STAFF LEADERSHIP
Njuguna Ndung’u
Executive Director
Professor Njuguna Ndung’u joined AERC on 1 September 2018 as Executive Director. He is an Associate Professor of economics at the University of Nairobi, Kenya and has been the Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya from March 2007 to March 2015, having completed the two terms of 4 years each as set by the law. He was the first Governor in Kenya to complete two terms since the law was put in place in 1982. Prior to his appointment as Governor, Professor Ndung’u was the Director of Training at the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), a capacity building network in Africa in economic policy and analytical capacity. He has taught economics at the University of Nairobi, has worked with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and at the Kenya Institute of Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA), a government think-tank as a Principal Researcher. This is where he led the team to develop a macro model for Kenya in 2001 and it has been used as a training tool by most countries in eastern and southern Africa region since.
ABEBE SHIMELES
DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH
Dr Abebe Shimeles joined AERC in December 2019 as Director of Research overseeing our Thematic and Collaborative programmes. Dr. Shimeles brings over 30 years of professional experience in policy research working for academia, NGOs (Action Aid), and other international organizations (United Nations Economic Commission for Africa; The World Bank and the African Development Bank) with a proven track record of publications in peer reviewed journals, policy dialogue, and impacting policy through research. His recent position at the African Development Bank was Division Manager of the Macroeconomic Policy, Forecasting and Research department. Dr Shimeles received a PhD in Economics from Goteborg University, M.A., Delhi School of Economics and B.A. from Addis Ababa University. He started his research career at the AERC in the mid-1990s and continued to serve as a resource person since 2009.
INNOCENT MATSHE
DIRECTOR OF TRAINING
Dr Innocent Matshe joined AERC in 2010 as Director of Training overseeing our CMAP, CPP, CMAAE programmes and the Bridge Programme. Previously, Dr Matshe worked with the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) where he had been a Senior Research Specialist. A former head of the Department of Economics at the University of Zimbabwe for 6 years and a faculty member for 17 years, Dr Matshe has extensive research experience in Microeconomics, Rural Finance, Agricultural Development and Health Economics. He is a Fulbright Fellow, widely published in the areas of markets, employment, rural and agricultural economic policy, household livelihoods and micro-macroeconomic linkages. He has conducted consultancy research work for various national, regional and international organizations including the SA government, SADC, EU, Government of the Netherlands, Zimbabwe government, FAO, FANRPAN, ILO, UNECA, and WHO.
MERCY KANYI
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Mercy Kanyi joins AERC in January 2020 as CFO, leading the finance and administration teams. Ms. Kanyi brings over 16 years of experience in strategy development, organizational structures, finance and grants management, operations management, building capacities, developing policies and systems, compliance with internal policies and procedures, organizational financial sustainability and change management. She previously worked with several NGOs, including World Vision Kenya, Worldwide Fund for Nature Kenya, Save the Children International, Save the Children UK and a few other institutions including a professional auditing firm. Ms. Kanyi holds a M.S. in Global Human Resource Management from University of Liverpool and a B.S. in Management and Accounting. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA-K) and a member of Institute of Certified Public Accountants (ICPAK).
