64375 Vol. I, No. II August 22, 1997 BANK REACHES OUT TO DC By Kevin Rafferty explained that presi - and the Bank is no teer Teacher Corps. Another dent James Wolfen- exception. By $150,000 will go this year to help THE WORLD BANK has sohn had promised becoming involved the International Women's launched a major commitment, that as an important in the community, Democracy Center train unem­ both of resources and of staff time, DC employer, rank- we benefit in help- ployed women. Next year, up to to expand its assistance to the local ing third after the ing to ensure the $100,000 will be provided to assist Washington community, especial­ US and DC govern- safety and welfare community development corpora­ ly in the key areas of education, ments, the Bank is of Bank staff, feel- tions in micro-finance, job training community development, training keen to play its part ing a greater con- and housing development. for unemployed women, bringing in DC's regenera- nection with the Equally important is the com­ young people into the economy tion. community at large mitment of time, effort and skills. and improving municipal services. There was debate and being a good The Bank will provide 100 weeks The community relations before the go-ahead neighbor. We can of specialist staff time to help office has worked wonders under was given. Some achieve this goal by design and carry out a new training YosefHadar and given the Bank a members of the (I to r) Thelma Jones, Maxine Freund, Dan Ritchie, Lynda Tredway, Andree Wynkoop and making a major program for DC government man­ reputation as a good neighbor on a executive board said Stephen Clawson are all smiles about the Bank, GW and AT&T helping Cardozo impact in some key agers at GW's School of Business. paltry budget of $36,000 a year. that the Bank's mission was to denying the city minions of dol- areas - youth, employment, In addition, the Bank has formed a They have been greatly helped by help developing countries, not the lars in potential revenue. Howev- strengthening our existing volun- strategic alliance with DC Agenda, voluntary work by staff and by capital of the world's richest coun- er, the Bank is not claiming any teer pool and technical assistance which is a consortium of public more than $410,000 donated by try. On the other hand, vice presi- special privileges by being spared - without reinventing the wheel and private sector groups, to help Bank staff to United Way and dent Mark Malloch Brown told his taxes. It is the same as other inter- or spreading ourselves too thinly, frame the agenda for the rehabilita­ other campaigns. Now the Bank is vice presidential colleagues that national organizations and clearly given our limited human and tion of the capital city. providing $350,000 this year and "there is a growing sense of any tax impositions would dimin- financial resources." Ritchie pointed out that among $400,000 next year for the new urgency about the need to help res- ish its ability to help its develop- Of the increased budget, the Bank "family" of staff, spous­ outreach program. Equally impor­ cue the city from its present cri- ing-country clients. $200,000 has been promised this es, children and retirees: "Many tant, the Bank has promised insti­ sis... The time has come for us to Hadar and Thelma Jones, who year and next to an urban initiative are already doing volunteer work. tutional support for the hundreds be more directly involved in areas have been the public face of the in cooperation with the George Others would like to volunteer, of Bank staff already doing vol­ where our technical expertise can Bank in working with the DC Washington University School of but are unsure how to go about it. unteer work in the Washington make a difference." community, are quick to point out Education and AT&T for a five- We will establish a Web site to area and has pledged to provide The boosted outreach program that they have established good year program to increase literacy provide volunteers with a place to the equivalent of five staff years may also lessen the anger of roots. Jones added: 'The Bank's and school attendance at Cardozo express their interests and skills for technical cooperation. aggrieved influential Washington new outreach program is a dream High School in Northwest DC. and obtain information. We have Dan Ritchie is joining from leaders who resent that the Bank come true for me. In order for a (See p.7 for interview with the also formed a partnership with ECA to help formulate the does not pay property tax nor do community to thrive, a helping principal.) Cardozo will also bene­ Greater DC Cares, which is a expanded outreach strategy. He its expatriate staff pay taxes, thus hand is needed from its residents, fit from a new World Bank Volun- clearinghouse for volunteers." INSIDE .•. INSIDE Koch-Weser interview •••2 Letters .••...•.•....•• 2 Classifieds • . . . . . . . . . . • 3 Yabrudy's lottery win .•• 4 Bank's first curator ..... 8 Staff Association •.•..•• 8 Manhattan on steroids .• 11 Keynes on holiday •.•.. 11 Green is good ..•..•..• 12 Guns for gold ...••••••12 Preaching VS practking- P. 3 Cambodia's glory- p. 8 Happy landing - p. 10 Catch the world- p. 12 2 August 22, 1997 ... NEWS ... NEWS .,' NEWS ... NEWS .. . NEWS ... NEWS ... NEWS ... NEWS ... NEWS Koch-Weser urges managers to cut the knot SHUM SAVORS By BW Reporter ing products. We will have two They will make sure that econom­ Koch-Weser described himself >AN'S FOUR very innovative instruments that in ic and sector know ledge, best as "cautiously upbeat" for the SEASONS THE BIGGEST challenge for the tenus of response time and learn­ practice and operations tools are financial year that has just begun. Back in Washington briefly, Seli­ World Bank's new managers is to ing and innovation will be a major readily available to all task man­ The world economic situation na Shum (above) said she really cut through the "Gordian knots" of departure from the traditional pro­ agers at the frontline so that they looks good. "Output growth in appreciates the ''rich culture, the the old bureaucratic culture, assert­ ject cycle and will open new can do high quality work. Quality developing countries last year was good food and natural splendors ed managing director Caio Koch­ doors. We will have new financial will have to be in the line, but for 5.6 percent, the highest for 20 of the four seasons in Japan." She Weser in an interview with Bank's products, new global products and that task managers need support years; foreign direct investment in is a participant in the Bank's staff World. He urged managers to "hit new grassroots products." from the networks, professional developing countries exceeded exchange program and is halfway the ground running" and "cut Koch-Weser asserted that "turn­ training and time, two weeks each $100 billion, a new peak; the world through her two-year secondment through the Gordian knots", ing the portfolio around has been an year for each staff member, for economy [is] projected to grow by to the trading giant Mitsui Bus­ expressions which he repeated obsession with Gautam [Kaji] and knowledge work. Translating what 3.4 percent a year over the next san. Shum, from Hong Kong, described her work as "really several times to emphasize them. me. Modest gains can now be seen, they have learned in their work decade... We expect developing meaningful because the Bank and Even though the Bank has and feeding countries to expand exports at 7.5 Mitsui have a common strong rededicated itself to serving its it into the percent a year, to receive rapidly interest in promoting private par­ clients, has set targets and simpli­ knowledge increasing capital flows and ticipation in infrastructure in fied procedures, Koch-Weser networks achieve output growth averaging developing countries." expressed concern that old will be a 5.5 percent, twice the G7 average." SPECIAL HANOI FAREWELL bureaucratic traditions and the very impor­ Koch-Weser added: "With refusal to let go of controls were .tant task for macroeconomic crisis manage­ reasserting themselves. everyone. ment less of a feature, this is a ''To reap the be,nefits of all our ''The for­ major opportunity for the Bank to investments, we must manage peo­ mation of the move the ball on its mission of ple and resources differently from core services poverty reduction and sustainable , before," the managing director said. network, the development in partnership with I He added: "The three key fifth net­ donors, NGOs, MDBs and the pri­ objectives that have motivated all @ work, is very vate sector." Bradley Babson