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IGC appoints Victoria Kwakwa as Country Director for Zambia
IGC appoints former World Bank VP as new Country Director of IGC Zambia from October 2025.
The International Growth Centre (IGC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Victoria Kwakwa as the new Country Director of its Zambia programme, effective 1 October 2025.
Dr Kwakwa, a Ghanaian national, brings over three decades of experience at the World Bank, most recently as Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa and previously as Vice President for Corporate Strategic Initiatives and Vice President for East Asia and the Pacific.
Her expertise spans fiscal decentralisation, macroeconomic resilience, infrastructure development, human capital and growth. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Ghana, a master’s degree and a PhD in economics from Queen’s University, Ontario, Canada.
Dr Kwakwa will lead IGC’s team of resident economists in Lusaka, guiding a portfolio of more than 20 ongoing projects that support Zambia’s national growth agenda through rigorous research. Under Dr Kwakwa’s leadership, IGC aims to deepen its impact in Zambia by strengthening its research capabilities, expanding policy partnerships, and continuing to deliver high-quality, demand-led analysis that advances Zambia’s economic growth objectives.
Dr Kwakwa assumes this role, building on the work of Shahrukh Wani, who has led the programme since 2022 as Senior Country Manager.
Jonathan Leape, Executive Director of the IGC, said:
“We are delighted to welcome Dr Victoria Kwakwa as Country Director for Zambia at the IGC. Her extraordinary leadership experience and deep expertise in economic development will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our partnerships in Zambia. Under her guidance, we look forward to further expanding the reach and impact of our research-driven work in support of Zambia’s growth and development priorities.”
About IGC’s work in Zambia
Since November 2022, the IGC has strengthened its role as a learning partner to the Government of Zambia. IGC’s work has generated timely insights that inform national policy decisions, including:
- On decentralisation, IGC piloted changes to the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), uncovering delays and informing reforms to the CDF system that devolved project approvals to cut red tape.
- In mining, research on copper demand and supplier linkages is supporting policies aimed at expanding local content and ensuring Zambia captures more value from its mineral wealth.
- In agriculture, IGC evidence has highlighted productivity gaps and climate risks, shaping government strategies to boost farmer incomes and food security.
- IGC has also advised on rural electrification, identifying how grid expansion succeeds when paired with productive local uses.
- IGC is supporting the Zambia Evidence Lab within the Ministry of Finance to institutionalise data and AI use in policymaking.
ENDS
Contact information:
Theo Gott: [email protected]