Racha Helwa
San Diego
Summary
Strategic Economic Leadership & Policy Innovation: Senior economist and policy strategist with 25+ years of cross-sector leadership spanning government, think tanks, and the private sector. Bridged policy and innovation (AI, fintech, health-tech) across six countries in North America, Europe, and the Middle East. As Senior Advisor to Egypt’s Minister of Investment, led major macro/micro economic reforms with the World Bank, IMF, and OECD—positioning Egypt as the first Arab/African country to join the OECD Investment Committee. Led macroeconomic reform programs with USAID, designing and implementing monetary and fiscal policy frameworks across seven countries, including conflict-affected states. Sustainable Development, Climate & Tech Integration: Director of the Atlantic Council’s empowerME Initiative, driving regional programs on climate action, AI integration, clean energy, public health, circular economy, and inclusive growth. Authored the MENA Climate Profiles Series for 16 countries, informing regional climate policy and investment strategies. Authored 100+ policy publications (A comprehensive list of publications will be provided in a separate addendum). Global Leadership & Thought Partnership: Founder of the MENA Tech & Health Innovation Coalition, securing $1M and uniting governments, global tech firms, and institutions like the World Bank and WTO to advance tech-driven healthcare. As Egypt’s trade negotiator, led multilateral trade talks and secured 22 bilateral agreements, including the Egypt–EU Partnership. Regular speaker at global forums (IMF, World Bank, UN), engaging heads of state, ministers, and Fortune 500 leaders on inclusive growth and sustainability. Fluent in English, French, and Arabic, with deep cross-sectoral and multilateral experience.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Director, empowerME Initiative
Atlantic Council
Washington
01.2022 - Current
- Led the empowerME Initiative’s strategy to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in MENA, focusing on climate action, clean energy transition, green finance, technology integration, circular economy and inclusive growth
- Orchestrated a holistic strategy for artificial intelligence adoption in the MENA region, working with stakeholders in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Qatar to integrate AI innovations into national development plans
- Spearheaded a first-of-its-kind Tech & Health Innovation Coalition in the Middle East, convening six government ministers, leading global technology and healthcare companies, and international organizations (World Bank, WHO)
- Secured $1M in funding to launch collaborative digital health initiatives across the region
- Led regional climate-impact analyses, producing a Climate Country Profile series for 16 MENA countries with sector-by-sector economic impact projections
- Presented findings and championed MENA’s renewable energy potential at global climate forums, including COP27 and COP28
- Moderated 50+ high-level panel discussions at international conferences (e.g., IMF–World Bank Annual Meetings) and authored 30+ reports and policy briefs on economic growth, sustainability, high-tech innovation, and climate action under the Atlantic Council’s platform
Advisor, Impact Investing & ESG Strategy
Modus Capital
New York
01.2017 - 12.2022
- Developed Modus Capital’s impact investing strategy, aligning venture initiatives with the UN SDGs and leading ESG frameworks (SASB, TCFD, GRI), with a focus on health-tech and fintech investments in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt
- Designed and implemented an internal ESG performance tracking toolkit to evaluate the economic, social, and environmental impact of the firm’s high-tech venture portfolio across MENA
- Advised and mentored early-stage startups in Modus Venture Labs (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Cairo), providing technical assistance during 18-month incubations and preparing them for funding rounds
Team Leader
Pragma Corporation &USAID
Washington
01.2019 - 12.2021
- Led the Macroeconomic Policy Unit, managing a team of 50 international consultants advising seven MENA governments (Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Yemen) on fiscal and monetary reforms, including budget planning, revenue rationalization, tax administration, debt management, exchange auctions, and implementation of a single treasury account
- Crafted a fiscal mitigation strategy to counter the COVID-19-induced economic contraction in MENA, focusing on banking liquidity, SME financing, and fiscal stimulus packages
- Designed a strategic financial reform program for conflict-affected states, emphasizing economic digitization, financial inclusion, and fintech solutions (e-payments, e-wallets, remittances)
- Implemented a fiscal modeling tool to support Yemen’s 2020–2021 national budget development and delivered capacity-building training to senior Yemeni Central Bank and Ministry of Finance officials in budget analysis and revenue forecasting