donned a tradi­ our change efforts are: number one, Koch·Weser is cautiously upbeat about prospects important. It He did admit to some worries. tional Vietnamese robe for his strengthening client focus; number confirmed by OED's independent will provide critical mass for oper­ Some countries are showing high fareweD to the Hanoi resident mis­ sion. Staff serenaded the ResRep two, improving operational quali­ evaluation and by our own self­ ational support to the task team unemployment, slow growth, and his wife, Kitty, with a ''Banki­ ty; and number three, streamlining evaluation work in operations. leaders so that they can organize resistance to reforms and a resur­ fied" version of an ABBA song the operational work environment [According to OED's most recent their work more cost effectively gence of conflict. "And let's not and admin assistant Nguyen Xuan for frontline services." The new survey, completed Bank projects and focus on meeting the clients' forget that the basic numbers on Than wrote a special poem, saying country assistance strategies are rated as satisfactory rose to 70 per­ needs rather than fighting the poverty, environmental sustain­ "You've come and built up with the main vehicle for focusing on cent from 65, a sign of slow, but Bank's bureaucracy. ability are reasons for concern." bare handsffor development on the Bank's clients, said Koch­ steady, progress.] The quality assur­ "We need to carry forward the But he saw reasons for opti­ distant wild lands!' Weser, and the new country direc­ ance group is an excellent tool and work started by KPMG [on the mism: "Last year's results both in tors would be powerful imp le­ has begun to change corporate cul­ Strategic Compact] to streamline terms of quality and quantity MANAGER OF THE YEAR menters of the changes. "We now ture in terms of implementation." operational processes. We have show that our focus is right. We Koos van den Berg have 50 country directors, [each] He stressed the importance of five teams working [on how to have good news showing a slow has ju t been award­ focusing on a small number of the networks which "will of course reduce costs] in the areas of sim­ but steady turnaround in the port­ ed the accolade "business travel man­ clients, on the job and ready to roll. have a major role in quality assur­ plifying operational directives, folio. We had record disburse­ ager of the year" by The client focus will be helped by ance in this new modem matrix decisionmaking processes, pro­ ments, country assistance strate­ the influential BTN the emphasis on decentralization management that we have intro­ curement, trust fund management gies that are more open, involving Online for his out­ and we will have 22 of these coun­ duced. They will have a critical and nonlending services. We have clients, sharper in their assess­ standing management of the Bank's try directors in the field. mass of skills. They will enable an $80 million increase - 12 per­ ments of risks and rewards and $130 million annual travel budget. "Client focus will also be professional leadership and help cent - in this year's budget for much clearer in their analysis of Van den Berg said "It's a tribute to helped by the new adaptable lend- reprofessionalize management. refuelling the frontline." strategic selectivity." the Bank rather than to me." . .. LETTERS ... LETTERS ... LETTERS , .. LETTERS , .. LETTERS .. , LETTERS ... LETTERS , .. PROCUREMENT DELAYS lack of procurement storage and The procurement policy unit examine how to improve the sys­ And is there no appreciation of NOT BANK'S FAULT distribution planning, inadequate and the human development net­ tems to meet borrower needs. the beauty of the language of assessment of drug requirements work recently carried out a review Procurement was clearly a prob­ Shakespeare and Churchill? The and inadequate supervision of the lematic area for field imple­ The article "Procurement delays on how procurement rules affect richness of the English language menters and the article aimed to can be a matter of life and death" procurement and distribution implementation of social sector highlight the need to review and is in its diversity and irregularity [Bank's World, June 27] refers to process. Procurement documenta­ projects. After extensive consulta­ adapt systems to what borrowers - DIALOG ... it looks so ugly two health projects in Uganda and tion submitted by the borrower for tions with task managers, the con­ are able to manage and sustain. without the UE - do we have to specifically to the delays in pro­ Bank review was poor and sub­ clusion was that the procedures This may mean looking beyond spell it phonetically? curement of condoms and drugs standard (requiring substantial are not the culprit for delays, but the existing procurement systems. Colin Lyle for sexually transmitted infections revisions) and there was no pro­ poor project design and inade­ The Bank would like to improve procurement of pharmaceutical The Oxford dictionary we use and tuberculosis. It states: ''The curement plan for the project. quate procurement planning and defines ''staffer'' as "a member of supplies - the human develop­ Bank's procurement procedures, These issues clearly pertain to pro­ supervision. This was substantiat­ ment network has recently staff, especially of a newspaper". designed to ensure reasonable ject design and implementation ed by the surprise audits of pro­ It also gives "dialog" as the pre­ recruited a phannaceutical spe­ and not to the procurement rules, curement in several borrowing cialist and formed a team to work ferred US usage. prices and fair opportunities for bidders, did not allow for the time­ which among other things allow countries, ordered by Mr Wolfen­ with the Bank's procurement ly delivery of condoms." I take for very quick emergency purchas­ sohn last year. office; a group in Africa is prepar­ BANK'S W€ t RID issue with the statement on two es, if needed. The project team is Let me conclude by saying that ing a note for task managers on World Bank Group procurement issues. The article accounts. First, it is not substanti­ working hard at addressing the many countries, other multilater­ 1818 H Street, NW also sparked interest among Bank Washington, DC 20433 ated by the facts we have obtained institutional and technical weak­ als, and many in the private sector task managers to share experi­ Phone: 473-2211 Fax: 522-2477 on that particular project. Second, nesses of the MoH and at finding are adopting our procurement pro­ ences from other regions and led it is not true as a general statement. solutions for the future. cedures as best practice. We have to the discussion with SmithKline Editor Kevin Rafferty Blaming Bank procurement We have found that in most pro­ numerous examples of successful Beecham on the role of the private Assistant Editor Lauren Ptito procedures for delays caused by jects where procurement delays are applications of Bank procurement sector in improving procurement ProductioD Editor Kuniko Kurimura capacity in developing countries. Contributing Edhors AI Drattell deficiencies elsewhere, without cited as a problem, they are in real­ rules in health projects in Africa Y. R. Radhika looking deeply into the real causes ity a symptom of deficiencies of and elsewhere. Therefore, no blan­ DesIp Advi8er Daniel Hood of the problem, is a common the sort mentioned, These should ket statements on the appropriate­ SHAKESPEARIAN BEAUIY occurrence in our internal portfolio be addressed during preparation ness of the procurement rules can Contributors reviews. On the Sexually Trans­ and appraisal through appropriate validly be launched on the basis of Having welcomed the new design Morallina George, Yosef Hadar mitted Infections Project, we measures aimed at strengthening or the deficiencies of one project. of Bank's World as imaginative, I Bank's Mbrld is a publication far the staft' of the found after consulting with the supplementing borrower's capacity Alfonso Sanchez was sorry to see that the creative­ World Bauk Group and is published by the vice-pres­ responsible staff that the reasons and through less ambitious project Senior manager, procurement ness seems to have extended to idmcy for ExImnBl AII'aiI$. The views expressed in Bank's Mbrld lie IbcJse ofilS writers and do not nec­ for delays were: weak capacity in designs. These cases only illustrate policy and coordination unit language: what is a "staffer"? I essarily rd1ect the positioIl of the World Bank the ministry of health (MoH) for the importance of good procure­ was unableto find this word in my Groap, the