Reformers in International Development

"This is a book about five people who have made the world a better place, written by someone who knows both the world and the people he is writing about. The book documents how—by imagining the impossible and inspiring others around them—seemingly ordinary people can do extraordinary things. Today, more than ever, the world needs more leaders like Adolfo Figueroa, Ela Bhatt, Domingo Cavallo, Dzingai Mutumbuka, and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and more writers like David de Ferranti to inspire thousands with their stories."

Indermit Gill, Chief Economist and Senior Vice President for Development Economics of the World Bank Group. Formerly at the Brookings Institution, Duke University, Georgetown University and the University of Chicago.

"There are thousands of books recommending development policies, but few on the policymakers implementing them. De Ferranti has written a wonderful book one about five of them: people with vision and ambition, facing a complex political environment, taking risks, committing mistakes but, in the end, making a positive difference."

Santiago Levy, Brookings Institution. Former Chief Economist and Vice President for Sectors and Knowledge at the Inter-American Development Bank. Former Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit of Mexico. Former tenured Associate Professor of Economics at Boston University

"It is hard enough to convey the essence of one person’s character but David de Ferranti manages to achieve this for five remarkable people. Their lives, the achievements and the disappointments, hold valuable lessons for anyone interested in understanding what constitutes leadership in challenging times."

Masood Ahmed, President of the Center for Global Development. Formerly a Director at the International Monetary Fund. Former Director General, Policy and International at the UK government's Department for International Development (DFID)

"Combining page-turner verve with painstaking research, this engrossing exploration of the true stories of five remarkable individuals will captivate anyone, whether they know a lot or nothing about its subject matter -- global development and the ways that Africa, Asia, and Latin America will change the world in the decades ahead. The wake-up call in its messages will keep you riveted."

Jean-Michel Severino, Former CEO of AFD, France's government agency for international development. Former senior official of the World Bank. Currently CEO of Investisseurs et Partenaires (I&P), Member of the National Academy of Technologies of France (Académie des Technologies), and Senior Fellow at FERDI (Foundation for Studies and Research on International Development)

"De Ferranti, after decades with a front row seat or in the driver’s seat in the field of international development, illustrates through the lives of five remarkable individuals one of the key drivers of change: learn as much as possible, go home, and do everything that is possible."

Jorge Quiroga, Former President of Bolivia. Previously, acted as Vice-President and Finance Minister of Bolivia. Former Vice-President of The Club de Madrid.

"Individuals make a difference and can help improve the wellbeing of whole communities. This is the central message of this book. With eloquence and empathy, David de Ferranti describes the lives of five extraordinary characters who changed international development for the better. A must-read that is also fun to read."

Julio Frenk, President of the University of Miami. Professor of public health science at the university's Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, professor of health sector management at the university's Herbert Business School, and professor of sociology at its College of Arts of Sciences. Former Dean of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health at Harvard University. Former Secretary of Health in Mexico, the federal government cabinet post overseeing the country's health system and policies.

"David de Ferranti makes international development come alive through the captivating stories of five extraordinary global leaders, their personal journeys, struggles and victories intertwined with global and regional development. This book captures what it means to be an agent of locally driven democratic change. The author sums up the features of strong leadership, including wisdom, integrity and courage. I would recommend this book to any student of the politics, political economy and political science of international development."

Mariam Claeson, Senior Advisor, Global Public Health, Karolinska Institute. Former Director of the Global Financing Facility for Women and Children, The World Bank.

"This well-researched book will be a fascinating read for experts in the field as well as those who are relatively new to the international development challenges of African, Asian, and Latin American countries. The author, himself a recognized authority with inside knowledge, discusses difficult economic and sociopolitical issues in an engaging and readable way through his retelling of the lives of five remarkable individuals whom he has known well for decades."

Emmanuel Jimenez, Director-General of Independent Evaluation at the Asian Development Bank. Former Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation. Former World Bank official. Managing Editor of The Journal of Development Effectiveness. Former faculty member of Economic Department of Western University in London, Canada

"In a book that profiles five remarkable leaders who have improved the lives and livelihoods of millions of people, David De Ferranti offers the gift of inspiration. The stories of these individuals sheds light on how each of us can rise to the challenges that confront us."

Ruth Levine, Vice President of Just Societies and Chief Learning Officer at the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. Formerly held senior roles within IDInsight, The Hewlett Foundation, USAID, and The Center for Global Development

"Congratulations to the author of this book for offering an unusual and captivating set of stories about five remarkable individuals. Based on the author’s profound insider knowledge of their lives and minds, these accounts give fascinating views on their personal as well as professional features. This makes for a truly inspiring reading experience for anyone interested in human nature, including for the non-specialist of international development."

Olivier Lafourcade, Chairman of the Board of Investisseurs et Partenaires (I&P) and a former Director at the World Bank.

"This book on the trajectory of five remarkable leaders from Africa, Asia and Latin America is a wonderful and inspirational book to read. These five leaders were able to make great contributions to development in their countries thanks to their vision, clear priorities and ability to urgently implement audacious reforms and policies. As clearly highlighted by de Ferranti, their strong convictions, sense of opportunity, perseverance and ethical values are indeed a source of inspiration for future leaders worldwide.”

Enrique Garcia, Former President of CAF Development Bank of Latin America, former Minister of Planning and Coordination and Head of the Economic and Social Cabinet of Bolivia, former Treasurer of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)