57330 BANK'SWORLD Vol13/No.6 June 1994 In this issue Articles Acronyms used in this issue: (excluding those ofBank divisions or Bank Support for the Occupied Territories. The Bank finds itself depanments) on the front line of a unique program of development for peace AHLC Ad Hoc Liaison Committee by Ram K. Chopra ..... ..... .... ........... ..... .... ..... .. .... ........... ... .. .. ........... .... .... 3 BCEAO Central Bank of West Africa BEAC Banque des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale CASE Center for Social and Economic Studies The Miracle of Haller. Rene Haller's dedication and commitment EAP Emergency Assistance Program turned a barren wasteland into a forest. Mary-Lou Allen describes a ERP Emergency Rehabilitation Project 1991 visit to the Bamburi Nature Trail in Kenya .. .... ...... ..... ...... .. .... ... ...... . 5 EU European Union HQ Headquarters HL Higher Level Visiting Fellows Program. The best development research scholars MDP Municipal Development Program from around the world are drawn into the Bank's research activities NGOs Non-governmental Organizations by Merrell Tuck-Primdahl .... .......... .... ... .. ....... ... ........... ...... ... ... .. ... .. ... ..... 7 OT Occupied Territories PECDAR Palestinian Economic Council for Development and Reconstruction Letter from Cape Verde. Acting Senegal Resrep Davidjones finds PLO Palestine Liberation Organization Cape Verde quite unlike its vast neighboring continent ....... ... .... .. ......... 13 SL Support Level UMP Urban Management Program UNCHS United Nations Centre for Human Media With a Message. African economic journalists congregate in Settlements (Habitat) Cameroon for a seminar by Mary Lou Ingram .. ......... ...... .... ........ ... .. .... 16 ]JeJJtI rlll,elll s This month brings news from the field. Mary-Lou Allen On the Record. Gautam Kaji on the development agenda .......... ....... 10 describes a trip taken when her husband was the Deputy Around the Bank: Resrep at the Bank's Regional What the Daughters Thought. Excerpts from Their Comments; Mission for Eastern Africa Opening the new Jamaica office; Poets Among Us. Three literary staff members .. ........... .. ...... ... .. .. 19-22 (page 5), while Mary Lou Ingram writes about a semi­ Women and the Bank. Charlotte Hunter describes new nar in Cameroon (page 16). possibilities for women in the field .... ...... .. ................ ............ .... .. ...... .. .. .. 23 David Jones, Acting Resrep in Staff Association. Who We Are and Why We're Here Senegal, has an article about by Eric Swanson .. ............ ........... ... .... ..... ........ .............. ..... .. ......... ..... ... 25 neighboring Cape Verde (page 13) and, also from AnswerLine .. ...... .. ... .. .............. ..... ......... ........ ...... ............. .... .. .... ... ....... ... 26 Senegal, Rokhaya Niane sends word of the Dakar office's Staff Changes ..... .. .... ...... ... ................ .. ...... ...... .... ... ............. ... .... ... .. ..... ... 26 participation in Take Our Daughters to Work Day (page 21). There's a photo of the Some of the Daughters who Came to Work. opening of the new Jamaica Photos by Lindsay Harris (age 16) and Bank staffphotographers: office (page 21) and Charlotte Michele Iannacci, Deborah Campos and Michael Spilotro. Hunter writes about opportu­ nities for women in the field Bank's World is published monthly in Washington, D.C., by the Information and Public (page 23). Affairs Division of the World Bank for all employees and retirees of the World Bank Group, 1818 H Street, N.W" Room T-8044 , Washington, D.C. 20433, Fax 202-676-0648. Jill Roessner, Acting Editor Morallina Fanwar-George , Editorial Assistant Beni Chibber-Rao, DeSigner 2 Bank Support for the Occupied Territories Commitment and Collaboration by Ram K. Chopra T he night before the historic invited to prepare a study on teams quickly learned the intrica­ September 13, 1993, hand­ regional development prospects in cies of language in this part of the shake between Israeli Prime the Middle East, including the OT, world where all parties feel they Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Pales­ by the Regional Economic Develop­ have right on their side and where tine Liberation Organization (PLO) ment Working Group established as symbols matter a lot. Chairman Yasser Arafat on the part of the multilateral Middle East The outcome was the Septem­ White House lawn, the Bank's print Peace Talks. Our September 1993 ber 1993 report. It focused on shop was working overtime to report emerged from this initiative, macroeconomic and sectoral issues produce our six-volume report on which was financed by the Euro­ facing the Occupied Territories, and the Palestinian economy, Develop­ pean Union (EU), Sweden and the laid out a strategy for realizing ing the Occupied Territories: An United States. development prospects based on Investment in Peace. Two weeks The Bank's preparatory study striking a delicate balance among later, on October 1, 1993, the U.S. mission which arrived in Jerusalem three objectives: short-term relief, Government convened an interna­ in December 1992 was followed by rebuilding critically needed infra­ tional donors ' meeting to help a more in-depth mission the structure and institutions, and cement the peace process by following January. The mission had laying the foundations for long­ consolidating support for economic to work in a unique environment term sustainable growth. This was and social development in the West which posed a number of complex only the beginning of the Bank's Bank and Gaza. The Bank's report issues. What was to be the geo­ involvement, however. Our role provided the analytical underpin­ graphical and sectoral coverage of has intensified over the past six ning for the donors' deliberations, the study? What could it assume months, and has included initiatives which resulted in their pledging about future policy instruments? on three parallel fronts: program $2.1 billion-subsequently raised to What was the meaning of neutrality development, donor coordination, $2.4 billion-in assistance to the when any proposition could be and local capacity building. Occupied Territories (On over the seen as supporting one side rather next five years. And so we found than another? As specialized teams Program Development ourselves on the front line of this traveled to towns, villages, and Within days of the October unique program of development for refugee camps in the West Bank donors' conference, another Bank peace. and Gaza, they met with mayors, mission left for the Occupied Our involvement was neither municipal officials, workers, civil Territories. Its goal was to develop sudden nor fortuitous. As early as servants, entrepreneurs, academics, a detailed action program for the end of the Gulf War, a Bank bankers, and farmers. All had their immediate assistance to the people Task Force had produced a devel­ individual perspectives to contrib­ of the West Bank and Gaza, based opment strategy for a peaceful ute, all had stories to tell, and all on the findings of the September Middle East. In 1992, we were were grateful to be listened to. The report. The outcome was a three­ Ram K. Chopra is Director, Middle East and North Africa, Country Department II. This article was written May 1, 1994. 3 -j year, $1.2 billion Emergency October. Another donors' meeting peace through development in the Assistance Program (EAP) of in late january, 1994, scored an Occupied Territories. Faced with investments and technical support unprecedented success by obtain­ the challenge of preparing both a for the Occupied Territories, ing $120 million from previously comprehensive analytical frame­ prepared in close collaboration pledged assistance to help finance work for development in the West with a strong Palestinian counter­ expenditures not normally funded Bank and Gaza and an action part team and donor representa­ by the donor community-namely program for implementing it at the tives. the transitional and start-up expen­ grass roots, we were able to The EAP was the catalyst for a ditures for the new self-governing respond rapidly, flexibly and plethora of subsequent project administration. authoritatively, draWing on a planning activities in the OT. These strong, diverse, technically expert included the preparation of an Local Capacity Building and dedicated pool of staff talent. initial Emergency Rehabilitation The Palestinians and the This in turn gave us the credibility Project (ERP) to be financed by the donors recognized that donor with the donor community to Bank ($30 million) and donors ($98 coordination had to be comple­ attract a substantial volume of million to date). joint or parallel mented by local institutional short- and medium-term financing financing has been firmly commit­ capacity for deploying and manag­ for the development effort. We ted by the Saudi Fund and the Arab ing assistance flows and the were also perceived by donors to Fund ($30 million each), Denmark projects they supported. Accord­ be capable of coordinating this ($20 million), the Kuwait Fund ingly, the PLO set up the Palestin­ effort. ($10 million), and Switzerland ian Economic Council for Develop­ The achievements of the past ($8 million). ment and Reconstruction (PECDAR) months are far from being ours on October 31, 1993. The Council alone, however. Enormous credit is Donor Coordination will manage the development due to the tireless teams of Pales­ It was clear from the start that