Sid Boubekeur has over 35 years of experience in trade, private sector development and investment climate. He has worked with governments, development finance institutions, regional organisations and donor-funded programmes across Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific. He holds a PhD in Economics and Management.

His expertise includes SME competitiveness, export development, trade and investment facilitation, entrepreneurship, sector and value chain development and design of policies and institutional frameworks to advance inclusive growth, job creation, and private-sector-led development.

With Imani Development, Sid has led projects integrating SMEs into Special Economic Zones (SEZ) across Africa, developed policy frameworks for creating sustainable SME ecosystems under the African Union SME Strategy and conducted research on SEZ business models. He served as Team Leader of the EU-funded Job Creation and Investment Climate programme in Botswana, supporting investment climate reforms, digitalisation of business services, tourism development, and women’s economic empowerment.

Sid brings years of experience working across Africa, combining a strong understanding of policy with practical experience in managing and leading projects and working with governments and businesses. His knowledge, experience and collaborative approach make him a valued and trusted associate of Imani Development.