Economist | Policy Advisor 

I specialise in economic reform, institutional development, and policymaking in fragile and conflict-affected states.

 About me

I am Head of the State Fragility Initiative (SFi) at the International Growth Centre (IGC), a joint venture based at the London School of Economics (LSE) and Oxford University. I lead the initiative’s strategic direction and oversee engagement with governments, development finance institutions, and international partners.

Current work

The State Fragility Initiative builds on the LSE–Oxford Commission on State Fragility and translates its recommendations into policy action. Our work includes:

• Country-level policy engagement, including direct advisory work with governments at pivotal moments (notably Yemen)

• DFI Fragility Forum, supporting development finance institutions to scale private investment in fragile settings

• Energy access programmes, expanding sustainable energy solutions in conflict-affected regions

• Thought leadership across IGC, shaping the global agenda on fragility and development

Policy engagement: Somalia

Alongside my role at IGC, I am actively engaged in Somalia’s economic policymaking. 

I serve as National Economic Advisor and Member of the National Economic Council (NEC) (2022–present), appointed by presidential decree. The Council plays a central role in shaping Somalia’s economic strategy and reform agenda.

In this capacity, I work with government leaders and international partners to develop evidence-based policies that promote:

• Inclusive economic growth 

• Institutional resilience 

• Macroeconomic stability 

Between January 2023 and June 2025, I led the development of Somalia’s Centennial Vision 2060 (CV2060), a long-term roadmap for economic transformation and national development. 

Writing and analysis

I regularly write on economic reform, resilience, and state fragility, with a particular focus on Somalia. 

👉 [Read the Blog](https://abdilahi.substack.com/)

Contact details:

Email: A.Ali49[at]lse.ac.uk or abdilahi.ali[at]theigc.org or abdilahi.ali[at]nec.gov.so

Public profiles:

IGC: https://www.theigc.org/people/abdilahi-ali

NEC: https://nec.gov.so/teams/abdilahi-ali/

Linkedin: https://uk.linkedin.com › abdi-ali-5b632416a

Researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Abdilahi_Ali

Ideas.repec profile: https://ideas.repec.org/f/pal833.html

Researcher ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5398-0450

Google Scholar: 

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=4uni1_UAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao