They are all highly qualified

Officials from the African continent reach the top in international organizations

  • Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus led the WHO during the pandemic.

    archival

  • Mokhtar Diop manages an investment portfolio of $64 billion.

    archival

  • Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala chairs the World Trade Organization.

    archival

picture

The major multilateral institutions in the world are often keen to announce their global prospects. Yet most heads of international institutions were white men, while sub-Saharan Africans, in particular, were overlooked. Until 2017, there was only one person who led a large international organization, and that was Kofi Annan, who ran the United Nations from 1997 to 2006. Today, Africans lead many global institutions.

Ethiopian Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus led the World Health Organization during the pandemic. Nigeria's Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala chaired the World Trade Organization, while Senegal's Mokhtar Diop led a $64 billion investment portfolio in the International Finance Corporation, the semi-autonomous arm of the World Bank that invests in private companies. The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund give the highest jobs to America and Europe, but for the second time only, Antoinette Sayeh, from Sub-Saharan Liberia, occupies the position of Deputy Director General of the International Monetary Fund. Western Politics

All of these are highly qualified, Iweala, Diop and Sayeh were Finance Ministers and all worked for the World Bank. Dr. Tedros was Minister of Health and then Minister of Foreign Affairs. That they all had big jobs at once is partly a coincidence, but there are indications that Western governments have, on purpose, sought to put Africans in charge of large corporations. In that, WTO spokesman, Keith Rockwell, says of the mood that prevailed before Iweala's appointment, "There was a great feeling that it was Africa's turn, and that it was the turn of a woman."

This reflects a realization that the focus of many of these institutions is shifting to the continent, which is home to more than two-thirds of the world's poor and has a life expectancy of 61 years, compared to 80 years in rich countries.

Although Africa contributes a small portion of world trade, it benefits most from trade.

They will likely make up an increasing share of the IMF's work, too.

Lending to sub-Saharan countries has increased 13 times since the outbreak of the pandemic.

Africa does not benefit

Sayeh, the deputy director of the International Monetary Fund, says the only thing the new African officials might offer is a "listening ear" to the continent's problems. At the very least, their leadership is bringing more attention to Africa. In it, Iweala says, "I don't think anyone in the WTO has set out to ignore Africa's concerns." However, she adds, "Africa has not benefited as much from trade integration as it should." In theory, many African countries get lower tariffs than richer countries through the trade deals allowed under WTO rules. But this does not work well in practice. "We really need to look at some of those agreements and make it easier for African countries," Iweala says. In the past, Diop says, the IFC has not neglected Africa.However, it plans to double its annual investment in the continent to reach $10 billion in the next few years. Personal Experience

Personal experience inevitably forms the priorities of African leaders in international organizations.

Dr. Tedros' brother, aged four, died, most likely from measles.

Similar curable diseases became the focus of his campaign to run the World Health Organization, and he prioritized them during his tenure.

The presence of African officials in international institutions can provide role models and overcome racist stereotypes.

In this context, Iweala says, “It is important for people to see an African leading an institution in the economic sphere.”

Tedros was finally nominated, unopposed, to lead the World Health Organization for a second term.

There is no doubt that Iweala and Diop are looking forward to similar endorsements for their work.

Pioneers sometimes feel extra pressure to succeed, and may be held to unfairly high standards.

However, not all global corporate leaders excel.

The real sign that Africans have broken the glass ceiling in international organizations will be when there are no comments about an African official's leadership different from the usual comments about officials from Asia, Europe or the Americas.

• The only thing that the new African officials might offer is an “attentive ear” to the continent's problems and issues.

At the very least, their leadership is bringing more attention to Africa.


• In theory, many African countries get lower tariffs than richer countries through the trade deals allowed under WTO rules, but this does not work well in practice.

Follow our latest local and sports news and the latest political and economic developments via Google news