Libya - Country Engagement Note

                                            Chair Summary*

                                            February 7, 2023


The Executive Directors discussed the joint IBRD/IFC/MIGA Country Engagement Note for the State of
Libya for FY2023-2025 and supported the strategic pillars of the CEN. They emphasized the country’s
fragile environment and the importance of developing a medium- to long-term socio-economic vision.

Directors noted that WBG engagement in Libya is crucial in supporting the country along the path of
development and providing positive spillover effects for neighboring countries. They welcomed the strong
focus on accountability and transparency, including in the extractive industry, and highlighted the need for
inclusivity. They appreciated the selectivity and adaptability informed by the lessons learned from the
previous CEN, the Risk and Resilience Assessment, and the WBG’s global FCV experience.

Directors urged the Bank to continue to move forward and welcomed the role of the WBG in supporting
Libya’s challenging transition toward a sustainable future. They stressed the need to promote institutional
capacity, including for municipalities, towards more inclusive quality service delivery with a focus on
implementation and service support and to address regional inequalities to help foster cohesion and
inclusion. They encouraged further efforts to strengthen gender equality with a focus on improving
women’s involvement in the country’s social and economic sphere. The importance of promoting SOE
reforms and strengthening statistical capacity was also noted.

Directors welcomed the IFC’s and MIGA’s involvement in the development of the strategy and encouraged
continued WBG collaboration. They encouraged the IFC to play an active role in reaching out to Libya’s
private sector to support the country’s socio-economic development.

Recognizing the complexity of the Libyan situation, Directors called for closer collaboration with partners
to prioritize engagement based on comparative advantage and strongly encouraged the WBG to maintain
such close cooperation. They welcomed the work on the Recovery and Peacebuilding Assessment as an
important contribution to the country’s development process.




_____________________________
*This Summary is not an approved record.