News

On behalf of the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) Board of Directors and the entire network, I wish to extend my sincere congratulations to you, Prof. Njuguna Ndung’u, on your appointment as the Cabinet Secretary, National Treasury and Economic Planning, Kenya. The Board is thrilled to learn that you have been given this exciting opportunity to serve the people of the Republic of Kenya as a Cabinet Minister.

As the Board, we appreciate your hard work and commitment to serving the AERC for the last four years as the Executive Director. During your tenure, the AERC has expanded, notching up several particularly notable achievements. These include the launch of the current strategy, which focuses on shaping our
future as well as harnessing technology and innovation. To prepare the AERC network to raise the bar for capacity building and to support policymaking in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) economies, the new AERC Strategic Plan for 2020-2025 has several important initiatives. One critical consideration to the strategy is that it will enhance the organization’s mark of improved quality, define its own momentum of sustainability, and create a new era of policy influence in SSA economies. Laudably, to operationalize the strategy, you excelled at mobilizing resources at a time when the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on economies could be felt in every sector globally.

It gives us strength and comfort to know that under your leadership in your new position, the close and mutually beneficial relationship between the AERC and the Government of Kenya will continue. I am confident that I am expressing the views of all my colleagues in the Board and of every AERC network
member when I send you this message of very warm and sincere compliments on your assumption to this new office.

Your track record shows that you have everything it takes to become an excellent Finance Minister. After working with you for so long, I can vouch that you can handle any challenges to be encountered in your new position. You served as the Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya from March 2007 to March 2015. Prior to your appointment as CBK Governor, you were the Director of Training at the AERC. You also worked with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and at the Kenya Institute of Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA), a government think-tank as a Principal Researcher. This is where you led the team to develop a macro economic model for Kenya from 1999 to 2001, and it has been used as a training tool by most countries in the eastern and southern Africa region since then. You are a Member of the Brookings Africa Growth Initiative (AGI) Distinguished Advisory Group, and a Member of the Advisory Committee of the Alliance for Financial Inclusion, (AFI). With this long successful history of leadership, I am certain that you bring a wealth of knowledge and unwavering commitment to help advance your country’s vision. Your success will be AERC’s success, and it will be good for all of Africa.

As you embark upon your new responsibilities, I wish to assure you and the entire AERC fraternity of the continuing collaboration. I am confident that you will successfully steer the Ministry of National Treasury and Economic Planning to greater prospects and play a constructive role in the growth of Kenya. While looking forward to continuing collaboration with the Government of Kenya, kindly accept the
assurance of my best personal regards.

Prof. Ernest Aryeetey
AERC Board Chair