Abebe Shimeles is Acting Director of the Macroeconomic Policy, Forecasting and Research Department at the African Development Bank. Previously, Shimeles has worked for The World Bank, UNECA, ACTIONAID and Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, in different capacities. His recent research interests include labour market integration, migration issues in Africa and impact evaluation of policy interventions. He holds a PhD in Economics from University of Gothenburg, Sweden, an MSc from Delhi School of Economics, India, and a BSc in Economics from Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.

Audrey Verdier-Chouchane is Chief Research Economist at the African Development Bank. Prior to joining the African Development Bank, Verdier-Chouchane taught Macroeconomics and Development Economics at the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, France, from where she holds a PhD in Economics. She has mainly published on the analysis and measurement of poverty and inequalities witha special focus on gender disparity and labor market issues for the youth.

Amadou Boly is Principal Research Economist at the African Development Bank. His research interests are in development and experimental economics, and his articles have been published in leading international journals. Previously, Boly worked for UNU-WIDER (2014-2015, Finland); and UNIDO (2009-2014, Austria), mainly in technical assistance and global forum activities related to industrial statistics and industrial policy. He holds a PhD in economics from the University of Montreal, Canada, an MSc in International Business from the University of Groningen, The Netherlands, and a BSc in Economics and Management from the University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.