Benno Ndulu
Benno Ndulu | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 23, 1950 Tanzania |
| Died | February 22, 2021 (aged 71) |
| Occupation(s) | Economist, academic |
| Years active | 1980s–2021 |
| Known for | Governor of the Bank of Tanzania (2008–2018) |
Benno Ndulu (23 January 1950 – 22 February 2021) was a distinguished Tanzanian academic who held the position of governor at the Bank of Tanzania, the nation’s central banking institution, from 2008 through 2018. He died on 22 February 2021 as a result of COVID-19.
Career
During the early 1980s, Ndulu, then a professor at the University of Dar es Salaam, conducted seminars focused on Tanzania’s economic challenges, which played a significant role in shaping the reforms introduced in the late 1980s. Subsequently, he served as Lead Economist for the World Bank’s Macroeconomic Division covering Eastern Africa, where he supported President Benjamin Mkapa’s reform initiatives that contributed to more than ten years of continuous economic growth in Tanzania. Ndulu also played a key role in founding the African Economic Research Consortium, taking on responsibilities as both research director and executive director.
He obtained his doctorate in economics from Northwestern University and authored numerous publications on topics including economic growth, policy adjustment, governance, and international trade. In recognition of his efforts to enhance African research capacity, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) in 1997.
From 2018 until his passing, Ndulu held a visiting professorship at the Blavatnik School of Government within the University of Oxford. Alongside Professor Stefan Dercon, he co-led the Pathways for Prosperity Commission on Technology and Inclusive Development. Following the Commission’s conclusion in 2020, it transitioned into the Digital Pathways at Oxford initiative, where Ndulu contributed as a senior advisor.