Our People

Benny Dembitzer

Benny Dembitzer is an economist who has spent almost 40 years working on grassroot development projects across Africa, in Pakistan and Indonesia.

In 1972, whilst working for the Economist Intelligence Unit as a researcher, Benny set up what was to become the first ever fair trade shop. He went on to run a large independent trust encouraging the development of small scale industries in Africa, and then with the United Nations Development Programme, which led to a year long assignment in Ethiopia.

In 1984-85 he was the European Director of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, the winners of that year's Nobel Peace Prize. After the award, Benny went back to Ethiopia and became involved in the famine relief operations. Since 1985 Benny has worked as a development consultant. He drafted the United Nations 5-year development plans for the Gambia and Liberia, and led missions to Indonesia, Lesotho and Guinea (Conakry)

Benny has run the annual (Global Partnership) Fair Trade Fair since 1987, and in 2001 launched the Global Development Forum, the annual Global Development Conference held in London and the quarterly Global Development Courses for development agency staff.

Benny is a visiting lecturer in economics at the University of Greenwich and supervises postgraduate dissertations at the London Metropolitan University. He is the author of The Attack on World Poverty - Going Back To Basics (published in 2009 by Ethical Events Ltd in association with Greenprint)