World Bank announces new Country Director for Sri Lanka

The World Bank yesterday announced the appointment of Faris Hadad-Zervos as the World Bank’s new Country Director for Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Nepal, effective from July 1, 2020.

“Based in the sub-regional office in Kathmandu, Nepal, he will lead the World Bank support to the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, overseeing the current total portfolio of around US $ 5.5 billion,” a statement said.

Hadad-Zervos succeeds Idah Z. Pswarayi-Riddihough, who will be taking on a new World Bank assignment. 

Hadad-Zervos previously served as the World Bank Country Manager for Nepal. A US national, he joined the World Bank in 1996 and held Country Manager positions in Malaysia and Bolivia. 

He also served as Manager of the Technical Cooperation Programme with the Gulf Cooperation Countries, Head of Mission for Iraq and Operations Manager for the West Bank 
and Gaza.

Hadad-Zervos’ appointment comes at a time when the governments of the three countries must quickly address both the immediate and longer-term health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 crisis.

“It is critical to protect the lives and livelihoods and support the economic recovery as countries are fighting the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis,” said Hadad-Zervos. 

“My first priority is to ensure that the World Bank-financed programmes help alleviate the health and economic impacts of COVID-19, create jobs and foster inclusive and sustainable growth in the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka and I look forward to working with governments, development partners, the private sector and civil society.”

The World Bank is supporting the governments of the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka through the COVID-19 emergency response projects totalling over US $ 350 million, to help the countries prevent, detect and respond to the pandemic and strengthen public health preparedness.