AfDB Names Dr. Emmanuel Pinto Moreira Director of Special Operations in President’s Cabinet

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has appointed Dr. Emmanuel Pinto Moreira as Director of Special Operations within the President’s Cabinet, effective 1 July 2024.

A seasoned Beninese economist with over 30 years of experience in macroeconomic policy, poverty reduction, trade, and governance, Dr. Moreira has worked extensively across the Middle East, North Africa, East Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Sub-Saharan Africa.

In his new role, Dr. Moreira will drive efforts aligned with the Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy, focusing on initiatives to revalue Africa's green assets. He will collaborate closely with the Economic Governance and Knowledge Management Vice Presidency and other key stakeholders to advance this agenda.

Dr. Moreira has held several leadership roles at the African Development Bank, including Lead Advisor for the Economic Governance and Knowledge Management Vice Presidency and Director of the Country Economics Department.

Before joining the African Development Bank, he spent two decades at the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), where he served as the World Bank’s Regional Lead Economist for the Middle East and North Africa. In this capacity, he spearheaded policy dialogues with Maghreb nations and provided strategic economic advice. He also held the position of Acting Country Director for the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo.

Dr. Moreira's vast expertise and experience make him well-suited to guide the Bank’s efforts in addressing key economic challenges and enhancing Africa's green growth potential.

At the IMF, Moreira served as a Senior Economist and Senior Advisor to the Executive Director for 24 Francophone African countries. Earlier in his career, he taught undergraduate courses in macroeconomics, statistics, econometrics and microeconomics at the University of Lorraine (France), where he earned his PhD and MSc in Macroeconomics.

Commenting on his appointment, Moreira said: “I am truly honored and excited about this new position. I will work closely with all relevant colleagues and leverage the whole ecosystem of the Bank to deliver the green wealth agenda to the benefit of our continent.”

African Development Bank President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina praised Moreira’s accomplishments: “The Bank Group will benefit immensely from his policy, research and analytical skills, coupled with his immense knowledge of socioeconomic issues facing the African continent and beyond.”