After a wide ranging career in national and international organizations, Ablasse Ouedraogo was this year appointed as Regional Adviser for Africa within the African Development Bank (AfDB). The post is based within the Office of the President, which oversees all the work and policy formation of the AfDB.
Hailing originally from Burkina Faso, Ablasse Ouedraogo has worked in numerous posts within his native country and in the international arena. From 1982 to 1994, Ablasse worked for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), as Deputy Administrator of the Industrial Program, Program Officer in Conakry, Assistant UNDP Representative to the OAU General Secretariat and Deputy Head of UNDP Liaison Office with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. From there he moved to take up the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Burkina Faso from 1994 to 1999 and Special Adviser to the President of Burkina Faso in 1999. From 1999 to 2002, he was the first African to hold the position of Deputy Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), where he was responsible for the Divisions in charge of Trade and Development, Finance and Trade, External Relations, Textiles and Information Technology. He was also the focal point for monitoring the activities of the International Trade Center (ITC).
The position of Regional Adviser for Africa is one personally appointed by the President of the Bank. The Office of the President is responsible for conducting the business of the Bank, and the management of the Institution in accordance with regulations adopted by the Board. Graduating from the University of Nice, France with a Doctorate degree in Economics, Ablasse is a passionate believer in the need for African countries to develop within the new international economy. ""Africans need to be part of globalization and they have to understand the system itself. They need to get involved in a new round of trade negotiations". He stated.
While bringing his considerable experience to the AfDB, Ablasse is under no illusions as to the difficulties that lay ahead of African nations. He believes they need to, "put in place the means to prevent and manage conflicts in a regional, sub-regional or continental framework. There are too many flashpoints which crush the development of our continent". He affirmed.
