Khalid Abu-Ismail

Khalid Abu-Ismail

Senior Economist, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia

Khalid Abu-Ismail is Senior Economist at United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). He leads ESCWA’s projects on poverty, inequality and human development and is the author of more than 50 technical papers and UN flagship publications, including the 2022 World Development Challenges Report. From 2002 to 2012, he was the Poverty and Macroeconomic Policy Advisor at the United Nations Development Program Regional Offices for Arab States in Cairo and Beirut. Khalid is a Policy Affiliate at the Middle East Economic Research Forum and a former Guest Lecturer at the Faculty of Economics of the Lebanese American University. He has a D. Phil. in Development Economics from the New School for Social Research in New York.

Areas of Interest:

  • Economic Development
  • Poverty and Human Development
  • Macroeconomic Policy
  • Inequality
  • International Migration

Education:

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Economics, New School for Social Research, New York -May 06
  • Master of Philosophy, Economics (Honors), New School for Social Research, New York -May 02
  • Master of Philosophy, Development Planning and the Environment (Geography Department), university of Dundee, Scotland -October 95
  • Bachelor of ARTS, Economics, American University in Cairo, Egypt -May 92

Experience:

  • Chief of Economic Development and Poverty Section, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, April 12 – Present
  • MDG/Poverty and Macroeconomic Policy Adviser, United Nations Development Program Regional Center in Cairo (RCC), Egypt, April 09 – April 12
  • Macroeconomics and Poverty Specialist, May 02 – March 09

Latest Publications:

  • Rethinking human development measurement’. (2016, forthcoming) (UN-ESCWA) (with Aljaz Kuncic and Seth Caldwell)
  • ‘Tailoring multi-dimensional poverty measurement to middle income countries’. (2015) (UN-ESCWA) (with Marwan EL Khawaja, Dina Aramanious, Maya Ramadan and Heba El Laithy).
  • “The Syrian Conflict: Impact on Macro-economy and MDGs”. (2014) (UN-ESCWA) (lead author)
  • ‘MDGs in Syria'. (2009) (UNDP and State Planning Commission) (lead author)
Informing Policies Amid Multidimensional Poverty Changes: Impact Simulation and Poverty-Reduction Optimization

Areas of Interest: Economic Development Poverty and Human Development Macroeconomic Policy Inequality International Migration Education: Doctor of Philosophy,... Read More

March, 2024

Conference Paper
The Myth of Export-Led Growth

Areas of Interest: Economic Development Poverty and Human Development Macroeconomic Policy Inequality International Migration Education: Doctor of Philosophy,... Read More

November, 2003

Working Papers
Annual Conferences
ERF 30th Annual Conference: Parallel Sessions

Areas of Interest: Economic Development Poverty and Human Development Macroeconomic Policy Inequality International Migration Education: Doctor of Philosophy,... Read More

Apr 21, 2024

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

Areas of Interest: Economic Development Poverty and Human Development Macroeconomic Policy Inequality International Migration Education: Doctor of Philosophy,... Read More

May 04, 2023

Annual Conferences
ERF 29th Annual Conference – Parallel Sessions

Areas of Interest: Economic Development Poverty and Human Development Macroeconomic Policy Inequality International Migration Education: Doctor of Philosophy,... Read More

May 04, 2023

Webinars
Conflict and Post Conflict Transition to Peace Building and Development in War-Afflicted Arab Countries

Areas of Interest: Economic Development Poverty and Human Development Macroeconomic Policy Inequality International Migration Education: Doctor of Philosophy,... Read More

Sep 19, 2022

Webinars
The Impact of Covid-19 on Households and Firms in the MENA Region

Areas of Interest: Economic Development Poverty and Human Development Macroeconomic Policy Inequality International Migration Education: Doctor of Philosophy,... Read More

May 23, 2022

2
Initiatives & Partnerships

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