Rabat, August 01, 2019 – The newly appointed Country Director for the Maghreb and Malta, Mr. Jesko Hentschel, joined the Rabat office on August 1, 2019. Mr. Hentschel is succeeding Ms. Marie Francoise Marie-Nelly who recently completed her term. After five years in Argentina where he held the position of Country Director for Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, Mr. Hentschel takes up his duties at a time of significant challenges for the Maghreb countries and their international partners.
The new Director will focus on managing the dialogue and partnership with the authorities, key stakeholders and development partners in Algeria, Libya, Malta, Morocco and Tunisia and mobilizing the resources needed for the five countries to achieve their respective development priorities. This will include coordinating the World Bank’s programs to achieve the twin goals of ending poverty and boosting shared prosperity.
“It is an honor for me to be working in the Maghreb and Malta”, said Jesko Hentschel. “The World Bank has a long-standing partnership with the region. Together with my colleagues in the country offices and across the institution, I look forward to deepening our engagement to help the region harness its immense potential and boost sustainable and inclusive growth.”
Mr. Hentschel, a German national, joined the Bank in 1992. Throughout his career, he has specialized in poverty reduction and human development issues, as well as pubic finance. He has held various positions in the Latin America, Caribbean, Africa and Europe and Central Asia Regions. He was one of the principal authors of the World Development Report 2013 that focused on jobs and served as Sector Director for Human development in South Asia.
Mr. Hentschel is an economist and a PhD in International Trade, Development and Econometrics from the University of Konstanz (Germany). He also holds a Master’s in science policy and Planning in Developing Countries from the London School of Economics (UK) and a Master’s in Agricultural Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (USA). Mr. Hentschel has lived in Argentina, Turkey and Madagascar, and speaks English, Spanish, French and German.