members of its Board of Executive Direc;­ un. or IbI: COIIIICrieI they repreaeIIl. handling procurement, no experi­ ment planning up front, particular­ For the Bank to become client­ American Heritage Dictionary SemI', Mbrld reserves the right 10 edit all articles ence in handling large tenders of ly in the highly specialized field of focused, it needs to encourage and cannot recall having seen it or befoIe pubIiaIIion. pharmaceuticals and condoms, pharmaceuticals. more first-hand accounts, and heard it elsewhere. August 22, 1997 3 ... NEWS ... NEWS ... NEWS ... NEWS ... NEWS .. , NEWS ... NEWS ... NEWS ... NEWS .. PRACTICE WHAT WE PREACH Bank's health policy And save the Bank $20 million a year, says Feachem needs better nursing By Kevin Rafferty home, why are you are covered by butions. "Corporate America has exactly the system you are advis­ already done it and the Bank is HEALTH, NUTRITION and you build more clinics, train more THE WORLD BANK could save ing against?' going to have to do it. If we were population, or HNP in the remorse­ doctors, purchase more vaccines itself and its staff up to $20 million "The Bank should follow the located in California, it would less quest for acronyms, has grown and drugs, and equip more hospi­ a year if it changed its health care pathway taken by most major US have happened already." in a decade from nearly zero to 11 tals, then good quality care will system and practiced what it employers, such as Coca Cola, Feachem notes that the combi­ percent of the Bank's activities. automatically follow - when the preaches to developing countries, mM, General Motors and offer nation of fee~for-service payment "That growth, being very rapid, has experience is that they don't. If you argues Richard Feachem, director managed care type plans. We of doctors and hospitals with third been accompanied by a rapid have neglected the institution build­ of the health, nutrition and popula­ would end up with considerable party indemnity insurance is "a expansion of staff and a learning ing, the quality control, the local tion department. cost savings for the Bank and its recipe for driving costs upwards. process," said Richard Feachem, management, the decentralization, "My back-of-an-envelope fig­ staff, with better or at least equal Doctors and hospitals have a HNP director. "As with anything the incentive structures, the proper ures say $10 million to $20 million quality of care." that has grown so rapid­ role for the private sector, you may could be saved if the Bank Feachem concedes ly, it's not in excellent overstretch the ability of the public switched from its present indemni­ that "changing the med­ shape." sector to deliver a complex service ty insurance health care to man­ ical insurance arrange­ He was commenting across quite remote populations. We aged care - the same sort of sys­ ments for Bank staff will on the Bank's first sector need to reaffirm the importance of tem that the Bank advocates to be a very difficult thing strategy paper, on HNP, the policy environment and the developing countries which seek to do. It's going to be a which the board management, financing and institu­ its advice. Health insurance is cost­ battle whenever. Let's approved last month. tional,considerations." ing the Bank and its staff roughly have it now. How excel­ "We tIy to do bits of He also asks three basic ques­ $60 million a year. [It is] a cost­ lent for the [Strategic] everything. Coming tions about the Bank's HNP per­ escalating deluxe indemnity insur­ Compact, to save $20 from nowhere to having sonnel: "Do we have enough staff ance scheme that does not guaran­ million a year and either ~ 155 projects in 85 coun­ working in the sector to deliver the tee high-quality medicine. just chop it off the admin @tries with a cumulative volume of work ahead of us? "This is a wonderful example budget or put it into a Feachem stresses the need for better focus value of $13.5 billion Answer, No. Do we have the right of the Bank not practicing what it special health fund for low income strong financial incentive to has led to a portfolio that is very skills mix? No. Are the staff in the is preaching. I find myself in the countries." overtreat, overprescribe, overdiag- fragmented, where not all of our right place? No. capitals of countries where a Major corporations have sweet- nose and indeed they do, since investments have been well judged ''We need to shift from public sophisticated individual in the ened the pill for employees by someone else is paying the bill or created the sustained improve­ health disciplines to expertise in ministry of finance asks me, offering a series of plans, the and the patient has little incentive ment on the ground that we sought. management, health finance and 'Richard, I used to work at the cheapest requiring no contribution to say, 'doctor, don't treat me,' or We need to focus our efforts where service delivery. We are weak in Bank and I know about the New from the insured and the most 'give me a generic drug,' or 'do I we can make a difference and mid- to senior-level staff who have York Life program. When you go deluxe requiring significant contri- need that next test?''' understand more clearly the prereq­ actually done it, having run a health uisites to making a difference." care system, having run a health UESE SAYS IT WILL BE THE RICHARD FEACHEM MEMORIAL PIAN The paper presents three strate­ insurance agency, having been the BERNHARD LIESE, director of claiming that HMOs, which are providers." The Bank, asserted gic objectives to focus activities chief executive of a large hospital health services, took issue with his virtually the only option in Cali­ Liese, was always exploring value more explicitly. They are: improv­ or having run a district or regional colleague and claimed that he had fornia, are not mature on the east for money health care and negoti­ ing health, nutrition and population health service operation. Our staff overestimated the cost savings and coast of the US even where they ating the best discounts. "But we outcomes for the poor; enhancing tend to come perhaps from acade­ underestimated the difficulties of are available. Feachem, he con­ also have the Staff Association to the performance and quality of mia where they have studied such the Bank switching to a managed tended, was speaking "from a con­ convince. I tell Richard that we public and private health services; things, or from the aid industIy, care health insurance scheme. ceptual point of view and not from could press hard for managed care and securing sustainable finance for where they have advised others "Insurance markets are very the practical experience of negoti­ and call it the Richard Feachem the health sector. about such things as health finance. localized markets," said Liese, ating with the health care Memorial Plan." Feachem said some very low But there is a big difference income countries are not spending between those backgrounds and enough money to provide essential someone who has run it in real life Wright, Beny discuss 'devilish details' of staffing health services - "so in those on the ground and understands, countries sustainable health financ­ among other things, the political STAFF ASSOCIATION chair­ and others agreed, "obviously, the the chapter headings of the new ing means working with the govern­ economy of health sector reform. man Fred Wright this month joined devil lies in the details." human resources policy. ment to increase public investment "The Bank can be naive and human resources vice president Schweitzer and his group have "We are not writing a detailed and make better use of private suggest an idealized view of what Dorothy Berry, her deputy vice begun intensive work on the impli­ report in secret," he added, investment that can be mobilized, a country should do in terms of president Richard Stern and a num­ cations of policy changes in various promising continuing wide-rang­ bearing in mind that even poor peo­ reforming its health service. We ber of senior line managers for a departments of the Bank and IFe. ing consultations before anything ple will put their hands in their need more real-life wisdom about two-day retreat to tIy to thrash out He stressed that they were assess- is set in concrete. "We have got to pockets and find money to pay for what politicians and governments as much agreement as pos­ try things out in real life." health services." In other countries, are actually able to do in the real sible on defining a new The issue of non-regular staff, including the US, France, Argenti­ world, how to move a system