process on the ground and the tinian experts with whom we have flows of donor assistance needed to flows of external assistance to worked, and whose ownership of be carefully coordinated and support it until the new institutions the development process and programmed so as to produce the of the Palestinian Central Adminis­ determination to implement it will maximum development impact on tration are firmly established and be the touchstone of ultimate the ground. An Ad Hoc Liaison functioning. success. Also instrumental has been Committee (AHLC) established for PECDAR is gradually becoming the generous support of the Israelis, this purpose held its first meeting operational. A number of issues and that of the donor community November 5, 1993. Canada, the EU, related to its mandate and structure and its representatives-especially japan, Norway, Russia, Saudi are still being discussed and will, including the United Nations Relief Arabia, and the United States are we hope, be resolved soon. and Works Agency, the United members of the AHLC; the Palestin­ Meanwhile, its Bylaws have been Nations Development Programme, ians and the Israelis, together with drawn up and it already has a the United Nations Children's Egypt, jordan, Tunisia, and the Board of Governors, a Managing Emergency Fund and other U.N. United Nations, are associate Director and key staff. The start-u p agencies. Perhaps the best lesson to members. The Bank provides the expenditures agreed to at the be drawn from our experience in Committee's Secretariat, which is january donors' meeting include the Occupied Territories, therefore, staffed by EU and Bank personnel. support for PECDAR. Technical is that the development effort is The AHLC meeting was fol­ assistance under the EAP will also truly a collaborative endeavor, lowed by the first World Bank­ help fund training and capacity involving complementary inputs chaired Consultative Group meeting building for PECDAR and other from all parties concerned-but for the Occupied Territories, held Palestinian agencies involved in always firmly founded in the needs on December 16, 1993. Initial program implementation and and aspirations of the people at the donor pledges of $578 million for development planning. grass roots whose well-being is our 1994 made at the meeting later rose raison d 'etre as an institution. to $720 million when some donors A Collaborative Effort decided to front load the five-year In this year of the Bank's 50th commitments they had made in anniversary, we can take pride in our contribution to supporting 4 The Miracle of Haller by Mary-Lou Allen uddha-like, Rene Haller sat had been a woodland, a delightful he'd been given the seemingly B under the lone baobab tree on top of the hill, seeking enlightenment. Below him, under counterpoint to the blue expanse of the Indian Ocean. In the 1950s, it was cut and hopeless task of land restoration. How could anything grow in an area so devastated it had lost all quarried to its topsoil? The water below its make cement. surface was brackish, useful only to Years later it lay salt-tolerant plants. To transport ugly, barren topsoil to the area would have and unwanted. been prohibitively expensive. The Stripped of all answer did not come like a bolt of its nutrients, it lightning. Months of analysis and had become an careful observation made him focus abomination on the ancient casuarina trees that where nothing grew in his garden by the sea. The grew or lived. tall, slender trees lived and thrived Rene Haller in a patch of his garden shunned was a young by other species. The casuarina Swiss agrono­ "leaves," actually branchlets, were mist who had shaped like long needles and were been employed drought resistant. Extensive root by the Bamburi systems enabled them to grow in Portland poor soils. Underneath their crowns Cement Com­ the brilliant tropical sky, lay a vast pany to farm wasteland the color of bleached 50 acres of its bone. It was the remnant of land to Bamburi Portland Cement Com­ produce a pany in North Mombasa, on the continuous east coast of Kenya. Until the supply of company discovered the treasure food for its trove of lime under its surface, it employees. Now, two decades later, as the company man Mary-Lou Allen is the wife of Thomas Allen, currently the Bank 's Resrep in the who made Philippines and formerly Deputy Resrep in things grow, the Bank's Regional Mission for Eastern Africa . Bamburi Nature Trail 5 plant young casuarina in the Friends started donating birds students to learn. A research center quarry. The trees survived. By the and animals they had hand-reared within the forest had earlier been end of the year, they had grown to and could no longer look after. set up to document what was nearly 10 feet high. Casuarina, Mr. These displaced creatures became happening and to do further Haller found, had a nitrogen-fixing the pioneers in the emerging forest, research in the field of reforesta­ ability, so beneficial to other plant wounded beings finding refuge in a tion. "Your end of the business life. Its needles enriched the soil wounded land. The largest contri­ must be earning more than the with nitrates and other nutrients. bution was Sallie the hippo, who cement factory," I joked. Mr. Haller Mr. Haller, his wife and young made her new home in a pond smiled enigmatically. son soon had a new way of created from the canals of the When we visited the Bamburi spending their leisure hours. quarry. Fish were added which Nature Trail in 1991, Mr. Haller was Instead of relaxing on the white happily fed on the pond life that preparing to work on the next beaches of Mombasa, they went thrived on Sallie's excreta. phase of the project which would into the dark, damp nooks and Kingfishers, like avid gourmets enlarge the present forest. It had crannies of the countryside to discovering the new restaurant on taken him an incredible 17 years to collect millipedes. These many­ the block, soon became regular give life back to the deserted land. legged creatures, the color of patrons. But in the new forest, as in This vital man, so full of purpose cockroaches, could inspire only the old, there was no such thing as and dedication, would surely revulsion in the uninitiated. But a free lunch . Everybody had a job produce more miracles in the next they have one thing going for to perform and the kingfishers, no phase in which he is planting more them: they love chewing the fallen matter how beautiful, had to indigenous trees now that a good casuarina needles. contribute too. So little poles were soil base exists. The aim is to try to Mr. Haller gave them new erected in the pond on which the recreate the land's original bio­ homes under his trees in the quarry birds perched. Their droppings diversity. This, after all, is the where their feces enriched the area, added more nutrients to the pond. ultimate goal of ecosystem producing the much-needed Soon the excess fish graced the restoration. topsoil. The new earth cover elegant dining rooms of the numer­ As we jumped into his jeep, a enabled Mr. Haller to introduce ous beach hotels. Eland and other young peacock dashed toward us, other species which proved to be antelope were introduced. Eventu­ obviously wanting to join in. very useful. The casuarina, like ally their abundant numbers would "That's my baby," Mr. Haller caring mothers, acted as wind­ be culled to serve the lucrative beamed as he accelerated. The breaks to protect the newcomers tourist market. Rice was planted in peacock ran harder after us. For a from the lashing coastal winds. the watery canals fed by rich short while it kept pace with the Later, to make space for more wastewater from the fish farm. jeep, but finally fell back. We species, the grown casuarina were The casuarina, like a conquer­ laughed at the accusing look on it~ cut down and sold. The wood, ing valiant army, continued per­ face."He follows me everywhere," reddish and hard, is excellent for forming their pivotal role. As would Rene Haller confessed. firewood and charcoal. It is also an awakening flower, the forest Who would not want to follow used for building wharves and as unfolded, each interdependent part this man? Through careful analysis masts for dhows. The revenue was quivering with the pleasure of new and observation, hard work and plowed back into the project. Mr. found life . Tourists looking for unswerving commitment, he Haller repeated this scheme again respite when the beaches became brought about the birth of a forest. and again as he moved through the unbearably steamy began to visit He shows us there is hope. The area to be restored. what was now named Bamburi earth's forest resources are fast As the trees grew, problems Nature Trail. The cool forest with dwindling. We now know we must arose. Insects, such as termites, its collection of varied animals was regain some of the forest we have started attacking some of the plants. undoubtedly a treat. lost, or face disaster. Haller's However, Mr. Haller had decided "One tourist complained that miracle serves as an inspiration. early on that he would not use we did not have lions," Mr. Haller This story has a postscript, a insecticides or other chemicals in laughed. "Of course she changed "they lived happily ever after" the new forest he was creating. her mind when she learned our ending. Sallie the hippo has Nature, he reasoned, solved story." acquired a mate, Potti. As of this problems through balance. He Word of Haller's miracle spread writing, however, we don't know if brought in monkeys, birds and around the neighboring African there are any little hippos frolicking other creatures known to control countries. Eager to replicate his in Haller's happy pond. the offenders. feat, they sent representatives and 6 op researchers with strong T policy experience in devel­ oping and industrialized countries are available to work full­ time at no cost to operational divisions, or at just 30 percent of full cost to divisions in the Devel­ opment Economics Vice Presi­ dency. How? Through the Bank's Visiting Research Fellows Program. Visiting Research Every year about 12 visiting fellows are nominated by various divisions. Fellows Program Their assignments are typically five Enhancing the Bank's Research or six months. The program is funded through the central research budget and administered by the by Merrell Tuck-Primdahl Research Advisory Staff. Nominees are presented to the Deputy Chair issues, a fellow working in the of the Bank's Research Committee Development Economics Vice for selection, in consultation with Presidency may, for example, the Chair of the Committee. contribute to economic work in Started in 1989, the Visiting operational departments. Research Fellows Program was The selection process is designed to draw the best develop­ informal yet rigorous. Candidates ment research scholars worldwide are chosen on the basis of previous into the Bank's research activities. scholarship and research, proposed Until 1991, most fellows were work program, anticipated external internationally recognized research­ benefits (outside the nominating ers from developed countries. More unit), and nationality. Until re­ recently, the selection criteria have Leszec Bakerowicz cently, little advertising was done to been broadened to include young, of our development research, attract candidates. "We circulate a promising-but not yet eminent­ country and financial operations, memo about the program to chief scholars from developing countries and the global challenges we face," economists and directors every six (see box). Research-oriented units, explains Shahid Yusuf, Deputy months, notifying them of the principally in the Development Chair of the Research Committee nomination opportunity, but we're Economics Vice Presidency, are and Administrator of the Research realizing that some senior staff are expected to nominate scholars with not aware of the Program," says outstanding academic backgrounds Advisory Staff. The program also provides researchers with an Boris Pleskovic, Deputy Administra­ who are working at the frontiers of tor of the Research Advisory Staff knowledge in their fields. Other opportunity to tap into the Bank's pool of data and policy experience. and Task Manager of the Visiting units, principally those in the Visiting research fellows are Research Fellows Program. Often operational, financial, and legal based in one or more Bank units in Bank staff hear about a candidate complexes, and in the International Washington, D.C., and have by word of mouth and receive Finance Corporation, may nominate considerable latitude in their work. informal recommendations from fellows who, while possessing colleagues in the field. "Now we're strong research orientation, are They must generate research benefits outside the sponsoring trying to open up the process to a also engaged in innovative unit, a requirement that distin­ wider pool of candidates without policymaking. sacrificing quality, " Mr. Pleskovic "The program enhances the guishes them from consultants hired for a specific product or explains. Bank's research capabilities, and project. Fellows may, for example, How does the process work? improves scholarly understanding make presentations at seminars or Applications are taken on a con­ give lectures to audiences outside tinuous basis. The Bank's Research Merrell Tuck-Primdahl is a consultant working in the Information and Public their nominating division. Besides Advisory Staff provides administra­ Affairs Division of the External Affairs preparing research papers on tive support, but office space, Department. development methods, policies, or secretarial support, and equipment 7 are provided by the nominating units. The costs of any research and Report Card and Recommendations computer assistance, data and office travel are covered by the A 1993 evaluation (by independent experts) of the effectiveness of sponsoring units. Before they leave, the Visiting Research Fellows Program found that, overall, the program visiting fellows must submit a was meeting its stated objectives and that the contributions of the completion report and a summary majority of fellows met initial expectations. According to the evalua­ of research priorities for the Bank tors, research contributions by fellows could be strengthened in the in their area of expertise. The areas of energy, the environment, and natural resources. sponsoring units are required to In accordance with the recommendations several changes are submit an evaluation of the visiting being made to the program: fellow soon after his or her stay. • The duration of the fellowship will normally be six months, A Fellow from Poland and, in exceptional instances, up to nine months. Leszek Balcerowicz, economist • Relatively younger people, especially from developing coun­ and former Deputy Prime Minister tries, need to be brought in. and Finance Minister of Poland was • More emphasis will be placed on seminars given by fellows a visiting fellow from September and on interaction with various departments and experts within the 1993 to February 1994. Alan Gelb, Bank. Chief of the Policy Research • Administration will be strengthened through the submission of Department's Transition and Macro well-formulated terms of reference and detailed completion/evaluation Adjustment Division, and Andrew reports for each fellow by the nominating departments. Sheng, former division chief in the • Divisions will be encouraged to share fellows and discuss Financial Sector Development potential candidates before decisions are made. Department, first approached Mr. Balcerowicz about being a fellow in other departments. As a contribu­ Outside the Bank Group, Mr. 1992. "At that time I was a visiting tion to the IFC annual lecture Balcerowicz has given lectures and scholar at the International Mon­ series, Mr. Balcerowicz presented a presentations at the Institute for etary Fund (IMF) , so I knew what comparative paper on economic International Economics, Columbia to expect at the Bank," says Mr. transition in Central and Eastern University, Cornell University, Balcerowicz. Europe. In February he made a Princeton University, the University "Broadly, my terms of reference presentation to the IMF on stabiliza­ of Minnesota, and the University of were to work on a comparative tion in Central and Eastern Europe. Toronto, to name just a few. He study of economic programs in the Within the Policy Research wrote a commentary on the Polish transition economies of Central and Department, Mr. Balcerowicz' elections in the Wall StreetJournal Eastern Europe. This topic encom­ comparative work on transition in September 1993. passes, among other things, bank­ economies has spun off into several Because of his long-term ruptcy and restructuring in transi­ dissemination products useful for commitments in Poland, Mr. tion economies. operations and for research staff. Balcerowicz found that a five­ "My stint as a fellow has Most recently he worked with Mr. month assignment was just about confirmed my impression of the Gelb on an comparative overview right. "I lead a more hectic life in Bank and the IMF. The two institu­ paper for the Annual World Bank Poland-this was an opportunity tions constitute a large pool of Conference on Development for systematic work without knowledge that has not yet been Economics at the end of April, diViding my time between three fully tapped. The institutions com­ which focused this year, among jobs as I do at home. I wish I could bine high level theoretical knowl­ other things, on economic transi­ have stayed longer, but my work edge with empirical knowledge of tion in former socialist economies. there is calling me back." respective countries," he continues. Mr. Balcerowicz was a presenter at In Poland, Mr. Balcerowicz Mr. Balcerowicz gave several the event. Working with colleagues wears several hats: he holds the lectures and presentations at the in the department, he helped direct positions of Chair of International Bank, the International Finance a project on the bankru ptcy process Comparative Studies and Econom­ Corporation (IFC) and the Fund. He in transition economies. This ics Professor at the Warsaw School helped lead a Policy Research resulted in a joint conceptual paper of Economics; he co-founded and seminar on common fallacies in the that will serve as a technical primer heads the Center for Social and debate about transition economies, useful for operational staff and for Economic Studies (CASE) in which included participants from those conducting empirical research Warsaw, and he runs the Founda­ on the topic. 