Rosalind Thomas
Research Associate
Areas of Research Expertise:
- Financial Sector & Development Finance
- Infrastructure & PPPs
- Trade & Development
Background:
Dr Thomas is recognized internationally for an understanding of the private sector's role in African infrastructure financing. From 2005-2007 she was appointed as the first African (and second woman) on the world-wide Technical Advisory Panel of the World Bank's Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF), which reports to PPIAF's 15 donors on the performance of the PPIAF team in facilitating private participation in infrastructure projects in the developing world. She has an intimate understanding of the critical policy and operational issues facing development finance institutions in Africa and has spent several years supporting their capacity development needs. She has an extensive knowledge of key regional investment issues in Africa, and to this end, was tasked by the SADC Finance Ministers with management of a two-phase/ three-year feasibility study of a new SADC Project Preparation and Development Fund for regional investment projects. She has had +18-year track record of outstanding performance as a senior policy advisor and negotiator on trade and investment and development finance issues in Southern Africa. She is a member of the Investment Committee for Utho Capital Fund Managers, a PE investment vehicle which focuses on high growth SMEs operating mostly in the infrastructure sector.
Languages Spoken:
- English,
- Some basic French
Recent Publications:
- ‘Trade in Financial Services in Southern Africa: What Room for Negotiators given global developments post the 2008 Financial Crisis?’ Occasional Paper No. 2 SAIIA 31 August 2010.
- ‘The G20 Processes and Reform Agenda: What impacts on corporate and/or trade finance?’ Occasional Paper No. 1 SAIIA 31 August 2010.
- ‘Development Corridors and Spatial Development Initiatives in Africa’, January 2009. Published by MIGA on its webpage; www.miga.org