employment policy for the who have recently won conces­ na, the Czech Republic, Croatia and from point A to point B through Bank. "It was an attempt sions on maternity leave and on India, health costs are exploding all the political minefields." to put some flesh on the pension arrangements, is not towards 10 percent of GDP and The Bank needs more people bare bones of the staffing being considered as a separate higher; Feachem sees 6 to 8 percent with hard practical experience, he policy," said Julian issue, but as part of the assessment of GDP as the optimum range. contends. "One of the great Bank Schweitzer from LAC, of core competencies. "The prob­ Higher than that, or a rapid expan­ diseases is staying here too long, who chaired the meeting. lem of the large numbers of NRS sion, is a danger signal; below 4 so when you think of recruitments Those attending the is the result of the rigid labor pol­ percent, a countIy is not generating you should think of people who session in a downtown Wright and Berry in friendly mood icy of the past and dollar budget­ enough dollars to buy the package will come and make a five- to Washington hotel used phrases ing which jobs should be regarded ing," added Schweitzer. "The aim of basic preventive and essential eight-year contribution and then like "extremely friendly... animat­ as core to the Bank's operations, is that there should be one Bank, clinical services. do something else. That will serve ed and productive... with a wide not judging the competency of the but we have to reflect the move to Feachem confesses: 'The ten­ us well, and their home countries range of agreement on the princi­ individuals doing them. The aim is decentralization in an integrated dency for us and for other interna­ and the individuals in their careers. pIes" to describe the discussions, to produce a report in the next cou­ employment strategy." tional agencies is to be too input­ It is this mobility of staff which although as Fred Wright noted, pIe of months which will establish -BWR focused, following the fallacy that if our sector needs." - KR ... CLASSIFIED ... CLASSIFIED ... CLASSIFIED ... CLASSIFIED ... CLASSIFIED ... CLASSIFIED ... APT. FOR RENT-SHORT-TERM. $ 1350fmo. Avail. now. Call M. Barry, to share. Hdwd floors, huge BR (must see coat with tuxedo fox trim, size medium, machine, like new. Must sell. 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Full-length mink FOR SALE. HealthRider exercise (obo). 4 August 22, 1997 ... THE BANK AND THE WORLD ... THE BANK AND THE WORLD ... THE BANK AND THE WORLD Mme Banque Mondiale celebrates lottery win GRACE YABRUDY, resident grate their respective work pro­ ing programs that we think should done,' I'm talking with the force of 100 she receives daily, that she did representative for Mali since grams into the overall Bank strate­ be done and only financing those. a country team that is going to sup­ not have a chance to read, and talk November 1996, smiles tri­ gy in Mali. "We all have to get out We are often alluded to as their port the decision." Conversely, she to her colleagues at HQ. She usu­ umphantly. "I've won the lottery of our little box and work as a team friends. Ministers frequently call informs Tuluy of all discussions she ally calls it quits by 1:00 am. "I without having bought a ticket; to better serve the client. Resident me for advice when they have a has had with the government or any don't sleep much, but I love every there couldn't be a better time to missions are best positioned to concern. We have an adult rela­ other news that might be relevant to moment of my life here:' be working in the field." She says capitalize on these linkages tionship of equal partners. We can him and the country team at HQ. Yabrudy views her past assign­ that the resident missions' role has between sectors and formulate an agree. We can agree to disagree. "Days are long and nights are ments as building blocks which grown in importance with the integrated rather than project-by­ We are building this kind of loyal- even longer when you work as a prepared her for her new job. "I Bank's renewed focus on getting project approach. resident repre­ have experience in infrastructure, closer to its clients. That's how we sentative," budgeting, research, finance and In Africa, changes are already will be able to wrote Yabrudy administration and feel that I've tangible. "Tasks and responsibili­ move the econo­ to her col­ been in training for this position," ties are increasingly decentralized my forward." leagues at HQ she explains. There is hardly a and delegated to us. For instance, Bringing one week after limit to the job of a resident repre­ we are becoming responsible for action to the starting her sentative, which requires tasks handling portfolio implementation field, however, is job. One hun­ ranging from signing paychecks procedures and clearing aide­ something that dred percent of to worrying about the education memoires. Resident mission staff Yabrudy intends her time is strategy of the country. "You have are now given a chance to, and are to do "a la Mali­ devoted to to respond immediately to what­ expected to, add value to the work enne", thus main­ meetings with ever request you receive. You are of the task managers," she adds. taining a tradition members of on your own representing the To face these new challenges, started by her pre­ the govern­ Bank," she explains. she has beefed up the resident mis­ decessors Mike ment, the pri­ Yabrudy has traveled through­ sion's capacity. "We used to have Furst, Monique vate sector, out Mali, visiting projects or two higher-level staff following up Garrity and Linda Yabrudy is always on the move other donors attending official events. From on projects. We're now hiring McGinnis. Soon after she arrived ty that works in the long term. or Bank missions. Of course, there Bamako to Timbuktu, she is Malians speCialized in the various in Bamako, a journalist asked her It implies responsibility and is the inevitable variety of greeted as "Madame Banque key sectors of the economy. Their what the World Bank program was accountability on both sides." unplanned events, such as last­ Mondiale". With television now main function will be to contribute in Mali. "My answer was, 'actual- She has reciprocated this part­ minute meetings with the presi­ reaching the most remote areas, their analytical skills to the country ly, the Bank does not have a pro­ nership with Hasan Tuluy, the dent or the prime minister of Mali, she has come into everybody's liv­ and the Mali country team." Each gram in Mali. We are simply sup­ Washington-based country director or staff medical problems. Leaving ing room. "Everybody knows the of her staff will have a detailed job porting the government's priorities for Mali, Mauritania, and Sao Tome the office at 8:00 pm, she hardly Bank. It came to life during Mr description: '~I want to establish a through our different programs.'" and Principe. As true co-pilots, they ever goes directly home. "In six Wolfensohn's visit. Everybody track record," she says. She explains that Malians "see the consult each other on everything. "I months, I've had only four nights remembers him walking down the Yabrudy sees the role of the res­ Bank as a strategic ally, a partner am totally part of the team. There is off," she smiles. At around 10:00 street, talking to people. He has ident mission as helping task man­ in financing programs they consid­ nothing that surprises me. When I pm, she is finally home. It's then humanized the Bank." agers and task team leaders inte­ er priorities as opposed to impos­ say to the Malians, 'this can be time to get to those e-ms, out of the . - Brigitte Aflalo The 8.9% APR Signature Loan adds up to saVings. Ifyou're paying high interest rates on loans or credit cards, you know how quickly your payments add up. Perhaps you need a simple way to combine your loans and credit credit card balances under one low-interest rate loan. You should consider using the Credit Union's Signature Loan program to lighten the burden ofthose high-inter­ est payments. From August 15th through October 31 st, 1997, the Credit Union is lowering its Signature Loan interest rate to 8.9% APR fixed, with up to five years to repay. So, whether the money is for debt consolidation, vacations, back-to-school expenses or home improvements, we're making it easier than ever to get interest payments under control. To apply for a signature loan, simply call Loans-By-Phone at (202) 458-4332 and speak with one ofour Loan Representatives, or visit our Consumer Loan Section locations at MC C2-300 