Abebe Aemro Selassie, who led the IMF’s Africa Department through pandemic recovery and global economic shocks, will join Oxford University’s Blavatnik School of Government as Visiting Fellow of Practice and Principal Advisor with the Economic Policy Network (EPN) from September 1, 2026.
After 32 years at the IMF – most recently as Director of the African Department since 2016 – Abebe oversaw engagement with 45 sub-Saharan African countries facing COVID-19, soaring inflation and shifting global trade dynamics. His IMF career also included mission chief roles for Portugal and South Africa, plus senior positions across Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
Before the Fund, Abebe served as Principal Economist in Ethiopia’s Office of the President, grounding his career-long focus on African development.
At Blavatnik and EPN – led by Professor Stefan Dercon and housed within the Centre for the Study of African Economies – Abebe will advise governments on macroeconomic policy, international finance and growth strategies for low- and middle-income nations.
“We are delighted to welcome Abebe,” said Dercon. “He brings extraordinary depth of experience in African economic policy, and we look forward to the insights and connections he will bring.”
The appointment positions one of Africa’s most seasoned economic minds to shape policy advice at a time of heightened global scrutiny on the continent’s growth trajectory.
