Mwanda Phiri is an economist with extensive experience in applied economics research and policy analysis. She is Africa Lead for the Charter Cities Institute (CCI) where she is responsible for leading and coordinating activities of CCI Zambia and supporting the development of new thriving cities across Africa that foster investments and jobs and catalyze sustained and inclusive economic development. Prior to joining CCI, Mwanda was head of the Trade and Investment Unit at the Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis and Research. During her time at ZIPAR, Mwanda actively engaged with the Government of Zambia, private sector, Parliament, civil society organizations, academia, development partners and other key stakeholders and provided technical support through meetings, workshops, and memberships to various national committees on trade, industrialization, tax, the demographic dividend and sub-national carrying capacity.

Mwanda is a published author. Her research areas of interest include trade, investment, governance, regional integration, industrialization, urbanization, structural transformation and private sector development particularly of micro, small and medium enterprises.

Mwanda was appointed to the Capital Markets Tribunal by the Minister of Finance, Zambia. She was also invited to be a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Complex Risks. She is a recipient of the Commonwealth Scholarship and holds a Master of Science in Economics and Public Policy.