The World Bank Group has appointed two Vice Presidents to oversee its efforts in Africa as it seeks to increase its focus on the continent.
The Vice Presidents are Hafez Ghanem, for Eastern and Southern Africa and Ousmane Diagana for Western and Central Africa. Hitherto, Hafez has solely been in charge of Africa since 2018.
The World Bank is expected to lend about $50 billion to 48 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa – significantly more than any other region and making up about one-third of the World Bank’s entire portfolio. These financing volumes are almost double what the region delivered ten years ago
According to Hafez Ghanem, World Bank Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa, “Our commitment to Africa gets stronger every day, and I am thrilled to work alongside Ousmane Diagana to deliver even more resources to the people who need them the most. We are two Vice Presidents, but we see Africa as one, and will continue sharing lessons, expertise, and ideas across the continent.”
The Bank’s portfolio includes projects and programs in areas such as agriculture, trade and transport, energy, education, health, water and sanitation. Furthermore, the growth in financing to fragile states has been even higher with about two-thirds of World Bank financing to fragile states happening in Africa.
“I am honored to lead the Bank’s efforts in West and Central Africa, with a strong focus on innovation, impact, and transformation,” said Ousmane Diagana, Vice President for Western and Central Africa. “Working together with Hafez, I know we can and will do more to put countries and people first and find ways to confront today’s development challenges using all of the tools at our disposal.”
Hafez Ghanem, an Egyptian and French national, is a development expert with over 30 years of experience, Dr. Ghanem leads relations with 26 countries, and oversees over 280 projects totaling more than $49 billion.
Ousmane Diagana is a Mauritanian national with more than 25 years of development experience, who joined the Bank in 1992. As the Vice President of Western and Central Africa, Diagana will lead the World Bank’s strategic, analytical, operational and knowledge work in Western and Central Africa.