in the Bank's Main Complex or in our IFC Building Branch office, 2121 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, West Lobby. ,\~~1 - 199;­ JtLBank-Fund Staff Federal Credit Union ~h ~ '14RS Of s\"{:. Note: New money only. Offer does not apply to the refinancing of Credit Union loans. Credit standards and qualification criteria apply. August 22, 1997 5 MARK BLACKDEN, PHILIPPE CALLIER AND CONNIE LUFF ENCOUNTER CAMEROON VILLAGE LIFE M andaka village is in the Mandara and beans, and purchases clothes, medi­ millet or maize dough with vegetable sauce, their water pro­ mountains area of Cameroon's cines and soap. It is a small economy: the although we were fortunate enough to have ject has encour­ Far North province. The terrain is only people with specialized skills are the our sauces supplemented with pieces of aged them to pur­ rocky, dry and hilly, with winding terraces blacksmith families, who are also potters, meat or fish. In the mornings, we had a kind sue other activi­ of stones along the contours of the hillsides and some older women who weave beau­ of porridge drink made with rice. Luckily, ties. The commit­ (built by farmers to protect the topsoil and tiful baskets (used in the family, not sold we were there at the height of the mango tee wants to bring improve water retention). It is a landscape on the market). Mandaka residents live a season. They were delicious; Mark ate three a health center to Freshly cooked food of spectacular scenic beauty. There are precarious existence and therefore avoid a day! the village, the women want to buy a grind­ about 50 families in our community, and risk taking - a further obstacle to skills Mark's host family are a pair of newly­ ing mill and the youth group would like each extended family lives in a cleverly diversification. There are small-scale weds: Jeremy (23) and his wife Jeannine help with school fees, and more opportuni­ arranged cluster of round mud huts: one for transactions within the community, how­ (19). They are very religious and always ties for socializing and watching TV in the husband, one for each wife and their ever: farmers can either rent land from say a grace before meals. The hut which is Mokolo. children, and separate huts for goats, sheep, better endowed neighbors or work on oth­ Jeannine's kitchen is neatly designed. It is a FUN AND GAMES cattle, grain storage and cooking. ers' land for a wage, and some women large (10 feet in diameter) round hut with a Cultivated plots are generally close to the make bit-bil, an alcoholic beverage door but no windows and no apparent On one of our walks, Charles [a young dwellings, which take eight days to build: derived from millet, and sell it at the means of ventilation. Half of the hut is a man in Connie's compound] lamented that four to build up the mud walls and the weekly market on Saturday night. counter and work area where Jeannine the village no longer had a soccer ball. underside of the sharply pointed sloping grinds millet and maize with a stone. There Mark announced that we had brought one EDUCATION - HIGH PRIORITY roof, and another four days to cover the roof are two fires anchored between three raised from Washington, and we set a date for a with millet stalks and dried grass. Each of Schooling is a very high pnonty in mounds of earth, with another mound game on the local field. Mark warmed the us stayed in a different compound, where Mandaka, and the community invests a lot behind the fires on which to rest the cook- team up with jumping jacks, and proceeded we had a private sleeping to be overrun and out­ hut and an enclosed pit latrine and washing area. A WALKING WORLD Spectacular scenery but played by the barefoot, energetic Cameroonian Lions of Mandaka. Connie and Philippe, who had been There is no public transport watching from the side­ in Mandaka; the villagers lines, noticed that Mark inhabit a walking world, and was the only one who getting around absorbs time looked tired after the game. and energy. They walk long FETE DE DEPART distances to schools, health facilities and Mokolo, the We were all sorry to see nearest market town. the visit come to an end. Mandaka has no vehicles, There was an outpouring of five bicycles (all broken), generosity from the vil­ one push cart (also broken), lagers, who gave us chick­ four pairs of oxen and five ens, eggs, sesame seeds donkeys. The animals are and groundnuts as we said reserved for plowing and our farewells. They orga­ not used much for transport­ nized a huge departure ing goods or people. When a feast with dances, speeches woman went into labor not and lots of food and bit bil. knowing she was carrying Charles gave a touching twins, she had to be carried speech on behalf of the vil­ by wheelbarrow over the 12 lage, concluding by saying: km to the health center. "Day by day you have immersed yourselves in our economy runs on hard work PRECIOUS WATER lives, and, as worthy sons Water is a scarce and pre­ and daughter of Mandaka, cious resource in Mandaka, you have shared our joys and getting clean and safe and sorrows with us, hands water into the village (instead of walking 8 of energy and resources in education. The ing pots. Jeannine cooks the millet dough locked in solidarity. Through my words, the km to the river) has brought the whole com­ schools are a considerable distance from the on one side and the sauce on the other. After entire population of the village, without munity together. Two new, safe wells have village, so children cannot start going to dark, there is virtually no way for her to see exception, expresses to you its gratitude for been installed with support from CARE. school until they are about eight, when they what she is cooking. your being with us, for your openness, and The water is clean, treated and available can handle the walk. Parents are keen to for the ideas you have given us. Be assured throughout the year, though families are have a school that is close, and have sup­ DAILY CHORES that your stay with us will remain forever still rationed to two buckets a day during ported sending a student to Maroua, the Connie had dinner one night with the engraved in the history of Mandaka ... the peak of the dry season. Fetching the provincial capital, for teacher training. women and children and realized how hard Moreover, we hope that our parting will be water - backbreaking work - is the Most of the children in Mandaka go to was the women's work, and long too. After until we meet again, not a farewell, and we women's job.. the private mission school in Udkia, even working in the fields, they return in the expect to see you again someday in though it is the furthest away (one hour's evening to prepare the meal for the men. Mandaka, or in Washington - why not!" A SMALL ECONOMY walk) and the most expensive. Here, teach­ Only after washing the dishes after the meal ... Philippe examined economic relation­ ers speak Mafa, the local language, and do they get time for rest. (Mark decided to ships in the village, which sells peanuts there is one textbook for every two chil­ help weed the maize field. He lasted all of dren. Another option is the local 45 minutes before collapsing with sore parents' association school, about hands and a sore back.) 45 minutes away, which was built Fetching firewood is more time-consum­ four years ago by the community ing than ever, as population pressure on and is staffed by two volunteer land and increasing drought take their toll. teachers. Fees are much lower than Families are already limited to gathering at the mission school, but there are fuel wood from their own plots of land, and about 60 children per class, they sit have, as a result, started to replant a few on stones on a dirt floor, and there trees on individual fields. This may well are no textbooks at all - not even prove to be a creative way of encouraging for the teachers. The least popular replanting, but there is still little general choice is the Mandaka public awareness of what we see as an impending school. Though the buildings are fuelwood crisis, although some families more impressive than the two mud have started to use improved stoves. huts of the parents' school, only two of the four teachers speak Mafa COMMUNITY SPIRIT Philippe Callier. Connie Luff and Mark and there are only five textbooks. Blackden of the Africa region (pictured above, I We were greatly impressed by the com­ to r) recently spent 10 days in the Cameroon vil­ MEALlilME munity spirit and organization in Mandaka. lage of Mandaka. Their program was launched There are three main groups (elders, youth, by Nicholas Bennett, a senior education planner We ate under the stars, men on one and a women's group) which form a village at the Bank's resident mission in Yaounde, and mat, women and children on anoth­ development committee engaged in com­ organized by CARE Cameroon. Pictures by Well water is precious er. We ate the traditional fare of munity-level projects. The great success of Mark Blackden. 