8 tion for Economic Education, also institution'S access to a wealth of pal officials in East and Central in Warsaw. data and documentation," says Mr. Africa." He adds: "On the basis of It was a mutually agreeable Mabogunje . my earlier contacts with UMP [in visit. Mr. Balcerowicz gained "I was also quite impressed by Africa before becoming a fellow], exposure to a wide range of views the reputation that Bank staff had both the UMP and the Bank agreed I on how best to restructure and built up in the field of development should participate in the third annual reform transition economies and economics and research . Working review of the program in Paris. My the Bank benefited as a result of his at the Bank, I came to recognize good working relations with the staff research and his first-hand experi­ how much this reputation de­ of the Urban Development Division enc.e as a senior policymaker. "I'm pended on the m~ticulous attention proved invaluable and my involve­ satisfied with my stay at the Bank, to data collection and prompt ment in UMP deepened; now I'm and I hope the Bank is satisfied reporting of field experience. chairman of an advisory committee with my contribution. The knowl­ During my stint, however, I got the for the program." edge I brought to the table cannot · impression that the operations Mr. Mabogunje has taught at be gleaned from books," he notes. divisions had little time for reflec­ Northwestern University and has A Fellow from Nigeria tion on what they are doing or lectured and conducted seminars at When the Bank saw the have done. Indeed, during the several other prominent American opportunity to nominate Akin period, although I was officially universities. During his fellowship, Mabogunje, leading Nigerian urban located in the Infrastructure Divi­ he participated in informal discus­ geographer and specialist on sion of the Africa Technical Depart­ sions with colleagues at George African land management, as a ment (AFTIN), most of my interac­ Washington University, at the Water fellow, it jumped at the chance. He tions were with the staff of the and Sanitation Unit of the U.S. was first approached about the Urban Development Division in the Agency for International Develop­ fellowship in the spring of 1990 by Policy Research complex (PRE)." ment, and at the International Food his friend Lapido Adamolekun, a Mr. Mabogunje was involved in Policy Research Institute. Principal Public Sector Management a range of Bank activities, inter­ Summing up his brief stay, he Specialist in the Capacity Building acted with many staff in other comments: "The concepts devel­ and Implementation Support divisions, and prOVided the theo­ oped in my primary research had Division of the Africa Technical retical foundation for future re­ been incubating for some time Department. Ultimately, Mr. search on the spatial dimension of before I came to the Bank. I was Mabogunje received his terms of urban development, on the role of particularly gratified at the opportu­ reference from former Principal non-governmental organizations, nity the three-month visit gave me Urban Specialist George Gattoni and on duality of local government to refine my ideas, especially (now working in the Bank's and its implications for decentrali­ concerning problems of urban land Economic Development Institute). zation in Africa. He made two Bank and urban management in Africa. The terms of reference for Mr. presentations--one to regional staff The ideas expressed in my research Mabogunje were to help define and one to PRE staff. He also output are already being digested policies and strategies for land contributed to a conference on and there are indications that the management in Sub-Saharan Africa public sector decentralization and findings are starting to influence based on an assessment of past the problems of land management. thinking on these matters. In my Bank efforts in the sector. This "My contributions extended to own work, especially my present included an examination of the the Municipal Development Pro­ national assignment to develop a issues of land tenure, land regula­ gram (MDP) for Sub-Saharan Africa novel system of community banking tion, and control as they relate to and the Urban Management in Nigeria, I have had to further urban development. His research Programme (UMP), an interagency explore the basic concept of 'institu­ was summarized in "Perspective on program involving the World Bank tional radicalization.' Contacts and Urban Land and Urban Manage­ UNCHS (Habitat), and the United collaboration with colleagues at the ment Policies in Sub-Saharan Nations Development Programme," Bank, especially those in PRE, Africa," a World Bank technical he recalls. "AFTIN was already continue to be very close, particu­ paper. The fellowship lasted from articulating the MDP by the time I larly in the context of the UMP." May to August 1990. arrived. I was delighted when they At home in Lagos, Nigeria, Mr. "I was attracted by the prospect involved me in the inauguration Mabogunje chairs the National of spending some time as a visiting program in Harare, Zimbabwe, as a Board of Community Banks and research fellow because of the keynote speaker and later invited remains active in several urban and Bank's wide-ranging field experi­ me to participate in one or two of academic fora in Sub-Saharan ence and because of the the earlier seminars for top munici­ Africa. 9 The Development Agenda . How it Has Changed and Continues to Change Gautam S. Kaji, Regional Vice emphasis was on rebuilding ravaged economies and sowing the seeds of President, East Asia and Pacific, development among poorer states. France was our first borrower and, in addressed the Conference on those early days , we lent to Japan, Australia and New Zealand as well. Sustainable and Equitable Develop­ Today, the World Bank represents 177 countries, China is our biggest ment in Canberra, Australia, in borrower, and our former clients are firmly in the front rank of developed, early March. Here are excerpts from prosperous nations. his speech: Now, the wars are different-smaller, but proportionately just as s we approach our 50th ruinous-and the face of poverty is changing. While our main objective A birthday, I thought it would be interesting to skim through some of the earliest annual remains the fight against poverty, our focus is much more comprehensive , covering the environment, health, education, institution building, gover­ nance and participation. These changes in the Bank's goals and values reports of the World Bank. I found mirror those 'of the world in which we work. it to be a sobering and reassuring As a result of concerted development efforts, the quality of human life exercise. Two things struck me. around the globe is vastly better now than it was in the 1940s. The 1993 The first is that, when you stand World Development Report sums up this achievement in most telling terms: back from today's headline of the over the past 40 years, life expectancy has improved more than during the latest famine or the project which entire previous span of human history. In East Asia, infant mortality and did not work, and look at the illiteracy levels are down, and food intake is up. The numbers are impres­ evidence in aggregate, develop­ sive. But the human element, the real lives of real people, that is what ment has worked, achieving results matters. far beyond the hopes or expecta­ We can take pride that in East Asia, hundreds of millions of men, tions of those who launched the women and children have better, longer lives, in part because the intema-' process at Bretton Woods in the tional community decided 50 years ago to embark on an experiment closing days of World War II. The called "development." second is how much the agenda of In developing East Asia, absolute poverty has fallen from a third of the world's biggest development the population in 1970 to one-tenth in 1990. In Indonesia, the proportion agency has changed in just two fell from 60 percent to 15 percent over that 20-year period. In China , it fell generations, and how much it from 33 percent to 10 percent and in Malaysia and Korea , the proportion continues to change. Let me today is less than 5 percent. elaborate on these two central In fact, from 400 million in 1970, the number of absolute poor in East themes. Asia is estimated to have fallen to 180 million in 1990. During the same Initially, our mandate was period, the overall population grew by 425 million. That means that not defined by the need for reconstruc­ only were 220 million people lifted above the absolute poverty line , but tion of a world emerging from the the incremental 425 million were also absorbed above the poverty line. effects of a devastating war. We This is a stunning achievement. Though not matched by other re­ had just 38 members, and the gions, East Asia, with its diversity of countries, does not represent some interesting but not very meaningful aberration. We are talking about the well-being of some 40 percent of the population of the developing world. 10 The Asian economies have done so well To further matters, the national borders because did basic domestic which on maps often are irrelevant when it rates 35 in enabled comes matters of acid rain or flows of countries of the to increase investment without or flows of refugees. the spread of information. or the abroad. Over the past 25 years, investment about 11 percent are not faster than GDP ""..r'T'lrT· .... In this ..--arr-ant the net governments-no matter how rich and nOlwt~rtlll--{~an inflow of ..~ ..'o;"rn modest three-tenths of decide alone. We are at more re~[101ilal t"tn"", ..." h • ..