Zainab Usman

Doing, writing and thinking economic policy

Knowledge. Analysis. Policy

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I am an (political- and development-) economist and public policy professional based in both Washington D.C. and New York in the United States.

My enduring interest is in identifying the policies and institutions to enable resource-rich countries harness their mineral and hydrocarbon endowments for sustained economic progress. Accordingly, I work on energy, natural resources, trade, industrialization and international development cooperation. I have held senior research, executive and advisory roles in multilateral organizations, foreign policy think tanks and in academia. 

This is my personal website, which aggregates my publicly accessible work on policy – analysis, research, commentary and policy dialogue.

Keynote Speech: Africa’s Growth and Position in the Global Economy

November 15, 2025

In May 2025, I had the honor of delivering the keynote speech at the RMB – Rand Merchant Bank’s 2025 Think Summit in Cape Town, South Africa. I spoke about Africa’s Growth and Position in the Global Economy. The summary of my talk is thus: to achieve prosperity, equity and stability, African countries must industrialize … More Keynote Speech: Africa’s Growth and Position in the Global Economy

How Can African Countries Participate in U.S. Clean Energy Supply Chains?

December 25, 2023

I recently published a paper entitled, “How Can African Countries Participate in U.S. Clean Energy Supply Chains?“, on October 4, 2023 to be precise. The paper examines the recent major pieces of U.S. climate-related legislation—the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS and Science Act—and identifies three opportunities for … More How Can African Countries Participate in U.S. Clean Energy Supply Chains?