The Austria desk at the World Bank Berlin office works to promote consensus around the international development agenda and build a platform for collaboration between the World Bank Group and Austria. It does this by promoting better understanding of the World Bank Group’s mission and activities and by building relationships with key stakeholders such as government, legislators, civil society organizations, the private sector, academia, and the media.
It also supports outreach activities, often in collaboration with Austrian partners, such as organizing and supporting conferences, seminars, and other events on development-related topics. The office serves as an entry point for groups in Austria wishing to contact World Bank staff across the world or access the plethora of information the Bank publishes, and it responds to media queries. It also seeks to increase opportunities for collaboration between Austria and the World Bank Group through co-financing, trust funds, and joint analytical work in sectors and regions of mutual interest.
The World Bank Group's presence in Vienna dates back to 2004, when the European Investor Outreach Program, an initiative of the current Vienna based office of the Investment Climate Department, was managed out of the Austrian capital. Other World Bank Group programs have followed suit, including the Centre for Financial Reporting Reform, the Financial Sector Advisory Centre, as well as the Danube Water Program and the Urban Partnership Program.
In 2013, the management of the World Bank’s program in Southeast Europe was decentralized to Vienna, allowing it to take full advantage of the proximity to client countries. From the Vienna office, the Country Director for Southeast Europe leads the management of the World Bank's lending program and analytical work in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, FYR Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia, to support their economic development and preparation for eventual European Union membership. The expanded Vienna office was made possible with the kind support of the Austrian Government.
Last Updated: Mar 25, 2022