--c to the new ....,t.o ..rl"' .... e>n same of which are in East <"w",,,.n.o half of all incremental trade be­ tween now and the end of the gap narrowed in many areas of social development, education enrollments and life jJUllljJC:U into and de'veloomg: East of its nOt'rA''''It is clear whatever the successes and lessons the story develoDment Far from it; poverty, while strains the of economic transformation destruction of forests and erosion are COlmE~mpHJlte~::1, and the opaqueness of the internal "-H':H"._~'l':"'-' to continued ""t.n"', "C,''' it from relnalmng poor are what some every other country. Laos a chal­ call the "hard-core"-that those who are the hardest landlocked country with limited to lift from poverty, because eXpH)lGaDJle natural resources, and ISOlalled, and dol:,,""'..... , <;:PI",lIl~P<;: and uvDulation dispersed in a physicallY difficult openmg up of economic VjJjJVllUllH attained. And in the socialist =""~""~'-'-';LW institutions needs attention. pvuw.. cu consensus and even the countries mature riOl.TOIAf"'\ir,(l' East Asia or rehabilitation of infrastructure . we now face a second g:eneration of me'an.ing but over-zealous aid could be issues as well as the no,."" ..""." the economy takes the earliest of war. All has as we try to match our services with the varied demands our client coun­ We must tailor our to .. ~~,,",~ .... rl to these differences at the same too thin. This :ProducUng Zambia, jOint seminars with other Concern about this problem Development Journalists international organizations for the was expressed at various levels in Un VVest Mrica anglophone West African press , the Bank as managers and staff The West African News and longer, more in-depth sessions experienced it first-hand. Was there Agencies Development project induding discussions on economic any way to work with a youthful, (WANAD) was launched in management. In the Sahel depart­ energetic and interested press 1984 by UNESCO with financial ment, country teams and resident which could improve the quality of support from the Federal missions worked with the Eco­ economic journalism and enable it Republic of Germany. Its main nomic Development Institute (EDI) to effectively articulate the needs of objective is to improve the and External Affairs to organize the the people? quality of the media in West first two-week seminar on eco­ Enough Bank staff and manag­ Africa to report accurately and nomic journalism. A communica­ ers were interested, that a variety of knowledgeably on social and tions component in the Burkina responses was considered, encour­ economic development Faso Structural Adjustment Lending aged by the Chief of the Africa through a continued program (SAL) provided necessary seed Region's External Affairs Unit, of training, provision of money. Brian Ngo , the EDI staff Dunstan Wai, and the Regional equipment and technical member willing to take the risk to Vice President, Edward Jaycox. assistance. develop something new, had seen The Regional Management Since its inception, the need for such an effort to Team discussed the issue with its WANAD has organized about improve public understanding in Council of African Advisers, 50 regional and 20 local Senegal where he had worked in prompted by analysis from council training seminars in which the resident mission for three years . member, Hilary N'Gweno, editor of more than 100 news agency At that time, the country was the Weekly Review ofKenya. Mr. staff have participated. A three­ attempting an internal adjustment N'Gweno urged the Bank to week ,seminar on Health and program without much public become more interested in the Environmental Reporting took understanding of the measures. communications aspects of devel­ place during May, with 20 "I came to the conclusion that opment in Africa. Mr. Jaycox, long participants from 16 countries. the public must be better informed interested in this area himse1f, has WANAD is managed by a of the real economic issues at stake emphasized the importance of a small, international staff in their countries. Only then can diligent free press as part of a directed by Project Coordinator they function effectively to make country's search for the elements of Akin Fatoyinbo, a World Bank the difficult policy choices neces­ good governance: accountability , staff member on an external sary for development. transparency, predictability and service assignment with "The press plays a vital role in openness. Several worthwhile UNESCO. facilitating the exchange of such efforts have since been supported ideas-between the public, govern­ 17 ment and institutions like the Bank. 12 announcement of the CFA in their own countries and were But a press that lacks understand­ devaluation, an unprecedented critiqued by their peers as to the ing of economic or development decision for the franc zone countries. accuracy and relevance of their issues cannot play that role effec­ The Vice Governor of the presentations. tively." BEAC, Jean-Edouard Sathoud, and The overall impact of these Mr. Ngo shepherded the World Bank Resident Representa­ seminars? Perhaps the experts have cooperative effort necessary to get tive Joseph Ingram, opened the become more human to the the first two-week seminar for seminar by stressing the importance journalists-and vice-versa. Most of economic journalists under way. of a healthy, inquiring press to the the group commented that they Elkyn Chaparro, Resident Represen­ economic development of African saw this seminar as an important tative in Dakar at the time, helped countries. The sessions included a beginning, but only a beginning, in catalyze local enthusiasm and day focusing on basic economic the search for answers to develop­ participation in the seminar. Hosted concepts: savings, investing, and ment problems. They have decided, by the Central Bank of West Africa public expenditure choices; and for example, to expand on the (BCEAO), which had also recog­ several sessions on adjustment, West African association of eco­ nized the need for better public parity change, development of the nomic journalists to articulate their understanding of banking and private sector, and how to deal needs as a group; the Association financial practices, the seminar's with social issues. was created in 1993 in Dakar. Many success was due to the efforts and Resource people were drawn of the participants have also participation of numerous contribu­ . from a broad range of professional worked to establish informal tors: the French Ministry of Coop­ expertise. Brian Ngo co-directed associations of economic writers. In eration, the BCEAO, and the Bank's the seminar with Africa Region Ghana, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, EDI, Sahel department, resident Pu blic Affairs officer Eric Chinje and Burkina Faso, for example, missions and Africa External Affairs who is a former Cameroonian members of the private and public Unit. television journalist, and with the press have formed associations with The first seminar at the BCEAO assistance of Hugo Sada, formerly the purpose of pursuing a common in Dakar involved journalists from an editor with Jeune Afrique, goal to increase real understanding Senegal, Burkina Faso, Mali, numerous members of the Training of the development issues confront­ Cameroon and Benin. Their Department of the BEAC and the ing their countries. responses in the post-seminar Bank's Resident Mission in Emmanuel Noubissie, president evaluation showed it had suc­ Yaounde. of the recently formed Association ceeded in increasing their knowl­ Eminent Cameroonian econo­ of Cameroonian Journalists, and edge of economic and develop­ mists and policymakers, representa­ editor of a private newspaper, ment issues, providing them with a tives of a variety of multilateral and Dikalo, presided over a well­ better understanding of how to find bilateral institutions, and people attended public discussion during and use economic information. involved in day-to-day management the seminar, jointly sponsored by Second, it sparked an exchange of of Non-governmental Organization his association and the European cross-country experiences which (NGO) projects provided frank Friedrich Ebert Foundation, on the they found stimulating and useful. presentations. They also tended to "Lessons for Africa in the Asian In January 1994, in Yaounde, respond forthrightly to the tough Miracle." He believes the associa­ Cameroon, the second joint seminar questioning of the group, reassured tions will provide a useful forum was hosted by the Banque des Etats by the seminar format. for a variety of views to be aired so de l'Afrique Centrale (BEAC). Once Through a special satellite that journalists can form their own again jointly funded-by the French hook-up with the Worldnet studio opinions based on solid back­ Ministry of Cooperation, the BEAC, in Washington, the journalists spent ground information and a diversity EDI, Africa External Affairs, and a an hour questioning three World of viewpoints. variety of sources within the Africa Bank directors, Katherine Marshall, In addition, a number of the Region, the seminar brought Olivier Lafourcade and Francisco journalists have realized that together 38 journalists from seven Aguirre-Sacasa, on issues ranging development is more complicated countries: Angola, Burkina Faso, from the devaluation, education than they had imagined. And, in Burundi, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, and health needs, the environment, fact, rather than being mere observ­ Chad and Rwanda. the revival of growth and good ers and critics, they are potential The timing of the in-depth look governance. catalysts for development, contrib­ at economic reform could hardly Perhaps most importantly, the uting to the success or failure of have been more appropriate, journalists provided their own their countries' economic aspira­ coming on the heels of the January analyses of the economic situation tions. 