Senior Consultant, Public Policy
Frontier Economics
London
01.2013 - 12.2015
- Advised government departments and public agencies in Europe and MENA on economic policy and public-sector strategy
- Projects included cost–benefit analysis for the UK National Health Service’s cancer care strategy, evaluating cultural investment for tourism growth in Qatar, and designing results-based financing models to improve public-sector performance
Advisor to the Minister of Investment
Government of Egypt
Cairo
01.2005 - 12.2008
- Modernized foreign direct investment (FDI) statistics collection in Egypt by introducing survey-based methodologies in partnership with the IMF and METAC, and trained officials from 8 MENA countries in advanced FDI data compilation techniques
- Initiated and successfully concluded Egypt’s adherence to OECD investment protocols, making it the first Arab and African nation to attain Participant status in the OECD Investment Committee
- Designed and led UNDP-backed initiatives – e.g
- “Business Solutions for Human Development” and “Transparency & Anti-Corruption” – to promote sustainable business practices and government transparency across MENA, representing Egypt in the UN Financing for Development forum
- Co-authored a UNDP report on the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on poverty alleviation in Egypt
- Collaborated closely with the World Bank’s Doing Business team to enhance Egypt’s implementation strategy and improve performance across key indicators in the Doing Business report
Senior Diplomat
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Cairo
01.2002 - 12.2004
- Led Egypt’s negotiations on the WTO General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and the Arab Free Trade Agreement in Services, shaping the country’s strategic positions and ensuring alignment with WTO principles (Most Favored Nation, non-discrimination)
- Negotiated and secured bilateral trade agreements with 22 countries, including the landmark Egypt–EU Partnership Agreement, expanding market access and international trade cooperation
- Conducted comprehensive analysis of domestic service-sector industries and professional unions to inform Egypt’s trade strategy and national development priorities
Senior Financial Analyst
ExxonMobil
Cairo
01.2000 - 12.2002
- Conducted financial sensitivity analyses to evaluate strategic decisions and identified process enhancements to improve ExxonMobil’s procurement finance operations
- Established a centralized financial model consolidating data for 15 ExxonMobil subsidiaries across Africa, improving financial oversight and budgeting efficiency
Financial Analyst
Groupe Banque Populaire
Paris
01.1999 - 12.2000
- Produced the bank’s first internal profitability analysis report using a new in-house model assessing key metrics and market share
- The report’s insights were integrated into the bank’s annual review
Education
Ph.D. - Economic Policy
University of Cambridge
01.2013
M.Sc. - International Political Economy
The London School of Economics
01.2005
M.Sc. - Banking, Finance & Risk Management
Université de Paris
01.2000
B.Sc. - Economics, Business & Finance
French University in Cairo
01.1999
Skills
- Macro/microeconomic reform
- Artificial intelligence
- Health and Innovation
- Strategic planning
- Impact assessment
- Climate policy
- Green finance
- Public-private partnerships
- Circular Economy
- Inclusive growth
- Trade Policy
- Data analytics
- Project management
- Cross-teams communication
- multi-stakeholder engagement
- Program optimization
- Budget development
- Qualitative analysis
- Quantitative modelling
Websites
Hobbies and Interests
- Tea blending
- Photography
- Creative design
Advisory Roles
- Member of the Advisory Board and Head of the Programs Committee at the Opus1 Foundation
- Non-voting member of the Board of Trustees at the San Diego French American School
- Regular mentor and judge in global entrepreneurship competitions and civic tech challenges
English
English
Native/ Bilingual
French
Native/ Bilingual
Arabic
Native/ Bilingual
Spanish
Professional
Timeline
Director, empowerME Initiative
Atlantic Council
01.2022 - Current
Team Leader
Pragma Corporation &USAID
01.2019 - 12.2021
Advisor, Impact Investing & ESG Strategy
Modus Capital
01.2017 - 12.2022
Senior Consultant, Public Policy
Frontier Economics
01.2013 - 12.2015
Advisor to the Minister of Investment
Government of Egypt
01.2005 - 12.2008
Senior Diplomat
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
01.2002 - 12.2004
Senior Financial Analyst
ExxonMobil
01.2000 - 12.2002
Financial Analyst
Groupe Banque Populaire
01.1999 - 12.2000
Ph.D. - Economic Policy
University of Cambridge
M.Sc. - International Political Economy
The London School of Economics
M.Sc. - Banking, Finance & Risk Management
Université de Paris
B.Sc. - Economics, Business & Finance
French University in Cairo
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