Nigeria’s former finance minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was named by the IMF on Friday as a member of its External Advisory Group.
She is the only one from Africa in the 12-member group that included Mr Kevin Rudd, former Prime Minister of Australia.
IMF’s Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, named the team on Friday in a statement.
She said the advisory group will provide perspectives from around the globe on key developments and policy issues, especially as the world faces the economic challenges of COVID-19.
“Even before the spread of COVID-19 and the dramatic health, economic, and financial disruptions it has brought, IMF members confronted a rapidly evolving world and complex policy issues.
“To serve our membership well in this context, we need top-notch input and expertise from the widest range of sources, inside and outside the Fund.
“Toward this end, I am proud that an exceptional and diverse group of eminent individuals with high-level policy, market, and private sector experience has agreed to serve on my External Advisory Group.
“Today we had a dynamic discussion to gain their insights, and to receive informal reactions to our ideas and approaches,” she added.
The advisory group is expected to meet a few times in a year with the IMF Managing Director, Deputy Managing Directors, and a sub-set of IMF department Directors.
Apart from Okonjo-Iweala, the 11 other members are:
*Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Senior Minister of Singapore and Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore
*Ms Kristin Forbes, Professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
*Lord Mark Malloch Brown, former United Nations Deputy Secretary-General
*Mr Feike Sijbesima, Honorary Chair, DSM, Former CEO, Royal DSM
*Mr Raghuram Rajan, Professor, University of Chicago
*Ms Ana Botín, Group Executive Chairman, Santander
**Ms Carmen Reinhart, Professor, Harvard University
*Mr Mohamed A. El-Erian, Chief Economic Adviser, Allianz
*Mr Scott Minerd, Chief Investment Officer, Guggenheim Investments
*Ms Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, Chair of ActionAid International
