Mr. Abdelkarim Sma is currently the Lead Regional Economist at the Asia and Pacific Division of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), an International Financial Institution focused on empowering rural inhabitants to escape poverty and achieve food security through remunerative, sustainable, and resilient livelihoods.
In this capacity, he is currently overseeing agricultural investments in over 20 countries. Prior to his current assignment, he acted as IFAD country director covering several Asian countries as well as the transition countries of the former Soviet Union.
Mr. Sma joined IFAD after spending about seven years coordinating the international operations of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in North Africa. Prior to that assignment, he spent 8 years in a major international consultancy where he held the position of head of agri-business department.
Mr. Sma holds a Master’s degree in agricultural economics as well as an engineering degree in agricultural biotechnologies. He speaks Arabic, French and English.
