Brussels, 06 October 2020/OACPS: An economist by training, Mrs. Banata Tchale Sow has taken up her post as Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) in charge of the Department of Macroeconomics, Development Finance and Intra-ACP Programming (MDFIP).

Mrs. Sow has over 25 years of professional experience in the field of economics and finance, in general, ranging from consultancy to administrative governance, with special expertise in development projects. She has held senior positions in public administration and has proven experience in the field of civil society. Additionally, she has actively participated in the development and implementation of national, regional and international policies and strategies.

The new ASG is well-equipped to handle the demands of the MDFIP Department, based on her previous posts in her country of origin, Chad, and abroad. Before her appointment at the OACPS Secretariat, Mrs. Sow served as the Chief of Staff for the President of the Republic of Chad. She has also held several senior management posts, such as Minister of Microcredits for the Promotion of Women and Youth, Secretary of State for Budget and Finance, twice, and Secretary of State for Access and Infrastructure. These posts entailed coordinating the implementation of the Government’s policies for each of these areas. A former educator, Mrs. Sow also has considerable experience in investments and rural development.

The MDFIP Department manages key issues for the OACPS, such as economic matters and all issues related to cooperation and development finance. The Department also handles matters such as the European Union’s (EU) blacklist of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes, which continues to be a contentious issue for many Member States, and the recently created Endowment and Trust Fund. The Department also has oversight of the activities of the OACPS Centre for South-South and Triangular Cooperation in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.