Posted Tue, Aug 24, 2021 7:50 AM

NESG appoints Naru Executive Director of Policy Innovation Unit

The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) is pleased to appoint public policy and behavioural insights expert Mr Faisal Naru as Executive Director of its Policy Innovation Unit (PIU). The PIU is an initiative within the NESG that is sponsored by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, with the support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.  It seeks to improve the design and implementation of government policies and programmes in Nigeria through lessons from behavioural and social science as well as other policy tools. Working with public bodies, the private sector, NGOs and the international community, the PIU will also support ongoing efforts on critical priorities such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Reacting to his appointment, Mr Naru said: “Effective policy-making is at the heart of effective governance in Africa and across the world. It demands a human-centred, realistic and evidence-based response, considering that most countries are saddled with complex, inter-related and dynamic challenges. The PIU is the first national-level body of its kind tasked with applying behavioural insights and other innovative policy tools in Africa. I am honoured to assume this position with a deep sense of modesty and commitment.”  

Faisal is an experienced global public policy leader and behavioural insights practitioner. He founded the behavioural insights work at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and has worked with senior leaders in governments and regulatory agencies to improve their policies, regulations and governance globally.

He was most recently the Chief of Staff for the Executive Director at the OECD and has worked in the UK Government’s Cabinet Office, international development in the private sector and local development in NGO sector.

About the PIU

The Public Policy Innovation Unit is the first public policy institution in sub-Saharan Africa dedicated to using behavioural theory, tools and analysis to inform social programme/policy design and implementation.

The PIU’s vision is to become Nigeria’s foremost domestic behavioural science organisation, supporting efficient and effective governance through behavioural studies. PIU seeks to improve policy design and programme implementation in Nigeria and to embed a culture of evidence-based policy-making in government.

For more information, visit www.nesgroup.org/piu