Improving Development Programs: Insights from CID's Fall Workshop with Dr. Gomez Agou

During the November 1, 2024 session of CID’s Fall Workshop Series, “The Politics of Failed Development: Inside IMF Look at Africa,” Dr. Gomez Agou, Senior Economist and IMF Resident Representative in Gabon, led students in an examination of the challenges and structural weaknesses faced by development program stakeholders including International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and governments. 

The session focused on preparing participants to better influence development program design, implementation and monitoring regardless of their position as a stakeholder in the international development world.

Dr. Agou began the workshop with a lecture exploring  the role of historical context, structural barriers, political influence, big Africa shaping issues—often overlooked and stakeholder engagement in constraining the success and potential of IFIs like the IMF and World Bank. Through historical background and case studies, Agou provided students with a foundation to understand the roles, opportunities and limitations of IFI programs and potential areas for improvement in negotiating and implementing these programs. 

Following the lecture, Agou introduced a fictious country case where students took on roles as representatives from major development stakeholders such as the IMF country team, government, civil society, the private sector, and the press. Groups then prepared their program negotiation strategy and outreach along with public statements. Each group presentation were followed with challenging questions from Gomez Agou and the rest of the participants.

Marcelle Momha (MC/MPA 2025), who was assigned the role of the Minister of Finance, found the exercise helpful to “confront real difficulties regularly encountered during negotiations of aid plans.” In her role, Momha was tasked with defending the government’s request submitted to the IMF.

The exercise challenged Momha to take a new perspective, given her professional work primarily with the civil society and private sector. “Having to defend the government's project allowed me to put myself in the shoes of a decision-maker who had to consider several important aspects and make decisions that could generate social movements or austerity,” Momha said. “With my team, we had to weigh our arguments, evaluate the impact of each of the actions we proposed in the short and long term. At the end of this exercise, I feel that I have developed more empathy and understanding of the complexity of these negotiations. I feel more motivated to contribute to the public life of my country and Africa.”