18 What the Daughters Thought Around Across the United States, girls participated in the second annual the Bank Take Our Daughters to Work Day, April 28. The idea seems to have From the orientation in the spread to other countries, too-at morning to the question-and­ least one ofthe British papers answer period in the end, the day rlI~ described daughters visiting the BBe. Almost 500 girls between the was interesting and informative.. .I appreciated the chance to see my ~AKE ~ UR OJ ..c 0.. ~ ~ ages of 9 and 15 converged on the mother and her colleagues in IDAUGHTERS ] 0.. f@W~RK ::::: Bank; most were relatives ofstaff, action. The video was concise and ;;l some came as guests. Various interesting and it presented a lot of -'" ; APRIL 28. T994 a:l activities had been arranged for facts about sources of money for >­ .t:l them throughout the institution. funding, project implementation in 2 9 p,. They appear unanimous in their middle and lower income coun­ Onyi Iweala. opinion of meetings, a sentiment tries, and the development of the possibly shared by some of their World Bank and IMF. elders. We asked a few of them to The two vice presidents I saw At the end of the day, daugh­ give Bank's World their comments. were Mr. Kim Jaycox and Mr. Caio ters gathered once again ... the Here are excerpts: Koch-Weser. They gave excellent president of the World Bank, Mr. I loved explanations and answers to Preston, delivered a speech. The going to the questions concerning their speech was friendly, down-to-earth Board Room regions ... another highlight of my and interesting. The Bank's hard and hearing day included an official lunch with work, preparation, and organization the translator an Egyptian delegation hosted by of Take Our Daughters to Work Day speak six my mother. The leaders were kind, was extremely impressive and the different funny and interesting and, during preparation resulted in a memo­ languages. the lunch, members of my mother's rable experience. Onyi Iweala, The movie division successfully included me (13) about what and another daughter, Aditi Raturi, the World in the conversation.. .I attended a I liked hearing that the World Bank does division meeting on project imple­ Bank helps poor countries with and how it mentation in Yemen and money. But what I did not like was works gave Egypt. ..Although my questions that the meeting was boring. me a better were always eagerly answered, I Rosalie K. Dech, (8314) understand­ found the meeting slightly boring. *** ing of the World Bank. I went to a News Committee Amelia (face hidden) and Ellie Stephens. meeting and Photo by another visiting daughter, Lindsay Harris thought it was really boring. Now I know why my dad comes home and doesn't want anybody to ask him anything .. .I hope the World Bank does it again next year. Amelia Stephens, (13) Ellie Stephens, (9), echoed her sister's sentiments, adding: I never thought there would be so many The girls grill Regional Vice President Kim Jaycox about his work. women working at the World Bank. Photo by Michele Iannacci *** 19 I enjoyed the Daughters at bring with me the rest of my life. World Bank representative in Mali. Work program... it provided me That was the seminar that taught us A group of about 15 girls were with greater knowledge of what the "how to walk the walk and talk the sitting around World Bank really does, and how talk." Since the purpose of the day a conference they do it. One suggestion I would was to give women a chance to table with like to give is that for your presen­ take part in a predominantly male Linda in the tations maybe you could make it so controlled society, this was a lesson middle. She that the children can participate that would actually make it happen. talked to us also. Perhaps a game of some sort, We learned how to be assertive, about being a where the kids can have fun yet not aggressive or submissive. With woman in a learn at the same time. Neeta this kind of attitude, we will actually very respon­ Bandhari, (13) be noticed as powerful women and sible position, *** give others the confidence to and about I could tell you about all the become what they deserve to be. being a v things we did that day, like visit the Amanda Bangit, (13) woman in an ..c a. ~ Print Shop, but you can imagine *** African coun­ ~ o ..c that by yourself. I figured it would I didn't like all the listening and try. The a. be more interesting to tell you what Sitting down. So I would like some meeting was I expected and what I learned out hands-on stuff. But I did like some very relaxed of it. of the listening and meeting and lively. >­ ~ ~~~~~~~~~~ A day at work with my mom important people. I liked going into Everyone felt o ..c c.. was nothing new to me. So, I the Board Room and seeing what comfortable Laura Blinkhorn. expected the day to be normal: ha ppens in a meeting.. .I liked asking ques­ running errands and going out to meeting the lady who does the tions, and lunch. I was surprised when I saw translating. All in all, I had a very Linda was able to satisfy our how busy the day would be...the fun day at the World Bank. Eliza curiosity and introduce new ideas auditorium was packed. So many Dillberti, (9) with her answers. At one point in daughters, so many parents. *** the meeting there was a debate Of the many things we learned A discussion that stands apart about what was most important for and saw that day there was only from the others in my mind was girls in Mali .. .I hope that next year one thing that I would be able to one led by Linda McGinnis, the we can organize a program and Vice President and Secretary Timothy T. Thahane hosts the visiting daughters in the Board Room. Photo by Michele Iannacci 20 create a mood that is just as big, day's visit. He made a short presen­ introduced to the past, present and just as much fun, and just as tation on the World Bank's pres­ future of information science and interesting. Laura Blinkhorn, (13) ence in Senegal and stressed the its numerous applications. *** importance of education for The younger girls had their It wasn't only HQ that partici­ females. Moussou Soukoule served turn at discovering the wonders of pated in the event. Here are excerpts as volunteer interpreter into Wolof computers. They played games from a letter from Rokhaya Niane for all of the younger girls. Then, (Nibbles and Gorillas, which even in the Dakar office, where 18 following a suggestion by their parents at the office had not daughters were invited to the Bank's Alphonsine Bouya, they each yet discovered.) The girls enjoyed Resident Mission (even though Take introduced themselves and identi­ themselves immensely and, after­ Our Daughters to Work Day does fied their parents. wards, were very happy and proud not appear to have reached other The younger girls remained as they brandished sheets of paper offices in SenegaJ----yet). with Alphonsine to view a 20­ bearing sweet messages for their We decided to divide the girls minute film on education...she mothers. into two groups: Group 1 for the 6­ fascinated them, speaking effec­ During this time, the older to 10-year-olds and Group 2 for tively and knowledgeably as a true contingent were absorbed in those over 10. The groups were set education specialist. When asked viewing a televised program on sex up to accommodate the level of what they wanted to be when they education at a high school in programs that would be offered: grew up, the girls' responses Dakar. The session was followed demos of the computer, our main indicated there were, among them, by discussions with differing points work tool, with which many young a future prime minister, a pilot, two of view. people are still not familiar, and doctors, two nuns and four aspiring Take Our Daughters to Work educational films. teachers. Day is now history. When will we Tonton Sangone gave a brief The older girls...embarked on a have Take Our Sons to Work Day? welcoming speech, during which great adventure into the land of he explained the meaning of the computers during which they were Opening Jamaica Office The newly-established resident mission in Jamaica was opened March 24. Dr. Omar Davies, Minister of Finance is seen here cutting the ribbon, watched by (from left to right) The Honorable Desmond Leaky, Minister of Health; World Bank Executive Director Robert R. de Cotret; Country Director Yoshiaki Abe; and Archbishop Samuel Carter, Archbishop of Jamaica. 21 • through reading the works of good an offer to publish her work. The Poets Among Us writers and trying to imitate what it resulting book is a compilation of by Merrell Tuck-Primdahl is that makes them great." 