Meeting Schedules

Deputy Managing Director

Nigel Clarke is a Deputy Managing Director at the IMF. In this capacity, he oversees the Fund’s work across a broad set of country programs and policy priorities. Before joining the IMF, he served as Jamaica’s Minister of Finance and the Public Service, where he led major national reforms, including strengthening fiscal institutions, advancing central bank independence, and modernizing public sector governance. He also guided Jamaica’s economic response to the COVID‑19 pandemic and oversaw innovative financial operations, including the country’s first catastrophe bond and its first local‑currency international bond issuance. Prior to his ministerial role, Mr. Clarke served as Ambassador of Economic Affairs and held senior positions in the private sector. He holds a PhD from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar.

Minister of Finance of Burkina Faso

Aboubakar Nacanabo is an internationally recognized expert in public finance, international taxation, and economic governance. He holds a PhD in Management Sciences from Institut des Études d’Administration et de Management in Paris and has had over fifteen (15) years of experience spanning national public administration and leading international tax institutions. Since October 2022, he has served as Minister of Economy and Finance of Burkina Faso. In this capacity, he oversees the design and implementation of the country’s macroeconomic and fiscal policies. His portfolio encompasses macro-fiscal programming, public financial management, revenue administration reform, treasury operations, land governance, national development planning, and strategic foresight.

Minister of Economy and Finance of Djibouti

Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh is Minister of Economy and Finance, in charge of Industry, of Djibouti. Earlier, he worked in the Planning Department and held senior positions at the International Port. He founded and led several private-sector companies and co-founded the Club of Young Entrepreneurs. With ample experience in economic policymaking, public administration, and the private sector, he has helped shape Djibouti's development strategy and strengthens its position as a regional logistics, trade, and investment hub. He has also championed regional integration and economic cooperation across the Horn of Africa. Mr. Dawaleh holds a degree in Economic and Social Administration from François Rabelais University in France, and a postgraduate degree in marketing and strategic management.

Minister of Finance of Somalia

Bihi Iman Egeh MOF is Minister of Finance of Somalia since July 2023. He is a Member of the Federal Parliament. Under his leadership Somalia reached the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) completion point in December 2023. He was named Africa's Finance Minister of the Year in 2025.

Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)

Rania Al-Mashat is the United Nations Under-Secretary General and Executive Secretary of ESCWA. Prior to assuming this role, she served in the Egyptian Cabinet for eight years, holding portfolios that included International Cooperation, Planning, Economic Development, and Tourism. Earlier in her career, she was Sub-Governor for Monetary Policy at the Central Bank of Egypt and Advisor to the Chief Economist at the IMF. Throughout her career, she has played a leading role in advancing economic development, international cooperation, and climate finance initiatives. Dr. Al-Mashat holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Maryland.

Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department

Jihad Azour is Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the International Monetary Fund, overseeing the IMF's work across the Middle East, North Africa, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. Previously, he served as Lebanon's Minister of Finance (2005-08), leading key reforms to modernize tax and customs administration. He has also held senior positions in the private sector, including at McKinsey, Booz & Company, and Inventis Partners. Mr. Azour joined the IMF in 2017 and holds advanced degrees in international finance and economics from Sciences Po Paris. He has published extensively on economic and financial issues and has taught at leading institutions.

Director of the Fiscal Affairs Department

Rodrigo Valdés is Director of the IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department. Previously, he served as Director of the Western Hemisphere Department and as Chile’s Minister of Finance (2015-17). He has extensive experience in public policy, central banking, academia, and finance, including senior roles at Chile’s Central Bank, BancoEstado, BTG Pactual, Barclays Capital, and the IMF. Mr. Valdés holds a PhD in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Chile.