Breaking Barriers in Sri Lanka: A Woman’s Journey to the Top
This week on Talking Development, Managing Director Anna Bjerde is joined by Kasturi Wilson in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Kasturi is the first female CEO of Hemas Holdings PLC, one of Sri Lanka's leading companies. Their conversation focuses on how closing the gender gap can contribute to economic growth, the barriers and cultural biases women face in the workplace, and how sports helped Kasturi become the leader she is today.
On this episode of Talking Development, Managing Director Anna Bjerde continues her series of talks with World Bank regional chief economists. Joined by Aaditya Mattoo from East Asia and the Pacific and Ivailo Izvorski from Europe and Central Asia, they discuss how global trends are impacting their respective regions and how they can create long-term sustainable and inclusive growth.
Morocco at a Crossroad: Learning from Crisis, Reimagining the Future
This week, from Marrakech at the 2023 World Bank – IMF Annual Meetings, Managing Director Anna Bjerde speaks with Morocco’s Minister of Economy and Finance, Nadia Fettah. Together, they reflect on Morocco’s development story and the ways to overcome challenges and respond to shocks and crises.
Operating in the toughest situations, A challenge we must tackle together
On this new episode of Talking Development, Managing Director Anna Bjerde speaks with two tireless advocates for the most vulnerable who have dedicated their careers to working in countries affected by fragility, conflict, and violence: Soukeyna Kane, Director of the Fragility, Conflict and Violence Group; and Kristina Svensson, Country Manager for Somalia.
Survival and Resilience at the Chad-Sudan Border
This week on Talking Development, World Bank Managing Director of Operations Anna Bjerde is joined by UNHCR High Commissioner Filippo Grandi. While on mission in Chad, they visited the Sudan border to see firsthand the scale of the influx of refugees fleeing Sudan due to ongoing violence and conflict.
On this episode of Talking Development, Managing Director of Operations Anna Bjerde continues her series of talks with World Bank chief economists. This episode features Franziska Ohnsorge and Bill Maloney, Chief Economists for South Asia and for Latin America and the Caribbean, respectively.
Building Resilience in a Changing World
Countries like Ghana that were making positive strides in development over past decades have been hit hard by recent crises and are working to get back on track. On this episode of Talking Development Anna Bjerde is joined by Senior Social Protection Specialist Christabel Dadzie and Senior Water Supply and Sanitation Specialist Harold Esseku in the World Bank Accra office.
The View from Africa and the Middle East
In this episode of Talking Development, Managing Director for Operations Anna Bjerde sits with World Bank Chief Economists Andrew Dabalen from the Africa region and Roberta Gatti from the Middle East and North Africa region.
Korea: Learning from a Development Success
In this episode of Talking Development, shot in the World Bank Group Korea Office in May 2023, MDO Anna Bjerde talks with Jason Allford, Special Representative for Korea, and Jisun Kim, Program Manager of the Korea Program for Operational Knowledge.
Partnering for Ukraine
In this episode of Talking Development, World Bank Managing Director of Operations Anna Bjerde sits down with Vice Presidents from across the World Bank Group who oversee work in Ukraine - Antonella Bassani from the World Bank, Alfonso Garcia Mora from IFC, and Junaid Kamal Ahmad from MIGA.
The Polycrisis Facing Development: Conversation with Masood Ahmed
On this episode of Talking Development, Anna Bjerde sits down with Masood Ahmed, President of the Center for Global Development to discuss the overlapping crises facing developing countries and how the World Bank and other development institutions will need to adapt to this new reality.
Lessons on Climate and Resilience
In this episode of Talking Development, shot in the Philippines, Anna is joined in the World Bank Manila office by Lesley Cordero, senior disaster risk management specialist, and Feng Liu, senior energy specialist and program leader.
Disaster and Hope in Malawi
In this second episode of Talking Development, Anna Bjerde is joined in Lilongwe by Senior Social Protection Specialist Chipo Msowoya, Senior Water Supply and Sanitation Specialist Odete Duarte Muximpua, and Senior Public Sector Specialist Michael Roscitt, to talk about what the World Bank is doing to help Malawi both in its immediate recovery and also through new and innovative projects.
Reflecting on Spring Meetings
In this first video of MDO Anna Bjerde's new series ‘Talking Development,’ Anna sits down with Albert Zeufack, Country Director for Angola, Burundi, DRC, and Sao Tome and Principe, and Anna Wellenstein, LAC Regional Director for Sustainable Development, to discuss their takeaways from the Spring Meetings and next steps for the operational model.