Dr. Ibrahim F. I. Shihata (1937–2001) was an expert on
international development and the Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of low- and middle-income countries for the purpose of pursuing capital projects. The World Bank is the collective name for the Inte ...
from 1983 to 2000.
Early life and education
At the age of 20, Ibrahim Shihata graduated with a BA in law from
Cairo University
Cairo University ( ar, جامعة القاهرة, Jāmi‘a al-Qāhira), also known as the Egyptian University from 1908 to 1940, and King Fuad I University and Fu'ād al-Awwal University from 1940 to 1952, is Egypt's premier public university ...
Law School at the top of his class. He originally planned to continue his education in the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
, but then received an offer from the Conseil d’Etat to work as a legal advisor in the Ministry of Health.
In the following year, he was moved to the technical bureau of the President of the Conseil. During
Egypt
Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Medit ...
and
Syria's failed unification, he was seconded to the office of the President of the Republic. During his tenure, a senior official fell ill, and recommended Ibrahim Shihata take his place in drafting the constitution of the United Arab Republics. Although working full-time, he managed to complete two graduate diplomas, earning distinctions on both.
During his service with the then Unified Republic, Dr. Shihata was informed that he had been granted a scholarship for study in the United States. He had only applied to
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of high ...
, where he completed his PhD in International Law. He completed the degree in 1964, in just under 4 years. His professor spoke highly of his dissertation, stating that the paper increased the value of a PhD degree from Harvard, and the value of the university as a whole.
Early professional career
Upon completion of his PhD, Dr. Shihata returned to Egypt to teach at
Ain Shams University at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Two years later, he was offered a position to work as Legal Counsel of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic development. He worked as legal counsel in the role, based in Kuwait, for eight years.
The OPEC Fund for International Development
Dr. Shihata was appointed as Director General of the then
OPEC Special Fund at its creation in 1976. Under his leadership, the OPEC Special Fund developed into the long-standing institution that is known as today—the
OPEC Fund for International Development
The OPEC Fund for International Development (OPEC Fund) is an intergovernmental development finance institution established in 1976 by the member states of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The OPEC Fund was conceived ...
. During his tenure, Dr. Shihata was known for his contribution towards addressing the issue of poverty, primarily in the southern areas of the world.
While working at the OPEC Fund, Dr Shihata also served as an Executive Director at the
International Fund for Agricultural Development. He was the first Chairman of the
International Development Law Institute he contributed establishing in 1983.
World Bank
In 1983, Dr Shihata was appointed as Senior Vice President & General Counsel for the
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of low- and middle-income countries for the purpose of pursuing capital projects. The World Bank is the collective name for the Inte ...
and Secretary-General of the
International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes
The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) is an international arbitration institution established in 1966 for legal dispute resolution and conciliation between international investors and States. ICSID is part of ...
(ICSID). He was handpicked by then President, Tom Clawsen, and was the first person from a developing country to be appointed to the position.
Dr. Shihata is most well known for his creation of the
Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency
The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) is an international financial institution which offers political risk insurance and credit enhancement guarantees. These guarantees help investors protect foreign direct investments against ...
(MIGA) Organisation. Founded in 1985, the purpose of the organization was to encourage direct foreign investment to developing countries for economic development, while providing insurance against non-commercial risks such as war and famine. He made a significant contribution to the
Global Environment Facility
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is a multilateral environmental fund that provides grants and blended finance for projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, persistent organic pollutants (PO ...
(GEF) a joint program with the United Nations that promoted environmentally friendly development. He was responsible for the expansion of the
International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes
The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) is an international arbitration institution established in 1966 for legal dispute resolution and conciliation between international investors and States. ICSID is part of ...
(ICSID). During his 17-year tenure at the World Bank, Dr. Shihata developed these organizations into world-renowned entities.
Dr. Shihata was known for his achievements as general counsel, and the numerous books and articles he authored on the World Bank, international law and international economics. They include The World Bank Legal Papers, The World Bank Inspection Panel: in practice, The MIGA and foreign investment, among others. He wrote his famous book (in Arabic) about Egypt, ''Waseyati Li Beladi'' (My Will for My Country), which analyzed Egypt's major problems at the time and predicted the Egyptian Revolution.
Retirement and death
Dr. Ibrahim Shihata retired in 2000 as Senior Vice-President and Special Adviser to the World Bank's President. On May 28, 2001, Dr. Ibrahim Shihata died in
Washington D.C.
)
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, from complications due to liver disease.
References
External links
Tribute to Ibrahim Shihata at ofid.orgnew.enigma-mag.combibalex.org*http://www.brill.com/liber-amicorum-ibrahim-fi-shihata
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shihata, Ibrahim
2001 deaths
1937 births
Cairo University alumni
Harvard Law School alumni
Academic staff of Ain Shams University
World Bank Group people
People in international development