The Institute for State Effectiveness
"[Their] framework for effective state-building has been lauded in the field of post-conflict reconstruction. Whether in the regions of China, India, and Russia where Ghani worked with the World Bank, or in more recent state building analysis in Lebanon, Sudan, and Nepal, it has helped make the case for effective and stable institutions."
Hernando de Soto, President of the Institute for Liberty and Democracy and author of "The Mystery of Capital", in a Letter to the Editor, Washington Post, October 2006
"In our opinion, this is a very substantial body of effort toward the orderly reconstruction of failed states. The GLF is now reportedly improved through Ghani and Lockhart"s participation at SA-III and exposure to resources and ideas that were helpful in the further development of their pragmatic state-building tools. Our opinion is that this effort by Ashraf Ghani and Clare Lockhart may eventually become Nobel-quality work in the systematic, effective and measurable reconstruction of failed states. The benefit to be derived is almost incalculable and deserves significant support at the policy level."
Eric Rasmussen, Naval Commander, Director Strong Angel III, Strong Angel III report, Fall 2006
"In the political confusion in Nepal after the overthrow of the royal regime in April 2006, the World Bank turned to Ashraf and Clare for their advice. A two-week intensive assessment they conducted in May 2006 was truly an amazing display of intellectual depth, a sweep of historical and global knowledge, penetrating analysis of the complex country situation, and a set of cogent recommendations. Their report has since guided the work of the Ministry of Finance and given the conceptual underpinnings to the World Bank's assistance strategy in Nepal. Furthermore, their findings were presented in words that profoundly resonated with the Nepali leaders and they gave the Nepali people a new language to discuss their own future. This was one of the greatest demonstrations of the power of ideas that I have ever seen."
Ken Ohashi, World Bank Country Director, Nepal, 2006
"The visits that Ashraf and Clare have made to south Sudan to advise senior leaders on the way forward have been illuminating... They quickly developed a balance sheet of assets and liabilities which they then proceeded to test and refine. The first report to the late John Garang was very well received and through comparison of the situation in south Sudan with institution building processes in other post-conflict contexts, helped Garang to conceive of many issues in a different way. The second phase of the work, six months later, involved meetings with the new President, Salva Kiir, his cabinet, and the parliament of south Sudan. Ashraf and Clare again applied their checklist of issues that must be tackled by post conflict governments and once again a wide variety of topics were addressed in wholly reasonable and knowledgeable ways- actually in ways so constructive and empowering that I have not witnessed before, or since, in south Sudan."
Ishac Diwan, World Bank Country Director, Ethiopia and Sudan, 2007
"The Kabul-born Mr. Ghani returned to Afghanistan in October 2001 after an absence of 24 years, interrupting a stellar career at the World Bank as a UN special adviser. From June 2002 to December 2004 he served as finance minister, securing pledges of $28bn from international donors. He left the government to become chancellor of Kabul University. "The UN would be very lucky indeed to get him," said Hernando de Soto, economist and founder of the Institute for Liberty and Democracy in Lima. Carlos Pascual, director of foreign policy studies at the Brookings Institution, said he has "tremendous intellect, talent and capacity to mobilise the UN."
Jo Johnson, Financial Times, 17 September 2006
"Few people are better qualified to run the United Nations than Ashraf Ghani."
Bret Stephens, "If the UN Cannot be Trusted with Money" Wall Street Journal, 3 October 2006
"This body of work provides a new paradigm for state-building with real impact on the ground."
Senior official, United Nations, 2005.
"If we had had access to such a framework it would have saved us 5 years in reconstructing our country."
Participant, Greentree conference, 2005
"A shoo-in for any... top international position."
Guardian Leader, October 9 2006.