Dr. Shirley Ayangbah

Dr. Shirley Ayangbah is the founder and lead strategist of Global Economic Research Consulting (GERC), a woman-owned advisory firm based in California. She holds a PhD in International Economic and Financial Law and an MA in Economics, and leads the firm’s government contracting, certification, proposal and grant practice for clients across California and nationwide.

Dr. Shirley Ayangbah, founder of Global Economic Research Consulting

Background

Dr. Ayangbah is a multidisciplinary scholar whose work sits at the intersection of law, economics and public funding. Her doctoral research was in international economic and financial law; her graduate work in economics. Before founding GERC she led cross-border grant development, research consulting and feasibility studies across multiple sectors and jurisdictions.

That combination shapes how the firm works. Government contracting and grant funding are, at bottom, legal and economic questions dressed up as paperwork — eligibility turns on how an entity is structured, how revenue is counted, and how a programme’s rules are read. Most consultants in this field come from a sales or administrative background. Dr. Ayangbah reads the regulation.

What she works on

  • Federal registration. SAM.gov entity registration and renewal, Unique Entity ID, entity validation failures and CAGE code assignment.
  • California state registration. Cal eProcure, Small Business, Micro Business and SB-PW certification, and DVBE.
  • Federal certification. SBA 8(a), HUBZone, and SBA and DSBS profile development.
  • Proposals and bids. RFP and RFI responses written against the published evaluation criteria, and capability statements for federal and state buyers.
  • Grant writing and research. Federal, state and philanthropic programmes for nonprofits, municipalities, tribal governments and small businesses.
  • Feasibility studies and economic research. Market entry, infrastructure and programme feasibility work.

Sectors

GERC works across logistics and freight, construction and public works, transportation, housing and infrastructure, manufacturing, aerospace and defense, energy and environment, water and utilities, healthcare and community services, education and workforce development, agriculture, security services, and with public agencies, special districts, nonprofits and tribal governments.

Credentials

  • PhD, International Economic and Financial Law, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, China
  • MA, Economics, Claremont Graduate University, United States
  • MA, International Relations, Central China Normal University, China
  • BBA, Accounting, Valley View University, Ghana
  • Fluent in English and Mandarin Chinese
  • Associate Professor, teaching economics, business, accounting and public policy at California community colleges
  • Founder and Lead Strategist, Global Economic Research Consulting
  • Woman-owned business; GERC holds California Small Business (Micro) and Small Business for Public Works certification, and an active SAM.gov registration

Research and publications

Dr. Ayangbah’s research covers international trade, foreign investment law, supply chains and economic policy. Selected papers:

  • Technology-Driven Market Creation: Analyzing USAID Entrepreneurship Programs’ Impact on U.S.-Africa Trade Relations, 2018–2023 (2024)
  • Reforming Digital Trade Rules at the WTO: Clarifying E-Commerce Regulation Policy Space for Economic Inclusion (2024)
  • Strengthening Resilience in U.S. Supply Chains: Risks, Vulnerabilities, and Policy Priorities (2024)
  • Economic Policies for Climate Change Mitigation in the United States (2024)
  • Comparative Study of Foreign Investment Laws: The Case of China and Ghana (2017)
  • Using Arbitration for Resolving Foreign Investment Disputes (2016)

See her full list of publications on ResearchGate.

Writing and commentary

She writes on trade, development and economic policy for news outlets in Ghana, including:

Read more of her articles on GhanaWeb and Muck Rack.

Find Dr. Ayangbah online

Working with Dr. Ayangbah

Engagements are handled directly rather than passed to junior staff, and the firm does the work rather than advising you on how to do it yourself. If your situation is straightforward enough that you do not need a consultant, she will tell you so — registration and certification are free to file, and there are excellent no-cost resources including the APEX Accelerators.

Request a consultation · About GERC · Services · Capability statement

Who is Dr. Shirley Ayangbah?

Dr. Shirley Ayangbah is the founder and lead strategist of Global Economic Research Consulting, a California-based advisory firm specialising in government contracting, certification, proposals and grant writing. She holds a PhD in International Economic and Financial Law and an MA in Economics.

What does Dr. Ayangbah specialise in?

Federal and California government contracting, including SAM.gov registration and entity validation, Cal eProcure and Small Business certification, 8(a) and HUBZone, proposal and bid writing, grant writing, and feasibility and economic research.

Where is Dr. Ayangbah based?

She is based in California and GERC serves clients throughout the state, including Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Sacramento and the Bay Area, as well as nationwide for federal work.

Is GERC a woman-owned business?

Yes. Global Economic Research Consulting is a woman-owned advisory firm founded by Dr. Shirley Ayangbah.

How do I contact Dr. Ayangbah?

Through the GERC contact page, where you can request a consultation. Initial consultations are offered at no charge.