Herbert P M’cleod

Herbert P. M'cleod (1948-2022) served as Country Director for Sierra Leone and Liberia at the International Growth Centre, leaving an indelible mark on economic development in West Africa. His illustrious career spanned over five decades, including 35 years with the United Nations Development Programme where he held positions across Africa in Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Cameroon, Ethiopia, and Sierra Leone. As a trusted advisor transcending party politics in Sierra Leone, he served both as senior advisor to Vice President under the SLPP government and later as senior advisor to the APC President Koroma. His expertise in extractive industries led him to work as a UN adviser on mining agreements in Guinea and the Republic of Congo, where he championed human rights protection and broader economic benefits from resource extraction. At the International Growth Centre, he focused on addressing post-conflict economic challenges and promoting regional collaboration through the Mano River Union and African Continental Free Trade Area. His work with the International Finance Corporation included promoting private sector development through the Africa Project Development Facility and Foreign Investment Advisory Services. M'cleod was particularly noted for his intellectual rigor and deep understanding of economic transformation in post-conflict settings, working tirelessly to link domestic supply chains to international markets through stronger regional collaboration.