A Dinner Discussion with Masood Ahmed: The Future of Global Development
The Harvard Alumni for Global Development (HAGD) Innovation Speaker Series and the Harvard Club of Washington, DC present a talk by Masood Ahmed, President of the Center for Global Development (CGD)
What are trends, challenges, and opportunities in global development?
Mr. Ahmed will delve into the new realities of global development, touching on how broad sociopolitical and economic trends are affecting the future of global development and the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. He will address some key drivers of change: shifting demographics, climate change, migration, technology innovations, and the growing role of China and other new players. Mr. Ahmed will outline what this changing development landscape means for the business of development - the challenges now facing the organizations and professionals engaged in supporting better development outcomes.
Registration:
Harvard Club and HAGD members and their guests: $25/person
Non-members: $35/person
Ticket includes talk, a light dinner of sandwiches, salad/soup, dessert, and non-alcoholic beverages
Masood Ahmed Biography:
Masood Ahmed is president of the Center for Global Development. He joined the Center in January 2017, capping a 35-year career driving economic development policy initiatives relating to debt, aid effectiveness, trade, and global economic prospects at major international institutions including the IMF, World Bank, and DFID.
Ahmed joined CGD from the IMF, where he served for eight years as director, Middle East and Central Asia Department. In that role, he oversaw the Fund's operations in 32 countries, and managed relationships with key national and regional policy makers and stakeholders. In previous years, he also served as the IMF's director of External Relations, and deputy director of the Policy Development and Review Department.
From 2003-2006, Ahmed served as director general, Policy and International at the UK government's Department for International Development (DFID). As the Director General, he was responsible for advising UK ministers on development issues and overseeing the UK's relationship with international development institutions such as the World Bank.
Ahmed also worked at the World Bank from 1979-2000 in various managerial and economist positions, rising to become Vice President, Poverty Reduction and Economic Management. As VP, he led the HIPC (heavily indebted poor countries) debt relief initiative, which has to-date brought relief from debt burdens to 36 of the world's poorest nations.
Born and raised in Pakistan, Ahmed moved to London in 1971 to study at the LSE where he obtained a BSc Honors as well as an MSc Econ with distinction. He is a UK national.