Dr. Hiba Ahmad, a Sudanese citizen, graduated from the department
of economics, the University of Khartoum, then moved to the United States and
completed her graduate studies at the University of Michigan, from which she
earned her Ph.D. She also earned several post-graduate certificates in
economics and sustainable development from Harvard.
She began her career as an employee at the Central Bank of Sudan in
Khartoum, after which she traveled abroad to continue her studies. She worked
for the World Bank, Saudi Aramco Oil Company, United Nations Development
Program, United States Agency for International Development, and the
International Food Policy Research Institute focusing on economic development and
poverty alleviation.
She returned to Sudan in 2019, where she held the position of
Director-General for the General Authority for Investment and Private Sector
Development. In 2020, she was appointed Minister of Finance and Economic
Planning making her the first female Minister of Finance for Sudan.
As Minister of Finance, she led international cooperation efforts
including the “Friends of Sudan” initiative comprising more than 40 donors and
was responsible for resource mobilization of up to US$2 billion for the country
in 2020. During her tenure, she also led Sudan’s US$60 billion debt
restructuring and was responsible for administering the IMF’s Staff Monitored
Program for macroeconomic stabilization.
Commenting on the appointment, Islamic Development Bank President
and Group Chairman, Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser, said: "I am pleased to appoint
Dr. Hiba Ahmed as the Director-General for the Islamic Solidarity Fund for
Development (ISFD). I am sure that Dr. Ahmed is bringing with her extensive
experience in poverty alleviation from many similar institutions and her strong
academic background will bring the ISFD performance to new heights to meet the
expectations of its beneficiaries and stakeholders”.
The ISFD was established on 29 May 2007 as a special fund within
IsDB specializing in fighting poverty and promoting pro-poor economic growth.
Since its inception, ISFD has approved US$ 1.14 billion in loans
and grants supporting 321 poverty alleviation projects. 80% of ISFD’s project
portfolio falls in the least developed member countries (LDMCs) within the IsDB
Group.
The Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development (ISFD), the poverty
reduction arm of the IsDB Group, is dedicated to reducing poverty in its member
countries by promoting pro-poor growth, emphasizing human development,
especially improvements in health care and education, and providing financial
support to enhance the productive capacity and sustainable means of income for
the poor, including financing employment opportunities, providing market outlets
especially for the rural poor and improving basic rural and pre-urban
infrastructure.