WASHINGTON, June 30, 2018—The World Bank has appointed Hartwig Schafer as its new Vice President for the South Asia Region, putting him in charge of relations with Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. His appointment is effective from July 1, 2018.
Entrusted with a portfolio of financial support worth more than $50 billion, Schafer will be responsible for achieving the World Bank’s goals of ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity in a region that is home to roughly a third of the world’s poor.
“I am excited about working in South Asia because it is central to achieving the World Bank’s goals. I am looking forward to working with the governments and people of South Asia to help them realize their potential and bring more opportunity to all,” said Schafer.
A German national, Schafer has almost a 30-year career in technical and managerial positions in the World Bank as well as the European Commission. His last job at the World Bank was as the Vice President for Global Themes where he oversaw the World Bank Group’s engagement in corporate priority areas of Fragility, Conflict and Violence, Gender, Infrastructure, Public-Private Partnerships, Guarantees, Climate Change, and Knowledge Management.
Schafer replaces Annette Dixon, who was appointed as the World Bank’s Vice President of Human Development.