6 August 22, 1997 THE EXHAUSTING BEAUTY OF LIFE CLOSE TO NATURE Connie Luff writes a diary of her 10 days in Mandaka village and colleague Mark Blackden supplies the record in pictures M T onday: It is 11 :00 on our fIrst uesday:we went to the national fete in evening. I went to bed at 8:30 and Mokolo. We walked the 8 km there, just woke up with a start - a which amazed everyone - and even more combination of jet-lag and anticipation. so when we also walked home. The concep­ After visiting rapidly growing Thailand last tion of time is totally different and waiting year I began to appreciate that there are ad­ becomes an activity unto itself, that people vantages to being under-developed - no seem to enjoy. We understood that the fete radios, no motorbikes, no plastic. There are would begin at 9 am, but at 11 :30 we were only night sounds, mostly crickets and still waiting and Mark, Philippe and I were strange birds that I can't identify. I have a the only ones who seemed to mind. Finally hut all to myself that is much nicer than things began to happen. There was a parade anything I expected. It has a small table with soldiers and then all the school children and two chairs, a bed with mosquito netting marched by and fInally the chiefs, dressed in and a front terrace where I am sitting. I have traditional clothes and waving swords, rode a bathroom too, a small attached hut with a by on their horses. hole in the ground and I have a bucket of We had lunch in a restaurant run by a water that I can use to bathe. women's cooperative. They served us fresh I have made a friend. She lives in the water with ice, but we insisted on drinking compound next door. Her husband has an­ our warm water colored yellow by the other wife and the two of them are always chemicals we drop in to purify it. We then together - they seem like sisters. I always ordered lemonade and insisted on drinking thought that there would be jealousy among it warm, refusing the ice. We tried to explain wives, but in this case it seems to work that changes in water could make us sick but quite well. I went with the women to fetch I'm sure that they thought we were mad. water. It is backbreaking work. They meet We then went to watch the soccer game at the well and as always when groups of due to start at 2:30. When it hadn't started by women are together they have a good time, 4:30 we decided to walk home. On our way, laughing and telling stories, a life apart we stopped to visit a Swiss missionary cou­ from the men. They fIll a huge ceramic jug ple who have lived in Mokolo for 30 years. with water and carry it on their heads. Lots They raised six girls here who have all re­ of children were with us. All the girls, even turned to Europe. They seemed very content­ the littlest, helped carry water. I was even ed with the life that they have chosen, but I Animals in Mandaka are reserved for plowing asked to carry a jug. However, none of the don' t know if I could spend 30 years here! ring, sitting on stones in the mud hut, I was per teacher. We then walked to the other boys carried anything! Division of labor suddenly struck by how I was watching a school which was much poorer. There were starts very young. Nine people live in this compound. Maurice, the head of the house, his W ednesday: Protocol day - we met all the officials of Mokolo. We and our hosts were driven into Mokolo by the scene that must have been occurring for generations - a scene totally lost in time. two mud huts that the parents had build that served as classrooms for 121 students, very The baby is sick. He started vomiting few notebooks and even fewer books. younger brother Charles, his wife Louise, employee of CARE who has organized our after dinner and has been continuing ever We returned to Mandaka at around noon his 17 -year-old daughter Julian and his six stay. While we visited the officials, our vil­ since. We gave them the medicine that we and I felt exhausted. The heat is unbearable sons, aged from nine years to three. lage hosts went to the market. We had fIn­ have - pills to purify the water, minerals to during the day. Life is hard, a daily fight for (Louise lost two babies between her ished by 2:30 and surprised them again protect against dehydration, pills to stop the survival. Children don't remain children for daughter and eldest son.) Dinner consisted when we said that we would prefer to walk diarrhea. There are two health clinics, one a long. By the age of fIve they have chores ­ of millet and a sauce. I was given a bowl back rather than go in the truck. 7 km walk to Mokolo and the other a 12 km taking care of the animals or the younger and a spoon - that I accepted. Everyone This evening I sat in the kitchen with the walk to Soulede. Even though the health children, fetching water, plowing. A normal else ate with their hands - making balls women and watched them prepare dinner. clinic in Soulede is further and more expen­ day for an eight-year-old is to get up at 5:30, with the millet that they dipped in the They had three fIres built on the ground ­ sive, it is preferred because the care is bet­ have breakfast if something is available, walk sauce. one for the millet, one for the vegetable ter. It is privately run, whereas that in an hour and a half to school, stay in school to Charles and Julian speak French well sauce and one to fry some fIsh. It was ex­ Mokolo is public. This is also the case with 2:30 and walk back home. They then have and translate for the others. I was told that tremely hot. I sat on a stone close to the the schools. The private school is much fur­ something to eat and start their chores. health is the major problem and that when door, but the women cooked almost on top ther and more expensive but it is preferred people get sick they need to walk to the of the fIre. While the women cooked, three health clinic 12 km away. Major health problems are caused by difficulties in birth children sat on the floor and helped with small chores. As I watched the women because the children really learn. S aturday: We walked the 12 km to Soulede for the market and visited the pri­ and snake bites. However, I was assured that snakes are not a problem in May! cooking over open fIres, using only three large pots and a few carved sticks for stir- T hursday: The baby seems to be a bit better today. He was very close to death and we were assured that the medicine that vate health center, sponsored by a German mission, which works very well. We got a ride to Mokolo and visited the public health center. we had given them saved his life. Life­ There was only one nurse for the entire hospi­ threatening diarrhea is a major problem. I tal. They have two general doctors who per­ spent the morning reading and talking to the form surgical operations as best they can. women. The women never stop working. They sneak social moments while they are doing their chores, stopping to talk while they fetch water or work in the fIelds. They M onday: Today Nick [Bennett] and our sponsors from CARE arrived. They whisked us away in their four-wheel drive work from first light until going to bed at vehicle to visit a health center in Mogode. night. Men have many more hours of leisure. The scenery was spectacular - a bit like the we went to the market in the afternoon. Badlands in the US. We observed a sex ed­ Fruits and vegetables were for sale, as was a ucation class given by an extension agent. freshly slaughtered goat. The real attraction He did a very good job, but the focus seems at the market is bil-biZ - a homemade beer. to be on preventing sexually transmitted ill­ ness. There is no obvious campaign to con­ F riday: We visited two schools today, one private run by a mission and the other run by a parent-teacher association. trol the size of families and most women have from four to ten children. Getting birth control products is a problem: they are ex­ The private school seemed quite well orga­ pensive in an economy where people cut out nized, with books, notepads, pencils, black­ food when they need to economize and they boards. The teachers seemed motivated al­ are only sold at the pharmacies in the health Women take a moment's rest by the well from their backaching work though