Biography

Dr. Osman S. Ahmed is currently Lead Country Officer for Middle East Department of the World Bank focusing on country development strategy formulation, coordinating implementation of Bank assistance strategy, and a focal for relations with a group of four countries in the Middle East.  Dr. Ahmed joined the World Bank Group in 1985 and has worked in various capacities, including the Bank’s first Resident Representative in Yemen, Division Manager of Corporate Planning at the International Finance Corporation (the private sector arm of the World Bank), Principal Policy Analyst on private sector development strategies, and senior economist in the Bank.

Prior to joining the Bank, Dr. Ahmed worked in the private and public sectors, including a four-year stint as Economic Advisor to the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Finance, and has taught economics at several universities in the State of North Carolina (University of UNC at Chapel Hill, Elon University, and NC Central University). Dr. Ahmed has written widely on various development issues both during his World Bank career and prior to it, including on economic growth and income distribution, and private sector development.

Mr. Ahmed holds a doctorate in economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has done graduate work in economics at Duke University, and is a graduate of Harvard University Executive Development Program.

Areas of Interest

• Global Poverty & Peace
• World Bank
• Poverty
• Economics