James Alic Garang
{{Short description|South Sudanese economist}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = James Alic Garang
| image =
| alt = James Alic Garang at the Kenyatta International Conference Center in Nairobi during the African Development Bank Group annual meeting on 1 June 2024
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Ajok Village, Ayat Center, Aweil West County, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, Sudan (now South Sudan)
| nationality =
| alma_mater = University of Massachusetts
University of Utah
| occupation = Governor of the Bank of South Sudan, Economist, Banker
| years_active = 2009–present
| known_for =
| notable_works =
| spouse =
| children =
}}
James Alic Garang is a South Sudanese economist, Chair of Monetary Affairs Committee of the East Africa Community and the current governor of the Bank of South Sudan.{{cite web |url=https://www.brb.bi/sites/default/files/27th%20Communique.pdf |title=27th Ordinary Meeting of the East African Community Monetary Affairs committee |date=May 3, 2024 |publisher=Bank of the Republic of Burundi }} He previously served as a senior advisor to the Executive Director at the IMF Executive Board in Washington, DC.{{Cite web |title=Inside South Sudan's economic recovery |url=https://www.cnbcafrica.com/media/6350698510112/inside-south-sudans-economic-recovery-/ |access-date=2024-07-21 |website=CNBCAFRICA |language=English}} Garang assumed the office after being appointed by President Salva Kiir Mayardit on October 4, 2023.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-10-03 |title=President Kiir Appoints Dr. James Alic Garang as the New Governor of South Sudan Central Bank |url=https://paanluelwel.com/2023/10/03/president-kiir-appoints-dr-james-alic-garang-as-the-new-governor-of-south-sudan-central-bank/ |access-date=2024-07-21 |website=PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd - South Sudan |language=en-US}}
Early life and education
Garang was born in Ajok Village, Ayat Center, Aweil West County, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State in what is now South Sudan.{{Citation |title=Communities in the Northwest: The Northern Bahr el-Ghazal |date=2004 |work=Sudan's Blood Memory: The Legacy of War, Ethnicity, and Slavery in South Sudan |volume=17 |pages=79–88 |editor-last=Beswick |editor-first=Stephanie |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/sudans-blood-memory/communities-in-the-northwest-the-northern-bahr-elghazal/EA92B52A48A626813522F0B7CA9299E6 |access-date=2024-07-26 |series=Rochester Studies in African History and the Diaspora |publisher=Boydell & Brewer |doi=10.1017/9781580466271.012 |isbn=978-1-58046-627-1|url-access=subscription }}
After completing high school, Garang relocated to the United States through the Lost Boys of Sudan program.{{Cite web |date=2014-10-03 |title=The Lost Boys of Sudan {{!}} International Rescue Committee (IRC) |url=https://www.rescue.org/article/lost-boys-sudan |access-date=2024-07-22 |website=www.rescue.org |language=en}} He immediately enrolled at Salt Lake Community College, where he graduated with an Associate Degree in 2003.{{cite web | url=https://econ.utah.edu/alumni-spotlights/james-garang.php | title=James Garang - Department of Economics - the University of Utah }}
In May 2006, he graduated from the University of Utah with honors Degree of Science.{{Cite news |title=News about University of Utah alumni |url=https://ulink.utah.edu/s/1077/newsletter/1col.aspx?sid=1077&gid=1&pgid=1527 |access-date=2024-07-23}} In December 2009, he attained a Master of Arts Degree in Economics from the University of Massachusetts Amherst,{{Cite web |title=James Garang - Department of Economics - The University of Utah |url=https://econ.utah.edu/alumni-spotlights/james-garang.php |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=econ.utah.edu}} and in May 2014, he attained a PhD in Economics from the same institution.{{cite web | url=https://www.lafriquedesidees.org/south-sudans-existential-fiscal-crisis-and-possible-remedies/ | title=South Sudan's existential fiscal crisis and possible remedies | date=9 August 2017 }}
Career
Garang profession started at the Upper Nile University as an Assistant Professor and Deputy Dean.{{Cite web |title=James Alic Garang |url=https://www.intechopen.com/profiles/527699 |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=www.intechopen.com |language=en}} He worked as an intern for African Development Bank in Tunis, Tunisia between 2009 and 2010.{{Cite web |title=Annual Meetings 2024: Comoros, Djibouti, Somalia and South Sudan join $35 million African Development Bank climate disaster risk financing project |url=https://www.afdb.org/en/news-and-events/press-releases/annual-meetings-2024-comoros-djibouti-somalia-and-south-sudan-join-35-million-african-development-bank-climate-disaster-risk-financing-project-71415}} He was also the banking sector's lead evaluator for the Comprehensive Evaluation of the Government of Southern Sudan (2006-2010){{cite web | url=https://suddinstitute.org/who-we-are/team/member/22 | title=The Sudd Institute Team }} and worked as a consultant of the Republic of South Sudan (June –August 2011) and World Bank South Sudan Office (2013-2014).
