World Bank appoints country manager for Haiti

The World Bank has appointed Canadian national Anne-Lucie Lefebvre as its country manager for Haiti.

The Washington-based development financier said Lefebvre, who will be based in Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital, will be responsible for leading the bank’s dialogue with the government, working closely with key development partners and stakeholders.

The World Bank said its work in Haiti includes an active portfolio of 18 projects with an approximate investment of US$1.3 billion, financed by the International Development Association and complemented by US$112 million from trust funds.

Key sectors include transport, agriculture, urban, health, education, social protection, water, energy and digital development.

“As Haiti navigates this challenging period, I look forward to providing support to government-identified priorities, including preserving hard-won gains in key areas,” Lefebvre said. “The World Bank will continue supporting job creation, maintaining essential institutional capacity and systems for service delivery, and strengthening societal resilience and livelihoods.”

Despite the volatile context, the World Bank said it continues to operate effectively adopting a strong regional focus outside Port-au-Prince, where over 80 per cent of its programmes are implemented outside of the country’s capital, in communities where the security situation is more stable – targeting the needs of the poor.

Looking ahead, the World Bank said it is in the final stage of developing its new country strategy in close consultation with the new government.

In this new role, Lefebvre will also coordinate the ongoing Rapid Crisis Impact Assessment, currently spearheaded by the government in close collaboration with the tripartite partnership consisting of the European Union, the United Nations and the Inter-American Development bank.

The World Bank said this assessment is aligned with the Haitian government’s core priorities, and aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the crisis impact, particularly in the Port-au-Prince Metropolitan Area.

Lefebvre assumes the position following her most recent role as resident representative for Guinea Bissau, having joined the World Bank in 2009 as a senior public sector specialist in the Africa Vice-President Unit in Washington.

CMC