Africa’s Future And The World Bank to Support it

by Shantayanan Devarajan

Chief Economist of the World Bank’s Africa Region

Date:           24 June 2011, 10.00 – 11.30
Location:       Haagse Hogeschool, Room Slinger 1.54. De Haagse Hogeschool can be found directly behind the Railway Station Den Haag HS (Holland Spoor)

Registration:   Please register before 23 June, 16.00, at asc@ascleiden.nl

As the Chief Economist World Bank Africa Region, dr. Shantayanan Devarajan was the director of the Africa Regional Strategy that was launched this year. Dr. Devarajan is an engaging campaigner for new thinking on development economics. He challenges the traditional Washington Consensus and conditionalities of the World Bank and suggests that international support policies should be better geared to windows of opportunity in African Countries, instead of western ideals about good government. This seems to be in contrast with the latest World Development Report 2011,
Conflict Security, and Development, which sees institutional legitimacy as a prime key to development. Since Dr. Devarajan was the principal author of the World Development Report 2004, Making Services Work for Poor People, it
will be interesting to discuss the different emerging policy perspectives with him. The discussion is relevant for researchers, policy makers and students who are interested in the discussion on the future of African economies and societies.