Poverty Reduction Specialist Joins IDB

Santiago Levy Algazi, a former Mexican deputy minister of finance, is joining the IDB as chief economist and general manager of its research department. The academic and expert in social programs brings public sector experience to the bank in his roles as general director of the Mexican Social Security Institute, deputy finance minister, president of the Federal Competition Commission and director of the economic deregulation program at the trade ministry. He designed a conditional cash transfer program known as “oportunidades,” which assists more than 5m of Mexico’s poorest households. He also worked as a consultant to the UNDP on poverty reduction policies. Levy replaces Guillermo Calvo, who left the IDB to become director of Columbia University’s program of economic policy management.