William Lyakurwa

Mr. william Lyakurwa is the Executive Director of the African Economic Research Consortium. He joined AERC from the International Trade Centre based in Geneva, Switzerland in 1993, where he held the post of Senior Trade Promotion Advisor. Mr. Lyakurwa has since 1994, held the positions of Director of Training and Deputy Executive Director until his appointment to the position of Executive Director in March 2003.

As Director of Training, Mr. Lyakurwa is credited with the successful initiation of the ongoing Collaborative Masters Programme (CMAP) and the Collaborative PhD Programme (CPP) in response to a retroactive decline in external support and opportunities for graduate training in Economics in Africa.  
Mr. Lyakurwa received his PhD from Cornell University, USA in 1978 as the culmination of notable academic performance in Economics at undergraduate and postgraduate level, from the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania to Cornell University, USA.  He has consequently been enlisted as an advisor and consultant to governments; regional bodies; multilateral institutions; international and non-governmental organizations.  

Mr. Lyakurwa has served as Chair and member of several policy-making Boards in Tanzania and internationally.  He was the Chair of the PTA/IDRC Project Management Committee (1993 to 1997); of the NORDIC/SADCC Trade Advisory Group (1989 to 1994); and is currently the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Tanzania Investment Bank.  

Mr. Lyakurwa has published extensively in local and international journals as well as contributed chapters in books, research and discussion papers, most recently to a book titled: “Capacity Building in Economics Education and Research” edited by Francois Bourguignon, Yehuda Elkana and Boris Pleskovic. Published by The International Bank for the Reconstruction and Development/ The World Bank, 2007.

He has a wealth of experience in research; graduate training and ‘hands-on’ human resource management.