NAIROBI, February 19, 2012—The World Bank Group Managing Director, Caroline Anstey, will visit Kenya from February 19 to 22, 2012.
During her visit, Anstey is expected to hold discussions with top level Government officials including the Acting Minister of Finance, Njeru Githae. She will also tour Bank-supported projects.
A key highlight of her visit will be the formal opening in Nairobi of the Global Center on Conflict, Security and Development, which aims to serve as a global “hub” connecting those working in fragile and conflict affected situations across the globe, as well as providing knowledge and resources.
The official opening, which will take place on February 22, will also be attended by Sierra Leona’s Minister of Finance, Samura Kamara and Gabriel Negatu of the African Development Bank.
“The hub represents a strategic shift in the way the World Bank is assisting fragile and conflict affected areas,” Anstey said. “We’ve moved more people closer to the ground, with the hub helping to ensure our assistance is faster, more flexible and better informed by cross-country experience.”
Anstey, who as Managing Director is responsible for the Bank’s modernization drive – the push to make the institution more open and results-based, will also address a Town Hall on Open Data at Strathmore University on February 20.
“We recognize the leading role Kenya has played on the African continent in opening up its data and becoming one of only six African countries to commit to the Open Government Partnership (OGP), a global initiative to make governments more transparent, effective and accountable,“ she said.
“Giving people access to information not only spreads knowledge but also breeds transparency and accountability. And it can help improve development solutions. That was a key factor behind the Bank’s decision more than a year ago to open up its data. I’m looking forward to seeing firsthand Kenya’s experience with open data.”
