Institute of Development Studies

Ethiopian Minister of Finance and Alumni Revisits IDS

Ethiopia’s Minister for Finance and Economic Development and IDS Alumni, Ahmed Shide, visited IDS on the 24 July. He had a hectic round of meetings with various members of staff including IDS Director, Lawrence Haddad and tutors affiliated to his course MAP01 in the Participation, Power and Social Change Team.  Shide spoke about how constructive his student days were, how it has informed his new role as a Government Minister in Ethiopia. He said how delighted he is that the knowledge he acquired at IDS on building capacity and agency influences his work as a statesman. The MAP course provided Shide with a unique understanding of diversity instrumental in learning about ‘the way we listen, our points of view in a multitude of issues. This was so crucial.’

Shide thanked MAP and IDS for giving him the opportunity to see how incentives can lead to a more progressive society. He said ‘what goes on in the world fits particularly well with what contributes to poverty reduction.’ Shide stays in touch with IDS several times a week by regularly checking the IDS website. He commented that the MAP Course contributed to him finding the rationale for pursuing social justice. He also benefited from engaging dynamically in a different setting, far away from home. 'Studying at IDS contributes to a mindset where different voices articulate and shape diverse perceptions.’ Shide concluded that: ‘the knowledge you acquire here, the competence, makes you strive to learn about the possibilities for working towards a positively inclusive society.'