50 poems written between 1982 The complexity and earthiness and 1992. Among us are poets, play­ of The Gambia permeates Mr. Ms. Teran has a degree in wrights, and directors. Their literary Sallah's work, as in "Share, " a poem journalism and is currently working talents are not always apparent in dedicated to fellow staff member on new poems that focus on their day-to-day work in such Alicia Hetzner: motherhood. She is expecting her positions as economist, portfolio Share a mug of water when you second child in August. "I am manager, and staff assistant. Bank's can; entering a new phase in my life, World recently heard about the Follow the ease of the heart. and I want to use my background creative efforts of three staff Glide like the African woman in journalism and writing in what­ members-two poets and a play­ In her unassuming grace. ever I do next," she notes. wright. Follow the slow bends ofpeace. Her poetry is evocative of her Two poets own life and of current events, Tijan Sallah, currently an A Nicaraguan national, Milagros particularly the Nicaraguan revolu­ economist MN2AG, is a Gambian Teran recently published her first tion and the war in Sarajevo. national whose English poems are anthology, Las Luces en la Sien, or *** quintessentially African. Mr. Sallah The Lights on the Temple. Her A Bengali playwright and writes in English because his native poetry touches on the universal novelist Wolof is an oral rather than a themes of love, war, and reflections A veteran writer of plays and written language. He explains: "I on modern life. "I began writing novels since 1957, Abdun Noor is do not let [English] control me. I poetry when I was 14," says Ms. best known in Bangladesh for his approach it with an African mission Teran, a staff assistant in the office teleplays. "Between 1957 and 1963 or, more specifically, a Gambian of the Executive Director for I wrote plays for radio and stage mission . There is so much that is Central America, Mexico, Spain and and produced some of them. I rich about our traditions that is Venezuela . stopped between 1963 and 1983­ comparable to any other's. English "Between 1987 and 1988 I had the period during which I earned becomes my horse-of-speech . I ride the idea of compiling an anthology my Ph.D. in education policy and it to my destination." in book form, but my job at administration and jOined the Widely known as a poet and Nicaragua's Foreign Ministry kept Bank-he's a Portfolio Manager in writer in The Gambia, Mr. Sallah me too busy to pursue it, " she AF2PH. I resumed writing in 1983 has published four books, contrib­ continues. Following a reading of as a way of relieving the stress of uted to several literary journals and her poetry at a congress on Central work," Mr. Noor relates. magazines, and sits on the editorial American Literature in March 1993, "Ship in Mid-Seas" (1983) was board of two poetry journals. His an editor from Editorial Vanguardia his first teleplay. Written in Bengali­ books are: When Africa Was a in Managua approached her with and also translated into Hindi, it Young Woman (poems, 1980), portrays the mid-life conflicts of a Before the New Earth (short stories, middle-class Bengali expatriate. 1989), Kora Land (poems, 1989), Since then, Mr. Noor's goal has and Dreams ofDusty Roads (po­ been to write a teleplay every two ems, 1993). He recently edited an years . "Since I had already earned anthology of West African poetry. some recognition for my earlier Mr. Sallah's early inspiration work, Bangladesh Television, the came from a teacher at St. country's only national television Augustine's High School in The channel, was receptive to my work Gambia and from a resident poet in after a long hiatus. Indeed, the Georgia, but his schooling from teleplay attracted quite a wide that time on led him to business audience, " he says. His characters administration and economics, with tend to be educated Bengalis, often stints as an economics professor at expatriates, who struggle to balance several U.S. universities. Asked traditional values in cosmopolitan about how he refined his writing foreign settings. His play "The skills, he said, "It took me many Quest" was recently adapted in years of what I call apprenticeship English for the stage and performed Milagros Teran. Pho to by Michele Iannacci at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre in 22 Rockville, Maryland by an estab­ Mr. Noor's novels includes porary focus, Mr. Noor is currently lished amateur theatre group of Shunnay Britta, or The Empty working on an epic political novel, Indian actors (all professionals in Circle, about a driven World Bank Uncertain Time. It focuses on the other fields in their daily lives) who career woman from the subconti­ emergence of Bengali nationalism are members of SAHARA, a volun­ nent who finds solace in a prayer in the 16th century Moghul period teer group that raises funds for breakfast group. Another novel is in India. Mr. Noor has another play charities in India. Bank staff Pegasus, about the plight of Indo­ in the works dealing with the member Taverekere Srikantaiah Guyanese, with Cheddi Jagan (a conflicting emotions of an expatri­ (OBPIO) directed the production revered Indian leader in Guyana) as ate family returning home to which was described as "a compel­ one of the main characters. Marking Bangladesh after 25 years abroad. ling play" by a local critic. a departure from his usual contem­ • new momentum has been A created by the recent growth of field offices, along with a more family-support­ ive organization. This change offers unprecedented opportunities for women. For example, support level {SL) staff (mostly women) from l Headquarters (HQ) have under­ taken six-month assignments and played a major role in opening new field offices. Similarly, local support staff from established resident missions have been tapped to help with opening new offices. Women: New Since the early '90s, there has been rapid growth in field offices. Possibilities in the Field In FY87 the Bank had 40 offices in by Charlotte Hunter developing countries; by FY94 the number had grown to 62 (including or that "Women should not go to explanation. Using information five liaison offices managed by particular countries or regions" are from the Personnel Human Re­ local stafO. Two factors contributed disappearing. Two resident repre­ sources System, the study found to this expansion: in many coun­ sentatives had babies while serving that "Women with field assignment tries, if the Bank is to be more in the field. Spouse career transition experience were promoted faster effective, it has to be in more day­ assistance is now available to than women without field assign­ to-day contact with its clients; and, spouses returning from the field ment experience." specifically, resident missions have (see Bank's World, March 1994). Several women staff members a valuable role to play in the More and more women in the who have served in field offices Bank's assistance to Eastern Euro­ Bank are taking field assignments. were asked why they took a field pean countries. The need for In the last eight years, the percent­ assignment and if it met their additional people in the field age of Higher Level (HL) women in expectations. According to Monique coincided with the Bank paying the field has nearly doubled while Garrity, who served as Resident greater attention to improving the percentage of HL women in the Representative in Mali: "My expec­ gender balance. Bank overall increased by only tations were met and beyond...this Old cliches like "Managers may one-fifth (1,006 to 1,264). Only 17 was without doubt the most assume women would not or HL women were in the field in satisfying and challenging assign­ should not take a field assignment" 1986. Today there are 41. ment I have had to date, serving A study entitled, "A Review of during an exceptionally busy and Field Assignments for Level 24 Staff tumultuous period in the history of Charlotte Hunter is the Central Field in Relation to Promotion" Qune 30, Mali: an intrinsically difficult Operations Coordinator in the Personnel Services and Compensation Department. 1988-September 30, 1991) offers one country situation, a critical period Staff interested in field assignments should contact their Personnel Officer. 23 '­ in the adjustment dialogue and last, but not least, the violent change of govern­ ment and in that connec­ tion, attack on the Bank office and evacuation of staff. " Ms. Garrity went on to say that she took a field assignment because that had always been a goal for her-to be in the front line, so to speak, dealing on a daily basis with the deci­ sion-makers and the implementers. "I saw the assignment as a unique opportunity to bring to bear all the experience gained in my pre-Bank and Bank career, which Emilia Arriola (seated , center) surrounded by the local staff she recruited in Kiev. The occasion was her farewell encompassed university party before returning to the United States. teaching in the United States and abroad, eco­ respectively.) Out of 58 resident able to apply the experience and nomic analysis, policy dialogue, aid representatives, six are women. training provided to me by the coordination and task leadership at Emilia Arriola is an SL staff Bank and truly make a contribution the macro, sectoral and project member who spent four months to the institution." levels." living in Kiev, where she assisted The future of women in the Janet de Merode, also resident Daniel Kaufmann in opening the field may be anchored in new representative in Mali but almost a Bank's office in Ukraine. "One of the management initiatives: (1) field decade earlier, when asked why most difficult roles I played in setting office assignments at the senior she took a field assignment, said it up the office was recruiting local management level have been was "for so many reasons. I had staff. .. who were used to the Soviet proposed as a category in the new never lived in a developing country system. The most important feature Management Succession Plan; (2) before, except briefly. As an of my work was to help the resident Competencies for resident repre­ economist I knew I needed first­ mission and the resident representa­ sentatives are being developed and hand experience with the daily tive get off on the right foot by present an opportunity to bring