Role at UCLG: Serge Allou is seconded to UCLG World Secretariat by Expertise France on behalf of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Within the Secretariat, his primary responsibilities include the World Observatory on Subnational Government Finance and Investment and the implementation of a renewed UCLG Strategy on Local Finance.
Professional experience: Serge started working for French Development Research institutions (IRD and IFEA) as an Urban researcher in Ecuador and Peru, based in local NGOs (Ciudad in Ecuador and Cidap in Peru), where he stayed four years. Upon his return to France he joined GRET, a French international development NGO, where he launched and managed the Habitat Solidarity Programme, which is aimed at building operational partnerships and projects between French cities and cities, professionals and NGOs in the South. He was elected and acted as GRET’s Managing Director from 2001 to 2007. He has been an Associate Professor at IFU, the French Institute of Urbanism from 1997 to 2012, in charge of a post graduate certificate called ‘International Expertise - Cities in Development'. Prior to joining UCLG, he worked 6 years as a Lead Urban Specialist with Cities Alliance where he was responsible for Country Programmes and formulating and implementing a Cities Alliance Strategy in Africa.
Education/Qualifications: Serge has a degree in Economics (ESSEC Business School) with a postgraduate Certificate in Sociology and a PhD in Political Studies (University of Paris 9).