I am a political-economist and public policy professional based in Washington D.C., United States.
I work at the intersection of institutions, policy and politics in economic development, energy, natural resources and the future of work.
This website aggregates my publicly accessible work on policy – commentary, analysis and research.
In the week starting March 7 2022, I was in Guyana, South America, to discuss strategies for oil-led development in the 21st century. I had a very engaging exchange with the business community, scholars, students, the media, policymakers and development partners on the opportunities and challenges that newfound oil/gas resources present to Guyana. As you … More Trip to Guyana to Discuss Oil-Led Development in the 21st Century
In the run-up to the 2021 UN Climate Summit COP26 in Glasgow, I co-authored this important new report with eight other energy and development experts from across Africa and the US on “Reframing Climate Justice for Development: Six Principles for Supporting Inclusive and Equitable Energy Transitions in Low-Emitting Energy-Poor African Countries“. The full report can … More Reframing Climate Justice: Low Income Countries and the Energy Transition
In October this year, some of my decade-long work and ideas on economic diversification in Africa was profiled in the New York Times. Very thankful to Peter Coy, the economics columnist and writer for the NYT, for finding my ideas interesting enough to devote an entire article to showcasing them with diligence and respect. Read … More My Work on Economic Diversification is Featured in the New York Times
Zainab Usman 