EDS14

The WBG and other Development Partners have provided not more than 20% of required support to Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe following the devastating effects of Tropical Cyclone Idai. The cyclone damaged the infrastructure corridor connecting the Mozambican port of Beira with Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is estimated that the damage and recovery needs assessment point to over US$2.0 billion for infrastructure and humanitarian assistance for the three countries, with more than three million people affected.

The African Society hosted a reception to honor the late Executive Director for Angola, Nigeria and South Africa, Mr. Haruna Mohammed and to welcome the two new African Executive Directors, Mr. Jean Claude Tchatchuoang and Ms. Anne Kabagambe. In attendance were the WBG’s Interim President, Ms. Kristalina Georgieva, and the Africa Vice President, Mr. Hafez Ghanem.African Society Executive Directors’ welcome reception. The President of the African Society, Mr. Moses Wasike, in his welcome remarks, shared that the Executive Directors’ offices have played a key role in supporting Staff from Sub-Saharan Africa. He highlighted the challenges African Staff faced at the World Bank and how the Executive Directors have been fully supportive in addressing their concerns. 

 Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has made progress in economic transformation in recent years, but at a pace not sufficient enough to create much-needed jobs and reduce poverty substantially as in East Asia. Demographic pressures mean that SSA will need to create more than 14 million jobs annually through 2030 simply to keep pace with the rapidly growing youth population. To this end, the creation of decent jobs remains a formidable public policy challenge, requiring countries to not only sustain high rates of growth but also make it more inclusive. 

Different cultural backgrounds. Different personal journeys. Different professional trajectories. But the same destination: positions of leadership on the World Bank Group's Boards of Directors.

Five incredible women - Executive Directors Christine Hogan, Anne Kabagambe, Aparna Subramani, Alternate Executive Director Minwen Zhang, and Senior Advisor Jeehan Abdul Ghaffar - shared their inspiring stories and reflected on experiences that shaped them into the leaders they are today. 

A warm welcome to the new Alternate Executive Director and celebration of lives; a perfect way to begin the new Board term. On Friday, November 2nd, EDS14 gathered to welcome the Alternate Executive Director, Dr. Taufila Nyamadzabo. In his remarks on what expectations he has for the remodeled office, he stressed that professionalism, in all institutions, is a pillar on which all collaborative work must be anchored. His comments were very much in keeping with the culture of EDS14, which has seen remarkable progress and constituency engagement. On that note, EDS14 staff who celebrated their birthdays in the past six months joined hands to cut through not just the cake symbolizing the commemoration of the days they drew their first breath, but so too, the beginning of new leadership and renewed commitment to collaboration, dedication and utmost expression and drive for a robust development agenda for our constituency countries.

The Office of the Executive Director (EDS14) for Africa Constituency Group 1 bid farewell to former Executive Director from Zimbabwe, Mr. Andrew Bvumbe, whose term came to an end on 31st October 2018. Mr. Bvumbe’s end of service to the World Bank Group Board of Directors ushers in leadership by the new Executive Director, Ms. Anne Kabagambe. 

His Excellency Hassan Ali Khayre, Prime Minister of Somalia is invited as a panelist to The Fragility Forum 2018. The Forum is a high-profile event organized by the World Bank Group and partners which brings together practitioners and policymakers from around the world to exchange knowledge and experience on driving the development agenda forward in places affected by Fragility, Conflict and Violence (FCV). 

His Majesty King Letsie III of the Kingdom of Lesotho graced the World Bank with his presence on May 9th, 2018. The purpose of his visit was to strengthen partnership with the World Bank on Ending Malnutrition and Stunting. His Majesty King Letsie III, a passionate agriculture practitioner and advocate for food security and its attendant enablers, has been at forefront of the global cause and advocacy initiatives to end malnutrition and stunting. 

The refugee issue and other forced displacements situations are increasingly emerging as a crucial development challenge across the world. Like in some other developing regions, some African countries continue to receive refugees in numbers disproportionate to their national resources. More specifically, in sub-Saharan Africa for instance, refugees and forcibly displaced peoples have been hosted in neighboring countries for prolonged periods, putting pressure on the host countries’ resources, public services, and infrastructure while at the same time affecting local communities which are already experiencing high levels of poverty. 

On January 25, 2017, the Africa Group 1 Constituency (EDS14), in collaboration with Malawi Embassy hosted a Heritage Day that celebrated the rich and diverse cultures and cuisines of Malawi. At this event, internal and external guests were also treated to a wide assortment of tasty food, authentic national music and an exhibition of fine artifacts and colorful traditional apparel.

The International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank Group’s fund for its low-income member countries, received a shot in the arm to the tune of a record US$75 billion with the conclusion of the negotiations for the 18th replenishment of IDA (IDA18) to fund its operations for the period July 2017 to June 2020. Development partners met in Yogyakarta, Indonesia on December 14 and 15, 2016 to adopt the policy and financing package of IDA and to make their respective financial pledges. 

 World Alliance for Citizen Participation and Bank Information Center (BIC), were pleased to announce that the Offices of the Executive Directors – EDS 14 and EDS 01 have won the “Open for Business” award for most transparent website for the 2016 Annual General Meetings. There is a tie for first place between the offices of Mr. Louis Rene Peter Larose and Mr. Matt McGuire, Executive Director for the United States.

H.E. Filipe Nyusi, the President of the Republic of Mozambique and Dr. Jim Kim, the WBG President, met on September 14, 2016 in Washington at the World Bank Group Headquarters. The objective of the meeting was to discuss how the World Bank Group could set up its support to the Republic of Mozambique. The Mozambique IDA portfolio is composed of 19 investment operations with a total commitment of $1.6983 billion. In addition, Mozambique is participating in 4 regional projects that are financing activities amounting to $97.8 million at country level, in the areas of Agriculture, Environment & Natural Resources and transport & ICT.

On May 11, 2016, the Africa Group 1 Constituency (EDS14), in collaboration with Somalia Embassy hosted a Heritage Day that celebrated the rich and diverse cultures and cuisines of Somalia. At this event, internal and external guests were also treated to a wide assortment of tasty food, authentic national music and an exhibition of fine artifacts and colorful traditional apparel.

On March 9, 2016, the Africa Group 1 Constituency (EDS14), in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Zambia, hosted a Heritage Day that celebrated the rich and diverse cultures and cuisines of Zambia. At this event, internal and external guests were also treated to a wide assortment of tasty food, authentic national music and an exhibition of fine artifacts and colorful traditional apparel.

On March 8, 2016, the Africa Group 1 Constituency (EDS14), in collaboration with country Embassies stationed in Washington, D.C, launched a series of Heritage Days that celebrates the rich and diverse cultures and cuisines of its Constituency Countries. The first event in this series featured the culture and cuisines from the Republic of Mozambique. During this event, internal and external guests were also treated to authentic national music and an exhibition of fine artifacts.

“Development through Global Value Chains – The Action for Fair Production Initiative”

that will be jointly hosted by EDS05 and EDS14 to be held on December 2, 2015 at 12:30-2:00pm in MC 8-100.

 During January and February, 2016 the Executive Director (ED) of the AfG1 Constituency, Mr. Louis, Rene, Peter Larose, undertook missions the Republic of Rwanda (January 13-15, 2016), the Republic of Kenya (February 2-4, 2016) and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (February 8-12, 2016).