Page 19 - AERC Strategic Plan 2 July2020

THE AERC 2020–2025 STRATEGIC PLAN

Thematic research has evolved to support the changing economic environment in
the region, expanding to five themes based on demand and the changing economic
landscape in SSA. To date, 4,520 researchers from 41 countries have participated in the
thematic research programme. Most notable among them are Professor Charles Soludo,
former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria; Professor Njuguna Ndung’u, former
Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya; Professor Ernest Aryeetey, Secretary General of
the African Research Universities Alliance and former Vice-Chancellor of the University
of Ghana; Dr Kupukile Mlambo, Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe; Dr
Musa Dukly, Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Liberia; and Dr Rashad Cassam, Deputy
Governor, Reserve Bank of South Africa, just to mention a few.

One of the most successful approaches to building research capacity – which is also
one of the unique features of AERC’s capacity model – has been the Biannual Research
Workshop. The workshop brings together about 200 AERC-supported researchers and
policymakers from across the continent and university professors (resource persons)
from Africa and the rest of the world. Researchers receive guidance and mentorship,
ensuring that the conceptualization of research questions; the design of research; the
analysis of data; presentation; and interpretation of research findings are consistent
with international standards. To date, 20 early-career researchers from seven countries
have graduated to resource persons. As of December 2019, over 4,500 AERC-supported
researchers from 41 countries have presented at the Biannual Research Workshop and
have been mentored by resource persons globally.

A key feature of the Biannual Research Workshop is the Plenary Session, convened 51
times since the early 1990s, engaging approximately 10,000 policymakers, researchers
and doctoral students over its lifecycle. The one-day conference features research papers
addressing issues of contemporary policy interest to Africa, produced and delivered by
experienced and leading economists from around the globe. These presentations allow for
deep interactions between researchers and policymakers, including leading academics
from around the world such as Professor Sir Paul Collier (a founding network member
of AERC); Professor Jeffrey Sachs; and Nobel Laureates Professor Joseph Stiglitz and
Professor Angus Deaton. Distinguished scholars and young researchers have attended
the workshops, including Augustine Asante (Ghana); Alemayehu Geda (Ethiopia); Chris
Udry (US); and Issouf Somoure (Senegal).

The AERC’s annual Senior Policy Seminars have evolved to address pressing regional
issues, including financial-sector development in SSA (1996); fiscal policy (1997); revenue
mobilization (2000); climate change and economic development (2008); youth and
unemployment (2013); capital flight (2014); regional integration (2018); and external debt
problems in African economies (2019). Over 1,500 senior policymakers across SSA have
engaged with researchers at 21 seminars since the first one was convened.

Significant achievements have been realized in the mobilization of African governments
and institutions to support the AERC capacity-building initiative. This is evidenced

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