Homa-Zahra Fotouhi, an Iranian national, has worked for 16 years at the World Bank, with a focus on small states and fragile and post-conflict countries. She has worked on Caribbean countries (1999-2005) and in the Operations and Country Services Vice-Presidency (2006-2008). Her previous field assignments were in Guyana (2006) and Timor-Leste (2008-2010). She was Special Adviser to the Minister of Finance of Timor-Leste (2010-2012), in her capacity as Chair of the g7+ group of fragile and post-conflict countries. Her latest assignment was as Djibouti Resident Representative (2012-2016), where she opened the first World Bank office. 

Prior to joining the World Bank, Fotouhi worked for 10 years at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna and at the United Nations in Tehran. Fotouhi has a Masters in Business Administration.