The session will draw from the Domestic Savings project of UNU-WIDER’s DRM programme. It will examine the challenges in raising long-term capital for developmental purposes in sub-Saharan Africa.
Owen Nyang'Oro | University of Nairobi
Moses Njenga | KIPPRA
Amir Lebdioui | SOAS
Discussant: Sweta Saxena | UNECA
14:00-15:30 (UTC+2)
Karen Kandie | ChairKaren Kandie is a finance specialist with over 25 years of leadership and management experience across the financial services industry in both the public and private sectors. Currently, she is the Director, of Parastatal Reforms (Financial) at the National Treasury & Economic Planning in Kenya.
She has extensive experience in capital markets operations having worked as Head of Finance of the Nairobi Securities Exchange and a member of the Capital Markets Tribunal. As the Director of Finance in Shelter Afrique she led the issuance of a UGX 3 billion Medium Term Note that was listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange. She also initiated the issue and listing of the first microfinance bond in Africa, which raised Shs. 500 million from the capital market.
Her professional qualifications include an MBA from Murdoch University Australia, a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Nairobi, and a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) and the Institute of Financial and Investment Analysts of Kenya (ICIFAK).
Owen Nyang'Oro | PresenterOwen Nyang'Oro is a lecturer at the Department of Economics and Development Studies at the University of Nairobi. He holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Nairobi.
His research interests are in the areas of financial sector development, capital flows, monetary issues, firm financing, trade finance, informal sector development and social protection.
Moses Njenga | PresenterDr. Moses Njenga is a Policy Analyst with over 15 years’ experience in the Private Sector Development Department whose mission is to conduct policy analysis and produce consistently high-quality information to influence the decision making process in the creation of necessary conditions for the private sector to contribute to economic growth.
Dr. Njenga is an Economist by profession with a bias in Development Economics and has a wide hands-on experience on research work. He is also an author of several research papers including publication in refereed journals.
Amir Lebdioui | PresenterDr. Amir Lebdioui is a development economist. Before joining SOAS, Amir was based at the London School of Economics where he led a research and policy engagement program on the Future of Trade in Latin America.
His research has focused on economic diversification strategies, biodiversity-based innovation, and green industrialization. He also regularly advises governments and international institutions. He holds a PhD in Development Studies from the University of Cambridge.
Sweta Saxena | DiscussantMs. Sweta Saxena is the Chief of Staff and the Acting Director of Gender, Poverty and Social Policy Division at UNECA in Addis Ababa. From 2018–2022, she served as the Chief in the Macroeconomic Policy and Financing for Development Division at UNESCAP in Bangkok, where she led 4 flagship reports that mainstreamed sustainable development in economic policymaking.
Prior to this, Ms. Saxena worked at the IMF (Washington DC), BIS (Switzerland) and University of Pittsburgh (USA). Her research has appeared in top journals (AER, JEL, JIE).
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