“Africa’s potential is its people” – interview with Dr Frannie Léautier

Africa is endowed with natural resources including minerals, tourism and agricultural products but the potential is its people. eLearning Africa podcaster Andrea Marshall asked the Executive Secretary of the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), Dr Frannie Léautier how the organisation uses ICTs to improve skills and employability, eLA’s central theme of 2011, and whether African governments are doing enough in this regard and how the private sector can be engaged more.

Dr Frannie Léautier

…is the Executive Secretary of the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF). A Tanzanian national, she served as Vice President of the World Bank and Head of the World Bank Institute from December 2001 to March 2007. She also served as Chief of Staff to the former President of the World Bank from 2000-2001. Cumulatively, Dr Léautier served in various capacities at the World Bank from 1992-2007. From 2007 – 2009, she was a Managing Partner at The Fezembat Group, a company focused on risk management and leadership development.

Dr Léautier holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Dar es Salaam (1984); a Master of Science in Transportation from MIT (1986); and a PhD in Infrastructure Systems from MIT (1990). She is also a graduate of the Harvard University Executive Development Program.

Dr Léautier has published a number of articles in top-tier economic journals and magazines; she has also edited three books, including a recent one on Cities in a Globalizing World. She is currently Founding Editor for the Journal of Infrastructure Systems, Advisory Board Member for the MIT Open Course Ware and Secretary of the Board for the Nelson Mandela Institute for Science and Technology in Africa.

Dr Léautier is a charter member of the Advisory Board for EuropEFE and a founding Board member for the Africa Institute for Governing with Integrity.

Dr Léautier will deliver her keynote speech at eLearning Africa on Friday, May 27, 2011 from 08:30 – 10:30.