The African Improvement Financial institution (www.AfDB.org) has appointed Dr. Léandre Bassole, a seasoned financial growth specialist, as Deputy Director Common for the East African Area, efficient June 1, 2024.
Dr. Bassole, a Burkina Faso nationwide, has over 18 years of expertise in high-level coverage dialogue, advisory providers, and the design of nation applications and techniques. He has efficiently delivered impactful operations and applications throughout numerous African areas, together with West, Central, East, and Southern Africa, working in middle-income nations and transition states.
Earlier than this appointment, Bassole served as Nation Supervisor for Guinea. On this function, he coordinated and led coverage reforms, engaged in high-level dialogue with authorities authorities and growth companions, and targeted on making ready and implementing financial growth methods.
He additionally oversaw co-financing, regional integration, home useful resource mobilization, public sector reforms, non-public sector growth reforms, public monetary administration, governance, and strategic partnerships. Underneath his management, the Financial institution’s engagement in Guinea elevated from $240 million in 2017 to $728 million in 2023, establishing the Financial institution as the popular accomplice for supporting high-impact growth operations.
Bassole joined the Financial institution Group in 2009 as a Younger Skilled and later served as a Senior Macroeconomist (2012-2017) protecting seven nations: Cabo Verde, Comoros, Mali, Burundi, Madagascar, Senegal, and Rwanda. In these roles, he designed and carried out coverage reforms and institutional assist operations throughout numerous sectors, together with governance, agriculture, trade, mining, transport, infrastructure, power, well being, training, and local weather change.
One in every of his notable achievements was main probably the most modern finances assist program, combining lending and Partial Credit score Assure devices for the primary time for an African Improvement Fund nation (Madagascar in 2016). This initiative leveraged the Financial institution’s operations to assist fiscal coverage and structural reforms, facilitating financial progress and poverty alleviation, and serving to the nation entry capital markets.
Earlier than becoming a member of the African Improvement Financial institution, Bassole labored as a researcher and growth impression specialist in numerous tutorial and worldwide establishments, together with the French Nationwide Heart for Scientific Analysis, and the World Financial institution Group, the place he was a core crew member for the World Improvement Report on Agriculture for Improvement (2008).
Commenting on his appointment, Dr. Bassole mentioned, “I’m very grateful to President Adesina for the arrogance and belief bestowed upon me by this appointment. I’m additionally humbled and deeply honored to work underneath his management within the East Africa area, working with a proficient and high-performing crew and contributing to bettering the standard of lifetime of the folks of this area.”
Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, President of the Financial institution Group, remarked, “I’m happy to nominate Dr. Léandre Bassole as Deputy Director Common designated for the East Africa Area. Léandre, a seasoned economist and revered skilled, has deep data and expertise in creating and managing nation methods and operations. His strong observe document of field-level supply as Nation Supervisor and good fame in constructing partnerships, managing massive portfolios, and offering crew management will assist the Financial institution speed up supply on its mandate in East Africa.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Improvement Financial institution Group (AfDB).
Contact:
Kwasi Kpodo,
Communication and Exterior Relations
media@afdb.org
