Alia El Mahdi

Alia El Mahdi

Professor of Economics in Faculty of Economics and Political Sciences, Cairo University

Alia El-Mahdi, Ph.D. is currently Professor of Economics in Faculty of Economics and Political Sciences, Cairo University, and CEO of Egypols. El Mahdi was the previous-Dean of FEPS, director of the Center of Economic and Financial Research and Studies (2005- 2008) and the Vice president of MSA University (2004-2005).Area of specialization is in the fields of labor market studies, especially the informal labor, and the Micro and Small Enterprises dynamics and performance, as well as several research studies on the macroeconomic policies, FDI, industrial policies, education, social protection in Egypt and the Arab countries. Professor El Mahdi has published numerous papers and chapters in books published internationally as well as regionally and in Egypt. She also led numerous research projects in various fields of socio-economic research. In the last fifteen to twenty years, she led teams of researchers and conducted over 30 socioeconomic surveys for different domestic agencies/ ministries and research centers as well international organizations. She was in charge of leading a team, which undertook over 2000 political polls during the last 15 years. She acted as consultant and policy advisor to several ministries and international organization such as ILO, UNDP, UNICEF, WB, ADB, UNIDO, Brookings Institute, ESCWA, JAICA, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, GIZ, Arab Labor Organization, WFP, MSMEDA, etc.

Areas of Interest:

  • Labor and Human Development

Education:

  • Ph.D., Economics, Cairo University, 1984
  • M.A., Economics, Cairo University, 1980
  • B.A., Economics, (with honors), Cairo University, 1976

Experience:

  • CEO of the Egyptian Iron and Steel Association, Jun. 2019-Present
  • CEO of Egypols (a consultancy company for Polling and Socio-economic Research), Mar. 2015-Present
  • Former Dean of the Faculty of Economics and political Sc.- Cairo University (2008-2011)

Latest Publications:

  • El Mahdi, A., Abdallah, A.; (2019), Survey on the 2017/2018 Graduates of the Egyptian Dual System, GIZ, Egypols, Cairo.
  • El Mahdi A., S. El Shawarby, A. El Nakeeb, (2019) Towards a more Competitive Tax System for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, ENCC and USAID, Cairo. (Arabic)
  • El Mahdi, A., M. El Garf, etal., (2018) Increasing Female Participation in the Labor Market and developing her Skills, ENCC and USAID-Seed Program, Cairo. (Arabic)
  • El Mahdi, A. etal., (2018) The Beneficiary Satisfaction Survey of the Emergency Employment Investment Project (EEIP), World Bank and MSMEDA, Cairo.
  • El Mahdi, A., A. El Nakeeb. D. Barakat, 2018, “Cairo: A Vibrant Investment City”, in The State of African Cities 2018–The geography of African Investment, UNHABITAT, file:///C:/Users/Alia/Downloads/The%20State%20of%20African%20Cities.pdf
  • El-Mahdi, A. and Ali Abdallah, 2016, "Gender and Rights in the Informal Economy in Egypt",  in “Supporting women as economic actors in the MENA region”, The Imperial College Press, London.
  • El Mahdi, A., etal; “The role of farmed fish in the diets of the resource-poor in Egypt”; (2015); WorldFish. Penang, Malaysia. Program Report: 2015-05. http://pubs.iclarm.net/resource_centre/2015-05.pdf
  • El Mahdi, A. & O. El Khawaga, (2015), “Education Systems and Their Impact on the Labor Market”, in Ayadi,R., Dabrowski, M., Ed., Economic and Social Development of the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean Countries, Springer, # SBN 978-3-319-11122-3.
Poverty and Informality: A Restraining or Constructive Relationship?

Areas of Interest: Labor and Human Development Education: Ph.D., Economics, Cairo University, 1984 M.A., Economics, Cairo University, 1980... Read More

November, 2010

Working Papers
The Changing Economic Environment and the Development of the Micro and Small Enterprises in Egypt 2006

Areas of Interest: Labor and Human Development Education: Ph.D., Economics, Cairo University, 1984 M.A., Economics, Cairo University, 1980... Read More

January, 2007

Working Papers
MSEs Potentials and Success Determinants in Egypt 2003-2004: Special Reference to Gender Differentials

Areas of Interest: Labor and Human Development Education: Ph.D., Economics, Cairo University, 1984 M.A., Economics, Cairo University, 1980... Read More

July, 2004

Policy Research Reports
The Small Business Informality Challenge: Lessons Learned From Country Experiences and The Road Ahead of Egypt

Areas of Interest: Labor and Human Development Education: Ph.D., Economics, Cairo University, 1984 M.A., Economics, Cairo University, 1980... Read More

August, 2003

Working Papers
An Assessment of the Effectiveness of Small and Micro-Enterprise Finance in Employment Creation

Areas of Interest: Labor and Human Development Education: Ph.D., Economics, Cairo University, 1984 M.A., Economics, Cairo University, 1980... Read More

May, 2003

Working Papers
ERF-GDN MENA Regional Research Competition
The Dynamics of Poverty and Inequality in an Era of Economic Liberalization: The Case of Egypt

Areas of Interest: Labor and Human Development Education: Ph.D., Economics, Cairo University, 1984 M.A., Economics, Cairo University, 1980... Read More

2010-01-01

Conferences
From Data to Policy: Evidence and Insights from The Egypt Labor Market Panel Survey 2023

Areas of Interest: Labor and Human Development Education: Ph.D., Economics, Cairo University, 1984 M.A., Economics, Cairo University, 1980... Read More

Nov 24, 2024

Workshops/Seminars
The Role of MSMEs in Fostering Inclusive and Equitable Economic Growth in the Context of the Clean Energy Transition in Egypt and Sudan

Areas of Interest: Labor and Human Development Education: Ph.D., Economics, Cairo University, 1984 M.A., Economics, Cairo University, 1980... Read More

Sep 25, 2024

Annual Conferences
ERF 29th Annual Conference: The Future of MENA Development Path: Risks and Opportunities in an Emerging World Order

Areas of Interest: Labor and Human Development Education: Ph.D., Economics, Cairo University, 1984 M.A., Economics, Cairo University, 1980... Read More

May 04, 2023

Initiatives & Partnerships

Data Portal

http://www.erfdataportal.com/index.php/catalog

The Forum

ERF Policy Brief