business of government decision­ creating a culture of work consistent about significant change in the making. I wanted to understand with Bank requirements, yet effec­ selection of resident representa­ Africa and African society. I wanted tively adapted to the local culture. tives; (3) Resident Representative to work in French. I wanted to "For [me as] a woman, there Training is provided to newly learn more about the Bank." She was no constraint in setting up the appointed staff; and (4) Career notes that her expectations were field office. The assignment was Development Reviews will increase exceeded. "I gained more from that challenging and rewarding. I was the pool of candidates for field assignment than probably anything assignments. I have done for the Bank." Recently a consultant has As awareness of the advantages Of the 268 IBRD HQ staff in been appointed to look at issues for both personal and career the field, both HL and SL, 62-or affecting families of HQ staff growth resulting from field experi­ 23 percent-are women. Of the 41 aSSigned to the field; a report is ence become known to women, HL women (i.e., 17 percent of all expected in July. HQ field staff their interest in a field assignment field stafO, 75 percent are Part I and and spouses are encouraged to will also heighten. Not everyone is 25 percent are Part II nationals. (At send comments to Patricia suited to a field assignment, but Headquarters, for HL women, the Suarez on AU-in-1 or by Fax most staff return to HQ convinced Part I and Part II country representa­ (703) 768-3709. that their field experience was the tion is 59 percent and 41 percent most rewarding assignment in their Bank career. • 24 Who ,We Are and Why We're Here by Eric Swanson, Chairman, Staff Association taff Week is a celebration of "Zookeeper.") There are, however, groups, Bicycle Club, Camera Club, S the richness of who we are as Bank staff. Noting our geo­ graphic origins or listing our some 200 souls in the Bank whose official title is "Untitled." Job titles may reflect the range of skills the Caribbean Association, Catholic Association, Community Outreach, Filipino Association, Fishing Club, technical skills provides only the Bank needs at any given time, but Flying Club, GLOBE, India Club, barest of beginnings for under­ they don't adequately represent the Professional Banker's Association, 'standing who we are and why people who fill them. Many staff Radio Club, Rosary, Soccer Club, we're here. have experience and abilities Spiritual Unfoldment Society, Stamp Who we are is, of course, beyond their position descriptions Club, Toastmasters (TAPS), WBVS, defined in part by where we're that represent a lode of diversity and the Windsurfing Club. from. As of the end of last fiscal ready to be tapped. We expect there will be year, from Afghanistan to Zimba­ We are more than just "a interesting things to see and to talk bwe, 156 countries were repre­ population specialist, nationality X" about at these booths, so please sented among Bank staff (including or "a female Part II economist, stop by to visit. Throughout the consultants)' Such breadth of nationality Y." Seeing us as bundles week, we encourage you to wear composition means we have an of skills (or in the latest jargon, your national dress as another way exceptiolilally broad array of competencies) with national tags of bringing your diversity to our perspectives and views here. But does all of us an injustice. workplace. even attempting to enumerate the Staff Week was created by the There will be musical perfor­ countries we're from brings com­ SA to recognize each other's mances on the H lobby stage plexities and limits. How do we diversity, our wealth of experience throughout the week. Among those acknowledge, for example, the five outside our position descriptions, scheduled so far are the Bank/ Fund staff members who are stateless? Or and the contributions we are Choral Society, a flamenco guitarist, the variety among those staff thereby able to make toward and a jazz duo (keyboard and bass). having dual citizenship? Nationali­ humanizing the Bank. Many of Special events will include an ties may be a good place to start in those contributions are funneled Open Discussion Circle on the Past, seeing who we are, but it is not a through the Bank Group clubs and Present, and Future of the Bank on place to stop. organizations that Bank staff have Monday, June 6. All staff are invited Another way to look at who established and through which they to participate. Also on Monday, the we are is to look at the skills we share interests that transcend the India Club will present the Calcutta bring. On May 11, 1994, the Bank daily grind. String Quartet. On Friday, June 10, had 1,023 job titles distributed This year, Staff Week will be the Africa Club will present a among its 10,000-plus staff. As you held from Monday, June 6, through fashion show. might expect of an organization as Friday, June 10. Staff from Bank We welcome all of you and large as the Bank, the job titles Group clubs will have booths in thank you for your efforts to make cover a broad range of skills, from the H building lobby during the the Bank a more stimulating and "Accountant" to "YP Administrator." lunch hour (noon to 2 p.m.). The more human place to work. (There is, oddly enough, no clubs include the Arab Club, Baha'i Association, various Bible study 25 The purpose ofthis column is to and ventilation in our cafeterias answer questions of broad interest prevents the addition of microwave concerning the World Bank Group's ovens at this time. We provide policies and procedures. Please microwave ovens in the vending include your name and room canteens (currently located in H-B2, number so we can send you the J-Bl and Ml) for the purpose of Question: Would it be answer to your question, even if it is heating vended foods that are possible to install microwave not selected to appear in the maga­ traditionally served hot, such as ovens in the cafeterias? Nowa­ zine. Your confidentiality will be burgers, burritos and fried fish days, the lines are so long and protected and your name will not sandwiches. Experience shows, the facilities so crowded that be submitted to the managerfrom however, that the microwaves are food is cold by the time you find whom the answer is sought. An primarily used to heat foods a place to sit. It would be nice at anonymous question can be brought from home. The lines can least to be able to reheat your answered only if it is ofsufficiently be long and the aromas disturbing. food. broad interest to be included in the Users frequently damage the ovens Answer: This is a good idea magazine. Send your questions to: by cooking with metal containers, and is done in some commercial AnswerLine, Bank's World, utensils or foil inside, ignoring the cafeterias where space and ad­ Rm. T-B03B. operating instructions. Margaret equate facility ventilation permits. *** Clark, Section Chief Food Services, Unfortunately, the lack of space GSD • New Staff Members RobertAkl Minerva S. Espinosa Christopher Rolllson Canada Philippines United States Information Officer/ PRD/ 512 Staff Asst./HRO/ 5/ 16 Staff Asst '/PRD/ 4125 Christine F. Allan Sandra Jo Former Rene Y. Salvio United Kingdom United States Philippines Admin Asst./ MN2/ 4125 Staff Asst./ AF2/ 512 Office Asst ./IEN/ 4125 Mary Amini Catherine Golitzin-Jones Palmira E. Sodano Kenya United States United States Staff Asst./MPS/5/16 Staff Asst./ENV /4129 Staff Asst./EMT/5/16 Adelaide Barra Norman V. Loayza Merja Soderlund Senegal Peru Finland Language Staff Asst./LEG/5/ 9 Economist/ PRD/ 512 Sr. Cash Mgmt. Officer/ CSH/4125 Hillechlen Blackshaw Lars C. Lund Dianne C. Thomas Australia Denmark Canada Office Asst./EDS/ 512 Sociologist!AST/ 4125 Staff Assr./IEN/ 5/ 16 Jeanine D. Braithwaite Marla E. Martin Alejandro Vargas United States Canada Colombia HR Economist/ESP/ 4125 Staff Asst./AF2/512 Attorney/ IFC/512 Sabine Cornelius Marjorie Melbourne Niels K. Vestergaard Germany Jamaica Denmark Young Professional/YPP/ 4127 Staff Asst ./MIG/512 Environmental Spec'/IFC/4125 Sunil Datt Annie A. Minofu Judy M. Wiltshire India Malawi Barbados Financial Spec'/FSD/ 5/2 Staff Asst./ EC3/ 5/ 16 Staff AsstiECl / 5/ 16 Kurt Delodder Antonio Nadora Alan Winters Belgium Philippines United Kingdom ED's Asst'/EDS/ 5/ 9 Staff Asst./ IEC/ 512 Division Chief/IEC/ 4/ 18 Minerva Patena Philippines Staff AsstiIEC/5/9 Fixed-term and regular appointments 26 Senior Staff David Cook Luis de Azcarate British French Resident Representative Senior Adviser, Southern in Harare, Zimbabwe, Africa Department, Africa effective August. Region, effective February 1. Dennis de Tray Padmanabha Hari Prasad Rashad-Rudolf Kaldany Javad Khalilzadeh-Shirazi U.S . national Indian U.S. national Iranian Director, Resident Staff in Operations Adviser, Office of Manager, Capital Markets, Director, Resident Staff India , Indonesia, East Asia and the Director, South Central & Asia Department, IFC, Country Department II , India Pacific Country Department III, Indian Ocean Department, effective July 1. Resident Mission, South Asia effective May 1. effective April 4. Region, effective July 1. Paul Knotter Jose Sokol Kazuko Uchimura Austrian Panamanian Japanese Resident Representative in Lead Economist, Western Project Adviser, Office of the Poland , Europe and Central Africa Department, Africa Director, Country Department Asia, Country Department II, Region, effective May 16. II, South Asia Region, ECA Region, effective June 15. effective May 1. 27 c