I was born into a modest traditional catholic family in West Cameroon, where I got most of my catholic foundation. I am one of 8 siblings. My dad used to be catechist. I have recently decided to join the catechist training. I live in Abidjan with my wife and two children.
I hold a Ph.D. in agricultural economics from the University of Ghana, with more than 10 years of professional experience in the field of development economics (academic profile here). Currently, I am a senior economist at the African Development Bank Group. I held a previous visiting appointment at The Ohio State University. My current research work focuses on inclusive financing, especially the application of behavioral and experimental economics to finance, insurance, and value chain development. I often examine this field by initiating and implementing large-scale RCT experiments, with the goal of producing convincing evidence for public and private policy decisions. I am just about to start the implementation of a 3-year RCT project in Ghana to test whether bundling deficit irrigation and index insurance can effectively provide farmers with an accessible and monotonically non-decreasing benefit stream regardless of the degree of drought stress.
One of my responsibilities as senior economist is to ensure that the bank’s interventions carry sound and sustainable development impacts. I advise the banking team about the need to seek for community buy-in, local business inclusion, local value addition, equal employment opportunities, social responsibility, environmental, social, and corporate governance policy, etc. This is an area where I see a strong alignment between my faith and my profession.
I am a former president of international catholic students at the University of Ghana. I am currently involved in coaching students who are entering the job market. I am more than happy to share my faith, family/work balance tips and my professional experience, and to learn from you as well. Are you interested in development economics? are you interested in starting a career in development? Do you want to discuss issues related to faith, profession, and family? Are you struggling with setting time for prayer? St Teresa of Avila once said: “It is impossible for a person who prays regularly to remain in serious sin, because the two are incompatible, one or the other will have to be given up.” Let us connect.
Contact: F.KEMEZE@AFDB.ORG