Holly W. Benner was appointed as the World Bank Resident Representative for Jordan in January 2021 with responsibility for leading the World Bank’s program and staff in Jordan, including a portfolio of over US$4 billion across more than 15 projects to promote inclusive and green growth and development in line with the country’s Economic Modernization Vision.
Ms. Benner has over 20 years of experience promoting development solutions for countries facing complex transition, reform, and conflict-related challenges. She previously worked in the Social Development Global Practice for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, where she led multi-sector operations and analytics, including on conflict-recovery in Ukraine and programs in Tajikistan and Kyrgyz Republic that combined energy infrastructure with community-based development.
Ms. Benner joined the World Bank in 2009 as Coordinator for the 2011 World Development Report on Conflict, Security and Development and then served in the World Bank’s Fragility, Conflict and Violence Group where she was Program Manager for the State- and Peacebuilding Fund, Korean Trust Fund for Transitions, and United Nations-World Bank Partnership Trust Fund.
Prior to joining the Bank, she managed a project on reform of the multilateral system at the Brookings Institution, served as a Conflict Advisor in the U.S. Embassy in Nepal and led dialogue programs for youth from the Middle East, Cyprus, and the Balkans while with Seeds of Peace.
Ms. Benner holds a Master’s Degree in Development Economics and Conflict Resolution and Post-Conflict Peacebuilding from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University; and a Bachelor’s Degree from Colorado College.