Anna Bjerde, the World Bank Managing Director for Operations has announced her imminent 3 day visit to Ghana scheduled on 12th to 15th July, 2023, at the time the country is experiencing it’s worst economic conditions in decades

This is Anna Bjerde’s first visit to Ghana since her appointment as Managing Director on April 3rd, 2023. She will be accompanied by the World Bank Vice President for Western and Central Africa, Ousmane Diagana.

The World Bank Managing Director, Anna Bjerde and her delegation will pay a courtesy call to President Nana Akufo-Addo. She will also hold high-level discussions with government officials including the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.

Anna Bjerde and her entourage will discuss critical areas of the World Bank’s Ghana’s program including macroeconomic, energy sector issues, Ghana’s IMF program, debt restructuring and significant structural reforms, needed to accelerate sustainable economic growth over the medium to long term.

Anna Bjerde will also visit World Bank-financed projects such as the Ghana Accountability and Learning Outcomes Project, the Ghana Tech Hub, and Ghana Innovation Hub at the Accra Digital Center.

The World Bank has been In Ghana since 1957. The active portfolio is worth $3.6 billion across 21 active projects. The portfolio is spread across several sectors, with the largest investments in Urban Resilience and Land (17%), Health, Nutrition & Population (16%), Finance & Competitiveness (14%), Social Protection & Jobs (12%) and Digital Development (11%).

Background of Anna Bjerde

Anna Bjerde has been the World Bank’s Managing Director for Operations since April 3, 2023. The Office of the Managing Director brings together the operations units of the World Bank, which includes the Regional Vice Presidencies and Operations Policy and Country Services. The World Bank’s Fragility, Conflict and Violence Department also reports to the Managing Director.

World Bank operations comprise an active portfolio of 1,813 projects to a value of $300 billion. Annual lending has averaged around $65 billion over the past three years.

The operational complex of the World Bank also produces groundbreaking analytical work informing policy reforms, priority investments, technical assistance, and targeted poverty reduction.

World Bank operations are grounded in a country-based model and focus on responding to the crises of recent years and medium-term development priorities including addressing challenges like poverty reduction, equitable growth, and climate change.

Prior to assuming the role of Managing Director, Ms. Bjerde served as Vice President for Europe and Central Asia, where she led the World Bank’s efforts to steer the region through a series of overlapping global shocks—the COVID-19 pandemic, a cost-of-living crisis, natural disasters, and the World Bank’s large-scale response to Ukraine.

Ms. Bjerde previously worked as Director of Strategy and Operations for the Middle East and North Africa region. Between 2015-2018, she oversaw the World Bank’s strategies, lending, and analytical work for Sustainable Development, covering all the World Bank’s regions.

Ms. Bjerde was also the Director of Strategy and Operations in the Europe and Central Asia region in 2014-15. Ms. Bjerde held a leadership role overseeing the World Bank’s operations in Sustainable Development and Infrastructure in the Africa region between 2011-2013.

Ms. Bjerde has over 30 years of experience working in development across sectors and regions, with a specific interest in inclusive growth and sustainable infrastructure development. She is a recognized and experienced leader with a strong track record of delivering large client programs, mobilizing resources, managing, and motivating extensive and decentralized workforces and forging strong bilateral and multilateral partnerships.

Ms. Bjerde holds a Master’s in Business and Economics from the University of Stockholm.