still at a ratio of about 60 students centers, a long walk and later a long wait. BANK'S W~RI4D August 22, 1997 7 Third world DC C ardozo High School sits on a small ridge with commanding views of the glories of Washington and of the grim and grimy neighborhood streets that have made the city simultaneously the capi­ tal of the greatest power the world has ever seen and a seedy third-world metropolis. This is Northwest, a few minutes' drive from classy DC where the rich and power­ fullive in multimillion dollar residences, so the area has not deteriorated as much as Southeast or Northeast. Nevertheless, the sign on the school door warns against eat­ ing, drinking, smoking, drugs and weapons and says students must undergo a metal de­ tector check. These are giveaway signs, ab­ sent in schools in Japan, Europe, India or Africa, which tell that school in Washington can be a disturbing experience. Present principal Reginald Ballard Jr took over in January 1995, immediately after a 16-year­ Principal Ballard sets out his agenda old boy pupil was shot in the back and killed by a 14-year-old after a lunchtime ar­ books to kindergarten children at the school gument by the school entrance. next door, while the younger kids drew pic­ This is where the World Bank is offering tures; then the Cardozo pupils wrote stories help - not just financial aid, which will based on the pictures and read them to the provide teacher training from the George younger children - a learning program for Washington University School of Educa­ both. 'The kids love it," says Ballard. "It tion, but the prospect of volunteers from the gives our kids confidence in their English Bank lending a hand with technical knowl­ skills, and helps them with their writing abil­ edge and skills - for example to help en­ ity and their interpersonal skills." sure that when the children leave in their In his two and a half years Ballard has al­ late teens they will all be able to read and ready achieved some successes. He is clear­ write. Thelma Jones of the Bank's commu­ ly proud of Cardozo becoming the Wash­ nity relations office hopes to help Cardozo ington football champions, but he does not become a model school. dwell on that, being well aware that even It may seem a dream, especially when the sporting heroes must get their grades if they principal sets out his basic agenda. It includes want to go to college. Success is coming. items taken for granted at tender elementary With nonnal and summer school, 96.7 per­ school years in many rapidly growing coun­ cent of 12th grade pupils have been gradu­ tries. For the ninth grade - 15- and 16-year­ ated, an unheard-of percentage for the olds - where World Bank and GWU will school. The grade point average for the concentrate their help, Ballard's agenda is: whole school has moved from 1.4 to an even We had planned to buy a goat for the vil­ hours away to visit a very ingenious system "Attendance, reading lage and eat together on Thursday and try to to capture rainwater and store it in a well. and writing; literacy slip away Friday morning. But this is not The road there got worse and the landscape will be a focus because acceptable - we need to invite everyone in drier and rockier until we arrived in you cannot survive in the region: at least 1,000 people!!! The el­ Gougouling. It is hard to imagine how peo­ the world community ders are going to contribute a goat and so ple can survive there. It must have been 100 without these skills." He will we; it will turn it into a real fete. There degrees, the sun beat down and it was stone has given a new name to will be rice and sauce with goat meat, dry. People were much poorer and more ill the ninth grade - "Ex­ music and dancing. than in Mandaka. We returned to Mandaka. plore One Community" I had dinner alone tonight with the The rainy season is also disruptive by mak­ - to try to capture a women and children. There is a land dispute ing it difficult to cross the swollen river. We new spirit of learning. and the men were meet­ have made a lot of His is a multiracial ing to discuss how to friends here and it no school. Of the more handle it. Louise told me longer seems foreign or than 1,000 children that nonnally they need strange. We know the who attend - and at­ to walk the 7 kIn to people by name. The tendance fluctuates Mokolo to grind their women seem to trust me from 1,200 plus at the millet every three days. as do the children, al­ start of the year to [Mark Blackden adds: though I do bribe them a below 1,000 later as This was a day of culinary bit by giving out candy kids drop out - 35 percent are Hispanic, 6 2, now higher than the DC average. If he can delights. Connie learned freely. However, they percent Asian, 1 percent African and the rest get the attendance to 90 percent, Ballard has of the "secret ingredient" never ask for anything. are African-American. 'We have had a few set his sights on a 2.5 GPA this year. that goes into the sauces The generosity of the whites registered in the last few days," notes But it is a tough life of six or seven days we are eating: caca de people has surprised me. the principal. "It makes sense for the World a week, sometimes 14 hours a day. "My fTUJuton - sheep drop­ Despite their poverty I Bank to come in because we have probably children are the 1,200 pupils of the school," pings. She had gone have been given three one of the largest minority languages groups he responds when asked about his family through an entire conver­ live chickens, 20 eggs, in the city: 400 of the kids registered here life. He has cultivated more skills than most sation on this with the peanuts, sesame seeds speak a first language that is not English. So people dream of, so perhaps he could teach women in her compound, A wonderful spread for the Bank and a ceramic pot. This we have an international community in the budding Bank managers a thing or two: "I thinking that she must not have exactly un­ from people who are very poor and who school, but we still have to bring it together have to be able to get along with the com­ derstood, but she had understood only too have never asked for anything in return. and make sure that they go to school togeth­ munity, both students and parents; I have to well. Apparently, the droppings are dried, er and are contributing members in the be a publicity agent, a drum major, a father, then baked/fried until they are essentially cin­ ders, then filtered through water, before this F riday: Our last day. Yesterday we went to the market to buy the goats. This Washington community and beyond." sometimes a mother; I am fundraiser, raffle Ballard sits around a table with some of ticket seller, hot dog vendor; I have to be a water is added to the sauce. Yum Yum.] morning we were awoken at 5:30 to watch his assistants in his outer office, surrounded listener, be willing to accept change, to re­ However, in the rainy season the walk is the goats slaughtered. There was an out­ by tarnished sports trophies, and discusses member that my ideas are not always the too difficult and there is too much work to pouring of generosity by the villagers, as the resumes of potential new teachers. Lynda right ideas and that other people may have do. So they get up at 1 am, work until 5:30 we were given chickens, eggs, sesame Tredway of GWU says that one of Ballard's great ideas and I have to let them work, or grinding the millet with a stone and then they seeds and groundnuts in quantity as we great strengths is that he is not a classic au­ sometimes let them fail. work in the fields all day and return at 7:30 made our rounds of farewells. A huge Jete tocrat but a democrat who discusses things "As administrators we tend to want peo­ in the evening to prepare dinner and rest!!! de depart was organized with dances, and draws on other people's ideas. One idea ple to do things, and if it does not work out speeches, and lots of food (goat's meat, that attracted Hillary Clinton's attention was we get very upset. But the only way we T uesday: Our sponsors from CARE took us to another village about two rice, chicken, and eggs), and bil bil and then Charles made his touching speech. that of teacher Spencer Osales, who sent his learn is through some of our mistakes." 