The World Bank Director of Strategy and Operations, Colin Bruce, would on Wednesday discuss issues on the country’s new Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) with President Koroma.
He would also meet with other top Government Officials and discuss the Country’s priority areas for assistance and possible avenues for World Bank assistance on the PRSP.
His visit coincides with Sierra Leone’s transition from a post-conflict era (2004-2007) to a development phase (2008-2012), which when completed and put into operation, is expected to help move Sierra Leone from a post-conflict state to a sustainable development path. At this time also, the World Bank is preparing a new Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) to be aligned with the PRSP for 2008-2012.
It is against this background that Bruce would be meeting with President Ernest Koroma and Finance and Development Minister, David Carew, on Wednesday October 29 2008. Before his departure on Thursday October 30, the World Bank Director would interact with Local Councils and project beneficiaries in the field to get a feel of progress in the country’s decentralization process; for which the World Bank has been contributing. Provision would also be made for him to interact with the donor community, the World Bank Country office staff and project staff.
Colin Bruce is a Guyanese national who joined the World Bank in 1988 and has since held various positions; his most recent assignment being Country Director, Comoros, Eritrea, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles and Somalia.
He is currently responsible for supporting the Africa Region Vice President of the World Bank to generally manage the Region and this includes guiding Country and Sector Directors on key strategic issues and identifying cross-cutting operational issues and trends for senior management attention.
He is well-known for leading the preparation of the historic Paris Declaration on aid effectiveness.
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