International Network for Economics and Conflict

Willene A. Johnson is an economic consultant specializing in finance and development. She currently focuses on designing and implementing economic instruments in conflict management and peace building. She teaches a course on economics and conflict at the U.S. Institute of Peace and facilitates courses on security sector issues at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies. Reflecting a strong interest in microfinance and financial sector development, she also serves as the Vice Chair of the Africa Advisory Council of the Grameen Foundation. Willene works extensively in Africa, where she was first a volunteer teacher and more recently the U.S. Executive Director at the African Development Bank. She worked for twenty years in the Federal Reserve System, where her assignments included research and operational responsibilities in foreign exchange and international financial markets. Willene speaks French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Swahili and holds degrees in social studies (Radcliffe College) and African history (St. John’s University) as well as a doctorate in development economics (Columbia University).