Obituary
Dear ERF affiliates and friends,
I am deeply saddened to hear the news of the passing of Prof. Ali Abdel Gadir Ali on Friday, September 16, 2022, in Cairo.
Ali was a well-known development thinker, distinguished professor of economics, senior affiliate of ERF and a close life-long friend.
The Arab and African economic communities lost one of the most prominent Sudanese and Arab economists and thinkers. Prof. Ali’s long standing career teaching economics at Khartoum and Gezira Universities in Sudan influenced the lives of many generations in Sudan. His leadership roles at the various Arab and African development institutions, in addition to his seminal research contributions to leading research networks in Africa and MENA, contributed to highly influential publications and policy discussions on Arab and African development policy issues.
He published widely on governance, conflict and peace-building, economic reforms and most notably on poverty and inequality agenda. He was not only a respected high profile academic researcher but he was also a passionate advocate in public forums for commitment to the fight against poverty and inequality and a persuasive and objective critic of IMF-style austerity reforms in Sudan and other developing countries.
Professor Ali graduated from the University of Khartoum and was awarded his doctorate from the University of Essex, Britain in 1974, under the supervision of the well-known economist “Sir” Anthony Atkinson. His impeccable professional career spans almost 50 years, holding leadership academic and policy development positions at the University of Khartoum, the University of Gezira, Sudan; the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, Khartoum; the Arab Investment Guarantee Corporation, Kuwait; the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Addis Ababa; the Arab Planning Institute, Kuwait; and the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, Doha.
Despite these esteemed positions, professor Ali remained an example of humility with everyone who worked with him and continued to help and support his former students and colleagues alike.
I have known Prof. Ali for more than five decades, as student and as a colleague. I will always remember the lively gatherings and rich discussions he warmly hosted in his house in Cairo and in the many other cities he lived in. His wisdom, sense of humor and generosity will be with us for years to come.
I offer my sincere condolences to his wife Hoda Abdelsattar, his children and all of us his former students, colleagues and friends.
May God bestow his grace, mercy and blessings upon him. He will be immensely missed.
Ibrahim Elbadawi
Managing Director
Economic Research Forum