PEP has learned with great sadness of the passing of Dr William Randall (Randy) Spence on May 7, 2026, surrounded by his family.
Known affectionately within PEP as its "grandfather," Randy played a foundational role in PEP's creation. He conceived and led Micro Impacts of Macro and Adjustment Policies (MIMAP), a pioneering International Development Research Centre (IDRC) programme examining how the structural adjustment policies of the 1990s were affecting people living in poverty. MIMAP brought together Université Laval and the Angelo King Institute of De La Salle University in Manila, the two institutions that would become PEP's founding partners. PEP itself was formally established in 2002 under Randy's stewardship.
Throughout PEP's growth, Randy remained a steady source of ideas, encouragement, and wise counsel. John Cockburn, PEP's first Executive Director and long-time collaborator with Randy, remembers him warmly: "Randy was always a fountain of valuable advice and moral support. In particular, he taught us to focus on constructive solutions when tensions inevitably mount. We will miss the kindly, grandfatherly presence of Randy at future PEP meetings and discussions."
Speaking on the occasion of PEP’s 20th anniversary, Randy said: "PEP's journey to me is one of good people, ideas and intentions attracting increasingly more partners and interest."
Randy's dedication to economics and poverty alleviation spanned a lifetime, with work reaching across Africa and Asia. His wife Nancy, who herself served as an advisor to PEP's Gender Committee for many years, was by his side when he passed.
“We at PEP extend our deepest condolences to Nancy, to Randy's family, and to the many colleagues and friends across the world who were fortunate to know him. His legacy lives on in PEP's work and in all those he mentored and inspired,” said Prof. Jane Mariara, Executive Director.
Notes
From John:
Randy Spence is commonly known as the "grandfather" of PEP. Indeed, PEP was created under his stewardship and grew out of an IDRC program - MIMAP - that he led. Randy was always a fountain of valuable advice and moral support throughout PEP's development. In particular, he taught us to focus on constructive solutions when tensions inevitably mount. We will miss the kindly, grandfatherly, presence of Randy at future PEP meetings and discussions. Our sincere condolences to all who loved him.
From the Globe and Mail:
DR. WILLIAM RANDALL SPENCE
(1944 - 2026) The three loves of Randy's life were his family, his Georgian Bay cottage and his lifetime work in economics and poverty alleviation, particularly in Africa and Asia. He passed peacefully, with his family by his side, on May 7, 2026. He leaves his wife, Nancy (Bryce); daughter, Samantha (Adam Levy); his son, Nicholas (Krista); and his grandchildren, Timo, Taali, Sloane and Gabriel. He will be much missed by family and his many friends across the world. Our thanks go to the Toronto General Hospital, and in particular, the Mount Sinai Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care.
From PEP Pioneers – Randy Spence:
Randy Spence is sometimes referred to as the grandfather of PEP. Randy was instrumental in the creation of PEP in 2002. Before that, he came up with the idea for PEP’s predecessor, Micro Impacts for Macro and Adjustment Policies (MIMAP), when he was working for the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).
MIMAP was an IDRC-run program at the forefront of efforts to understand how the structural adjustment policies of the 90s were impacting the poor. It fostered a collaboration between researchers from Université Laval (Quebec, Canada) and the Angelo King Institute (AKI) of De La Salle University (Manila, Philippines) – the two first “PEP partner institutions”.
Following the founding of PEP, Randy expanded this work under the joint leadership of the Angelo King Institute and Université Laval.
As PEP has grown and evolved, Randy has remained a treasured source of ideas, advice, and encouragement.
“PEP has been the most impactful development program and organization that I have been involved with. The heavy lifting has been done by research, policy and academic partners, and I think everyone involved in the management would probably agree that it is a pleasure and privilege to be of service.
“I wanted to add a note of appreciation for so many people who have worked so hard for PEP, managers, thematic group leaders and teams, resource people and support groups. From a donor and participating economist's point of view, their commitment has underpinned PEP’s growth in activity, expertise, capabilities, impact and stature.
"PEP’s journey to me is one of good people, ideas and intentions attracting increasingly more partners and interest. Happy aniversary, joyeux anniversaire!”
– Randy Spence
