Dr. Moustapha Fofana is a development economist and specialist in industrial economics, with more than 15 years of experience in Côte d’Ivoire and internationally. As a researcher and lecturer at Félix Houphouët-Boigny University, he combines strong academic expertise with recognized practice in foresight, economic intelligence, and industrial strategy.
His career has led him to collaborate with major institutions such as UNIDO, the African Development Bank (AfDB), UNESCO, and the Economic, Social, Environmental and Cultural Council of Côte d’Ivoire, where he served as Deputy Director of Economic Intelligence, Strategic Foresight, and Monitoring. His work focuses particularly on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), economic governance, and industrial policies.
Author of several scientific publications, he has distinguished himself through research on corruption, migration, social stability, and African industrial dynamics, providing valuable insights for policymakers on the continent’s economic and social challenges. An active member of professional networks such as the Ivorian Network of Foresight Practitioners and FAERE (French Association of Environmental and Resource Economists), he represents a new generation of experts committed to sustainable development and African economic integration.
Professional Experience12
Deputy Director of Economic Intelligence, Monitoring, and Forecasting · Economic and Social Council-Côte d'Ivoire
March 2023-Present
Consultant · UNESCO
March 2023-may 2024
Consultancy for UNESCO's Management of Social Transformations (MOST) program (communication on the theme of Youth, Peace, and Security in West Africa and drafting of the report on the status of MOST in West Africa).
Project Officer (Research) · Economic and Social Council-Côte d'Ivoire
May 2022-march 2023
Specialist Consultant · African Development Bank Group
October 2022-june 2021
National Expert · United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO
2021
Comprehensive evaluation of Côte d'Ivoire's industrial policies Analysis of value chain development opportunities across sectors Identification of structural constraints and bottlenecks in industrial development Assessment of policy coherence between extractive sector and broader industrial strategy Contribution to national industrial diagnostic Recommendations on policy reforms and institutional strengthening Outcome: PCP diagnostic report informing UNIDO's engagement strategy in Côte d'Ivoire
National Consultant - Industrial Policy Expert · African Development Bank
October 2020-june 2021
Analytical work on "COVID-19 and industries in Africa" Analysis of pandemic impact on industrial value chains including extractives Assessment of economic and industrial resilience policies Recommendations for post-COVID recovery of extractive and manufacturing sectors Policy briefs on resource-based industrialization strategies
National expert · BAD
October 2020-june 2021
National expert in industrial policy for analytical work on “COVID-19 and industries in Africa
Econometrics, statistics and mathematics Teacher · Altantique University
October 2015-july 2019
Assistant to the Advisor on Social Affairs, Ministry of Transport · Ministry of Transport
November 2011-april 2012
Team leader for the MIDDAS project (International Migration and Development · IRD
September 2010-september 2011
Researcher (Internship) · Ivorian Center for Economic and Social Research (CIRES) - Economic Policy Analysis Unit (CAPEC)
June-december 2010
Analysis of economic and fiscal policies Research on determinants of public revenue in WAEMU space Econometric work on taxation and natural resources Study on revenue mobilization from extractive sectors
Assistant Professor and Researcher · Félix Houphouet-Boigny University
2002
Teaching applied econometrics (Stata, R) to Master's and PhD students Supervision of theses and dissertations in development economics and Teaching applied econometrics (Stata, R) to Master's and PhD students Supervision of theses and dissertations in development economics and
Education4
Performance Management in Public Administration
March-september 2023
PhD in Economic · Félix Houphouet-Bpoigny University-Côte d'Ivoire
2021
Essays on the economic analysis of armed conflicts: the case of African countries south of the Sahara
Master's degree in project management · Senghor Alexandrie University
2014-2015
Master's Degree in Industrial Economics from the New Interuniversity Postgraduate Program (NPTCI) · Félix Houphouet-Boigny University
2007-2009
Affiliations2
National Risk Assessment Committee - Anti-Money Laundering · Member
2019-2020French Association of Environmental and Resource Economists (FAERE) · Member