Garang was an advisor to the Executive Director (AfG1 Constituency) of the International Monetary Fund (2017-2021), and Senior Advisor of the IMF Executive Director (AfG1 Constituency) (2021-2023). He also worked as consultant of World Bank South Sudan Office (2013-2014); National Consultant on “Assessing Economic Benefits and Costs of South Sudan Accession to EAC,” Imani Development Ltd, South Africa (2014-2015); Columnist of the Juba Telegraph, and Senior Economist with the Ebony Center for Strategic Studies based in Juba, South Sudan.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-02 |title=South Sudan woos Kenyan investors in real estate, mining sectors |url=https://nation.africa/africa/news/south-sudan-woos-kenyan-investors-in-real-estate-mining-sectors-4611380 |access-date=2024-07-17 |language=English}}
Garang is also the founder of the Africa Center for Financial Inclusion, a non-profit institution that promotes inclusive financial system in Africa.{{Cite web |title=Leadership Team – ACFI |url=http://acfi-ss.org/leadership-team/ |access-date=2024-08-09 |language=en-US}}
In July 2024, he received the African Economic Resilience and Growth Champion Award at the 14th [https://africaleadershipawards.org/ African Business Leadership Awards] (ABLA), which was held from 4th to 5th July 2024. The award ceremony was a highlight of the ALM Africa Summit London 2024.{{Cite web |last=Ukoha |first=Blossom |date=2024-07-17 |title=South Sudan Central Bank Governor, Alic Garang Receives Recognition for Economic Prowess |url=https://www.africanleadershipmagazine.co.uk/south-sudan-central-bank-governor-alic-garang-receives-recognition-for-economic-prowess/ |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=African Leadership Magazine |language=en}}
In July 2024, he represented South Sudan at the African Leadership Summit, which was held on the 17th to 18th July 2024 at the Hilton London Metropole and House of Lords, London, United Kingdom.{{Cite web |last=Mayen |first=Daniel |date=2024-07-19 |title=Dr. James Alic Garang's speech at African Leadership Summit in London |url=https://boss.gov.ss/dr-james-alic-garangs-speech-at-african-leadership-summit-in-london/ |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=BoSS {{!}} Bank of South Sudan |language=en-US}}
In September 2024, Garang launched a cashless campaign drive urging South Sudanese citizens to embrace electronic payment options, such as mobile money, debit cards and credit cards as a way of promoting digitization of financial services.{{Cite web |last=umajulius |date=2024-09-18 |title=South Sudan bank launches no physical cash carrying drive |url=https://sudantribune.com/article290999/ |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=Sudan Tribune |language=en-US}} {{Cite web |last=Chang |first=Koang |date=2024-09-17 |title=Dr Alic urges public to open accounts for transactions |url=https://www.eyeradio.org/bank-of-south-sudan-urges-public-to-open-accounts-for-transactions/?amp |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=Eye Radio |language=en-US}} {{Cite web |last=Goor |first=Akuot |date=2024-09-18 |title=BOSS encourages public to open bank, mobile money accounts to ease cash transactions |url=https://thedawn.com.ss/2024/09/18/boss-encourages-public-to-open-bank-mobile-money-accounts-to-ease-cash-transactions/ |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=The Dawn Newspaper |language=en-US}} {{Cite web |date=2024-09-19 |title=South Sudan tests cashless pay to civil servants |url=https://nation.africa/africa/news/south-sudan-tests-cashless-pay-to-civil-servants-4767684 |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=Nation |language=en}}
Publications
{{laundry list|date=July 2024}}
Garang has published in various economic and related disciplines in various journals:
- {{Citation |last=Garang |first=James Alic |title=Exploiting Technology during the Pandemic: Early Lessons from Sub-Saharan Africa |date=2023-11-01 |work=New Topics in Emerging Markets |url=https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/87983 |access-date=2024-07-29 |publisher=IntechOpen |language=en |isbn=978-1-83769-133-3}}
