GUATEMALA CITY, July 1, 2024 – Pierre Graftieaux is the new World Bank Resident Representative in Guatemala.
A French and Australian national, Pierre joined the World Bank as an urban transport specialist in Latin America, focusing on metro, bus rapid transit, rail, and non-motorized transport projects in Peru, Chile, and Argentina. As part of the World Bank, he worked on all transport sub-sectors (rail, road, ports, aviation) in Madagascar, Mozambique, Mauritius, and Tanzania, and then as a Lead Transport Specialist based in Senegal, covering Cabo Verde, Chad, Cameroon, and the Central African Republic
Pierre's most recent postings were in the World Bank office in Sydney, Australia, first as the coordinator of the infrastructure and sustainable development portfolio (transport, energy, information and communications technology, agriculture, water, disaster risk management, urban development, and environment) in the Pacific region (including Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Samoa, Fiji, and Tonga, among others) and then managing various trust funds (totaling about US$300 million) funded by Australia and New Zealand to support the World Bank program.
"Pierre Graftieaux will lead the dialogue with the Government of Guatemala and representatives of civil society, the private sector, academia, and the international community to support the country's efforts to strengthen human capital, increase employment opportunities, and build resilience to disasters and climate change. Pierre's experience in infrastructure and sustainable development, as well as his experience in overseeing projects in all sectors of the World Bank's operations, will be key to advancing transformative initiatives to strengthen Guatemala's green, rural, and urban infrastructure and promote greater development opportunities for all," said Michel Kerf, World Bank Country Director for Central America and the Dominican Republic.
Pierre graduated as an engineer from the Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées, in Paris, and studied urban planning and infrastructure economics at the Escuela de Caminos, Canales y Puertos, in Madrid. Before joining the World Bank, he worked on urban transport projects, including in India, Argentina, Chile, Belgium, Brazil, Serbia, Romania, and France. He speaks French, Spanish, Portuguese, and English.
The World Bank's current portfolio in Guatemala includes three projects: the US$109 million Crecer Sano health and nutrition project; an Emissions Reduction Payment Agreement (ERPA), funded with a grant of US$52.5 million, to address the key drivers of deforestation and forest degradation; and a US$250 million Development Policy Loan, pending congressional approval.
The current portfolio is complemented by technical assistance and analytical services in areas such as tax administration, transport infrastructure (metro and airport), digital government and transparency, decarbonization, and financial inclusion, among others. The World Bank is also preparing new projects focused on urban infrastructure, rural roads, strengthening capacities for disaster risk management, and immediate access to financial resources in the event of disasters or health emergencies.
To learn more about the World Bank’s work in Latin America and the Caribbean, please visit our web site.
Learn more about the World Bank in Guatemala.
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