New initiative expands DRI's global research capacity on development challenges in an era of strategic competition.
NEW YORK – September 24, 2025 –New York University’s Development Research Institute (DRI) today announced the launch of the Wahba Initiative for Strategic Competition (WISC), a forward-looking research program made possible by a philanthropic commitment from DRI Senior Fellow Sadek Wahba, Chairman of I Squared Capital.
Amid shifting geopolitical realities and evolving development priorities, the initiative positions DRI as a global hub for research at the intersection of development, infrastructure, technology, and governance in an increasingly competitive international landscape.
The Wahba Initiative will be led by Mark Kennedy, who joins DRI as a Senior Fellow. Kennedy previously served as Director of the Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition at the Wilson Center. A former Congressman from Minnesota, senior corporate executive, and President of the University of Colorado system, Kennedy brings a unique combination of policy, academic, and private-sector experience. He will work closely with DRI Co-Directors Professors Rajeev Dehejia, Jonathan Morduch, and Yaw Nyarko to integrate the initiative’s work across DRI’s research portfolio and NYU.
The initiative will focus on seven interconnected research pillars: Development That Delivers Opportunity; Infrastructure That Binds and Builds; Resilience and Reach; Digital Democratization; Modernizing Alliances for Mutual Advantage; Financial Access in a Growing World; and Evidence-Based Practice in Development Policy.
“WISC brings together DRI’s deep expertise in economic development with a clear-eyed understanding of the strategic environment shaping our future,” said Kennedy. “By connecting scholarship to strategy and research to real-world action, we aim to help decision-makers navigate complexity and build systems that are both resilient and open.”
“This initiative represents a natural evolution of DRI’s mission to understand the barriers to sustainable development,”said Dehejia. “In today’s world, development challenges cannot be separated from questions of global competition, infrastructure resilience, and governance systems.”
“I am proud to support the work of DRI, one of the world’s leading research institutes,” said Wahba. “I have known its leaders for over thirty years and cannot think of a better group to advance this effort. Infrastructure and development have been the focus of my work, and this initiative strengthens that commitment at a critical moment.”
Global Research Network
WISC will leverage NYU’s global academic network, hosting roundtable discussions and public events at NYU campuses in Washington, D.C., Abu Dhabi, Shanghai, Paris, and Accra, as well as partner locations worldwide. The initiative will launch with a roundtable on development finance and a public forum in Geneva on digital trade and technology standards. See (web page) for more information on WISC activities at the DRI.
About the NYU Development Research Institute
For almost 20 years, the Development Research Institute (DRI) at NYU has been devoted to rigorous scholarly research on economic development and growth. Founded by William Easterly (Emeritus Director) and Yaw Nyarko, it is now co-led by Nyarko, Rajeev Dehejia, and Jonathan Morduch. DRI seeks to expand the number and diversity of serious commentators on development challenges while having a positive impact on the lives of those who deserve the benefit of high-quality economic research applied to global problems.
Media Contact: Robert Polner, NYU Office of Public Affairs, +1.646.522.3046