10th grade Hispanic pupils to read first grade - Kevin Rafferty 8 August 22, 1997 ... THE ARTS ... THE ARTS ... THE ARTS ... THE ARTS ... THE ARTS ... THE ARTS ... THE ARTS ... Bank gives opportunity to young artists T here were three of them, poorly framed, with plastic covers barely protecting against the light and dust, and with the distinctive signature visi­ mittee, the Art Society and the newly Serageldin's evaluation that Bank: art has formed art unit bring their volunteer enthu­ siasm, familiarity with Bank: art and profes­ been inadequately maintained. "One of the issues that I am currently working on is the sional expertise to bear on questions like, development of a collection management On July 31, Zenetou submitted a set of policy recommendations for review to Ser­ ageldin and the other members of the art committee. She suggests the creation of an ble on each of them. "They can't be signed what are the art policy and external panel of experts to guide the Bank: Calders!" Ismail Serageldin, art committee pieces in the proper storage in acquisitions and reaching out to other chairperson, remembers thinking when he Bank's posses­ facilities," says cultures by noting their rituals and cultural first noticed the three paintings on the waH sion and how Zenetou. "It expression. ''The Bank is sort of a museum between the restrooms and the loading dock should the breaks one's of the world: we have objects that are of in the E building. What followed is folklore Bank care for heart to see art artistic, cultural and historic value," she for art lovers in the Bank:: a series of fiery such a collec­ pieces that are explains. exchanges between then head of personnel tion? not well cared "I have a vision of the World Bank: as an Shahid Husain and Serageldin. Finally, then Artemis for!" adds Ser­ institution that is reaching out to young, tal­ president Lewis Preston charged Serageldin Zenetou, who ageldin. ented artists all over the world, that includes with the responsibility of forming and worked at the Tracking, the excluded and gives breadth and sub­ chairing an art committee. Smithsonian conservation, stance to development work. We want to "The art committee brings together Institution for acquisitions organize international competitions that stakeholders by providing guidance and a 10 years, was Zenetou, Serageldin and rescued Calders and manage- will attract young artists and exhibit their policy framework to volunteers who com­ appointed curator in May 1997. As the ment policies are other priority areas for the work in different parts of the world, not prise the Art Society and to the profession­ Bank's first curator and leader of the art unit, art unit. Edna Venkatraj, program assistant, merely within the Bank:. This will showcase al element that is now represented by the she says that her first task is to "gain intel­ and Regine Boucard, program coordinator, the skills of the young artists and over time art unit," says Serageldin. The present art lectual control of the collection." To date, are the two other members of the art unit. the value of the collection will also committee consists of members from dif­ the Bank: has catalogued its collection twice "Regine has the experience of coodinating increase, as the artists become well-known. ferent constituencies of the Bank:, including for the purpose of asset management, but exhibitions from her term as Art Society The art program reaches out to the cultural the International Photographic Society, the never with the intent of separating the art president and knows the Bank's collection. expression of our member countries and is Art Society and the general services objects from the furniture and office decora­ Edna brings a fresh perspective and lends a profound human enterprise," says Ser­ department. tions which comprise 70 percent of the cur­ us invaluable administrative support," says ageldin. According to Serageldin, the art com- rent collection, she says. She agrees with Zenetou. - Y.R.Radhika CAMBODIA'S TRAGEDY ETCHED IN STONE C ontemporary images could not con­ cal life. Known to the ancient Chinese as lettered men - and the iconography of the vey the tragedy of modern-day the kingdom of Funan and to Indian histori­ fine arts is Buddhist and Hindu. Hinduism, Cambodia more eloquently than do ans as Kambudesa, or "Country of in particular, sustained the arts and provid­ the ancient sandstone figures from Angkor Kambu", the state that dominated the south­ ed thematic continuity, though a distinctive Wat currently on view at the National western part of the Indochinese peninsula lyrical Khmer style emerged early on. Gallery of Art in Washington. Their eyes and the Mekong Delta was a substantial Attending to these sculptures closely, etched into the stone with the one observes not one but several artistic sparest of gestures, Visnu, Siva, renaissances, frequently overlapping and and the rest of Cambodia's Indi­ blurring the historical transitions between anized pantheon gaze reproach- 2 the pre-Angkor period and the centraliza­ ~ lessly toward the present century 5 tion of royal power in the 7th century, and ~ne that has seen their ancient ~ even between that period and the Thai con­ temples plundered, the surround­ quest in the 13th century. Whatever traumas ing country turned to mine-strewn these events might have wrought, they most wasteland, their worshippers mur- 0 certainly did not approach the genocide and l: dered by the millions, and most ~ utter disregard for culture the 20th century recently, their fate left uncertain ~ has come to associate with Cambodia. by renewed political convulsions ~ The arts were left unscathed: there is in Phnom Penh. The 7th-century ~ something to be said for an empire that can artists who chiselled them did not Visnu from Angkor, 11th century wage its wars without degrading its cultural see fit to give their gods the emotional range political, military and commercial empire riches. An unbroken line of innovations appropriate to such horrors; the disparity on the strength of which a rich culture flour­ stretches from the earliest period of Indian­ between our language and theirs, between ished for nearly 13 centuries. ization through the post-Angkor period. past and present, is complete, and damning. The earliest and most enduring influ­ The World Bank Art SOCiety hosted "Homage to the World", a selection of talents from five continents, in the Which is not to suggest the ancient Cam­ ences were Indian, and profoundly spiritual. Millenium of Glory: the Sculpture of H Building lobby in late July and early August One of the bodians and their arts were underdevel­ Fragments of a sophisticated Sanskrit epig­ Angkor and Ancient Cambodia, National leading artists whose work was on show was Lilika Papani. oped, or naive, or entirely disengaged from raphy survive - a fact that adds to the out­ Gallery ofArt; until September 28. colaou from Greece, above with one of her paintings. the cruder instincts and exertions of practi- rage of Pol Pot's murderous contempt for - Cristina Mejia STAFF ASSOCIATION .•. STAFF ASSOCIATION ... STAFF ASSOCIATION ... STAFf ASSOCIATION Staff survey is YOUR chance to tell management - don't throw it away In late September, the 1997 Bank Group­ clients, partnership building, results, cost honest opinions and feelings on a survey? worked in the Bank's far-reaching reorgani­ wide staff survey should hit office mailboxes. effectiveness, professional and managerial Over the years the Staff Association has zation (some things have) and what hasn't Bland as the document will look on its cover, excellence, leadership, innovation, team­ strongly valued the staff attitude survey. worked (many things have not). it's important. The Staff Association has work, fairness and morale. One year the Bank decided to suspend the There are new watchwords at the Bank fought for the past two years to convince man­ We all receive mountains of paper in our survey altogether - since they didn't really these days, especially ''participation'' and agement to do a desk-to-desk survey. In mailboxes. Responding to every piece would want to know what staff attitudes were fol­ ''partnership''. In operations, the Bank now spring 1997, SA delegates persuaded Mr eat half the morning, so we do the logical lowing the tumultuous 1987 reorganization. beUeves that clients often understand as Wolfensohn hirnseIf that it was time to do one. thing: we glance-and-toss through the daily So, the Staff Association itself held the sur­ much as Bank specialists do about how to More than four years have passed since pile and get on with more pressing work. A vey (and paid for it with staff dues) to ensure achieve ''results on the ground" (another the 1993 staff attitude survey, and the SA survey is tempting to toss - after all, it's that the views of staff were heard. mantra). The same concept of participation has worked hard to be sure that this year's optional. But the SA urges you N