- {{Cite journal |last1=Akech |first1=Joseph Geng |last2=Garang |first2=James Alic |last3=Mayai |first3=Augustino Ting |date=2023-02-28 |title=On Navigating the Roadmap: A Path Towards Democratization and Prosperity |url=https://suddinstitute.org/publications/show/64001a89ce0be |journal=The Sudd Institute |language=en-US}}
- {{Cite journal |last1=Garang |first1=James Alic |last2=Mayai |first2=Augustino Ting |date=2023-02-14 |title=Pope Francis's Visit to South Sudan and its Significance |url=https://suddinstitute.org/publications/show/63ec3119ae8d4 |journal=The Sudd Institute |language=en-US}}
- {{Cite journal |last=Garang |first=James Alic |date=2022-12-06 |title=Key Milestones on South Sudan's Engagement with the International Monetary Fund |url=https://suddinstitute.org/publications/show/6398468783168 |journal=The Sudd Institute |language=en-US}}
- {{Cite web |last1=James |first1=Garang Yach |last2=Garang |first2=James Alic |last3=Akech |first3=Joseph Geng |date=2022-07-01 |title=On Designating the 14-Mile Area in the Cooperation Agreement: Missteps and Implications for Peace in South Sudan. {{!}} African Journal on Conflict Resolution {{!}} EBSCOhost |url=https://openurl.ebsco.com/contentitem/gcd:161230356?sid=ebsco:plink:crawler&id=ebsco:gcd:161230356 |access-date=2024-07-29 |website=openurl.ebsco.com |language=en}}
- {{Cite journal |last=Garang |first=James Alic |date=2022-08-02 |title=It takes a Village to Raise a Child: South Sudan's Reengagement Strategy with Key International Financial Institutions |url=https://suddinstitute.org/publications/show/62e4b8efbd187 |journal=The Sudd Institute |language=en-US}}
- {{Cite journal |last1=LeRiche |first1=Matthew |last2=Garang |first2=James Alic |last3=Reng |first3=Ariic David Aguto |last4=Tiitmamer |first4=Nhial |last5=Mayai |first5=Augustino Ting |date=2022-02-08 |title=Salary Adjustment for the South Sudanese Legislature: Policy Implications |url=https://suddinstitute.org/publications/show/62076135d0a8a |journal=The Sudd Institute |language=en-US}}
- {{Cite journal |last=Garang |first=James Alic |date=2021-06-03 |title=Will the Impact of the Pandemic on the Expected National Output Persist? |url=https://suddinstitute.org/publications/show/60b9c59aa6872 |journal=The Sudd Institute |language=en-US}}
- {{Cite journal |last1=Garang |first1=James Alic |last2=Akau |first2=Samuel Garang |last3=Mayai |first3=Augustino Ting |date=2018-04-18 |title=Food Security and Nutrition Vulnerability and Risk Analysis in Former Warrap and Northern Bahr el Ghazal States |url=https://suddinstitute.org/publications/show/5ad737a42c099 |journal=The Sudd Institute |language=en-US}}
- {{Cite journal |last=Garang |first=James Alic |date=2015 |title=How to leverage oil resources to enhance SME financing in South Sudan |url=http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=69604 |journal=International Journal of Economic Policy in Emerging Economies |language=en |volume=8 |issue=2 |pages=119 |doi=10.1504/IJEPEE.2015.069604 |issn=1752-0452|url-access=subscription }}
- {{cite thesis |doi=10.7275/mkxg-xt62 |date=2014 |last1=Garang |first1=James A. |title=The Financial Sector and Inclusive Development in Africa: Essays on Access to Finance for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in South Sudan and Kenya |publisher=University of Massachusetts Amherst }}
- {{Cite journal |last=Garang |first=James Alic |date=2013-02-01 |title=The Question of Big Government, and Financial Viability: The Case of South Sudan |url=https://suddinstitute.org/publications/show/the-question-of-big-government-and-financial-viability-the-case-of-south-sudan |journal=The Sudd Institute |language=en-US}}
- {{Cite news |title=South Sudan can unlock its economic potential with the help of investors |url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/health/amp/opinion/article/2001496133/south-sudan-can-unlock-its-economic-potential-with-the-help-of-investors |access-date=2024-07-23}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://suddinstitute.org/who-we-are/team/member/22 James Alic Garang] at The Sudd Institute
- [http://acfi-ss.org/ African Center for Financial Initiative]
Category:Governors of the Bank of South Sudan
Category:University of Massachusetts Amherst alumni