at Citibank in New York, Central Bank of Somalia, and as lecturer at several universities. Dr. Ali has many publications on a wide range of economic subjects including public finance management and governance; trade and regional integration; climate change impact on sustainable development; and fiscal and monetary policy reforms in developing countries. He has conducted research and lectured extensively on economic challenges and potentials of the Horn of Africa countries in recent years

Associate Managing Director

Ambassador Peter G. Robleh

Amb. Peter has PhD in International Relations. He is currently the Associate Managing Director of the Horn Economic and Social Policy Institute. He was a senior regional advisor on international trade at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in Addis Ababa (2001-2011). He was Ambassador of Ethiopia to the Benelux Council and European Commission (1993-2001); UN staff member for over a decade in Western Asia, and Associate Professor at California State University, USA. He has extensive experience in economic and social policy development in the Horn of Africa

Programs Director

Mr. Daniel Fantaye

Mr. Daniel holds MA in development studies and BSC in Agricultural Science. He worked with several development institutions at various capacities in the areas of food security, livelihoods development, humanitarian action in vulnerable settings. He was a country programs manager for Oxfam Spain, Country Director for Winrock International in Ethiopia where he managed diverse country programs. He executed research and development programs which have direct bearing on poverty alleviation with SOS Sahel (UK), Save the children (UK) and Action Aid Ethiopia

Accounts and Finance Director

Ms. Hiwot Gezahegn

Ms. Hiwot has an MSc degree in Accounting and Finance and she is a part ACCA qualified accountant. Before joining HESPI, she worked as a senior auditor with Audit firms where she executed external audit service to various private and Non-governmental organizations. Ms. Hiwot has served as a lecturer in Debre Berhan University for many years. In doing so, she has taught various courses, advised students’ research on accounting and related thematic areas and participated in administrative work at the university

Director of Research (Acting)

Dr. Fredu Nega

Dr. Fredu has a PhD degree in economics from Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. He taught at Mekelle University for a number of years, worked on a number of research programs, and published in different peer reviewed journals. Fredu undertakes scientific and policy research on a range of issues mainly focusing on poverty analysis, food security, economic growth and micro development issues. His expertise include interdisciplinary research, impact assessment techniques, multi dimensional poverty analysis and quantitative economic methods.

Division Managers

Senior Research Associate

Mr. Edris H. Seid

Mr. Edris holds Double Masters of Science (MSc) in Economic Development and Growth from the University of Warwick (UK) and Lund University (Sweden). He has also a Masters in International Economics from Addis Ababa University (Ethiopia). Mr. Edris served as a Lecturer at Addis Ababa University, School of Commerce. He has research experience in a range of areas especially on regional economic integration and regional trade, political instability, poverty, growth and finance with much emphasis to the Horn of African economies. Currently Edris is a member of a Research Working Group on the Horn of Africa in support of the African Union High Level Implementation Panel mainly working on regional economic cooperation and integration in the Horn of Africa

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