Development Policy Centre Podcast

Robin Davies speaks with Sir Masood Ahmed, the distinguished international economist whose career spans over 35 years at the forefront of international development. Up to July 2024, Ahmed served as President of the US-based Center for Global Development for seven years, following influential roles at the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the UK's Department for International Development. Born in Pakistan and educated at the London School of Economics, Masood has been instrumental in shaping global economic policies, particularly in the areas of debt relief, aid effectiveness, and poverty reduction.In this wide-ranging interview, Masood discusses the evolving landscape of development cooperation and the challenges facing the multilateral system. He addresses the pressing need to reform multilateral development banks, the complexities of climate finance, and the changing nature of official development assistance. Masood particularly emphasises the importance of rethinking how we approach internati