Kangni Roland Kpodar

Roland Kangni Kpodar has advanced from his initial role as Senior Economist to become Deputy Division Chief in the Strategy, Policy and Review Department at the International Monetary Fund, where he has served since 2006. His research portfolio spans critical areas including financial development, economic growth, poverty reduction, fuel subsidies, and trade integration. As a Senior Fellow at FERDI (Foundation for Studies and Research on International Development) in Clermont-Ferrand, France, he continues to contribute to academic discourse while maintaining his practical policy work. His expertise is evidenced by highly-cited research on mobile banking, financial inclusion, and Islamic banking, with his work on mobile phones and financial inclusion receiving over 900 citations. Kpodar has led significant IMF missions, including recent work in the Republic of Congo, where he headed discussions on the Extended Credit Facility arrangement. A Togolese national with a Ph.D. in economics from CERDI, he combines academic rigor with practical policy implementation, advising governments on macroeconomic policies and providing analysis on fiscal, monetary, and balance of payments issues.