Wednesday, July 1, 2020

World Bank announces new country director for Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka

Faris Hadad-Zervos has been promoted to new country director of World Bank for Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, effective from today. Based in the sub-regional office in Kathmandu of Nepal, he will lead World Bank support to Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, overseeing the current total portfolio of around $5.5 billion, according to a press note issued by the multilateral development partner.
Hadad-Zervos succeeds Idah Z Pswarayi-Riddihough, who will be taking on a new World Bank assignment. He previously served as the World Bank country manager for Nepal. A US national, he joined the World Bank in 1996 and held country manager positions in Malaysia and Bolivia. He also served as manager of the Technical Cooperation Programme with the Gulf Cooperation Countries, head of Mission for Iraq, and operations manager for the West Bank and Gaza.
Hadad-Zervos’ appointment comes at a time when governments of the three countries must quickly address both the immediate and longer-term health and economic impacts of the Covid-19 crisis, the press note reads.
“It is critical to protect lives and livelihoods and support economic recovery as countries are fighting the impacts of the Covid-19 crisis,” Hadad-Zervos said, adding that his first priority will be to ensure that World Bank-financed programmes help alleviate the health and economic impacts of Covid-19, create jobs, and foster inclusive and sustainable growth in the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. “I look forward to working with governments, development partners, the private sector, and civil society.”
The World Bank is supporting the governments of Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka through Covid-19 emergency response projects totaling over $350 million to help the countries prevent, detect and respond to the pandemic and strengthen public health preparedness.
The World Bank is working with the government to address immediate health needs of the Covid-19 pandemic through a $29 million emergency response project, while restructuring about 20 per cent of the existing portfolio to meet needs arising from the crisis. The World Bank is also part of an advisory panel, together with other multilateral development banks, to support the government in preparing a relief, restructuring and resilience plan to respond effectively to the Covid-19 crisis. The World Bank portfolio in Nepal is comprised of 25 active projects amounting to about $3 billion in key sectors including infrastructure, human development, finance and governance.

No comments: