World Bank Appoints Nicola Pontara As New Country Manager for Serbia

BELGRADE, September 3, 2021 -The World Bank is pleased to announce the appointment of Nicola Pontara as Country Manager for Serbia.

Mr. Pontara will oversee the Bank’s program and activities in the country, engage with the Government of Serbia, stakeholders and partners, and work closely with the World Bank’s sister institutions – IFC and MIGA – to strengthen the World Bank Group’s delivery in Serbia.

Before this appointment, Mr. Pontara held the position of Country Manager for Lao PDR in the World Bank's East Asia and Pacific region. Prior to that, he was Country Manager for Bolivia in the Latin America and Caribbean region. He also served as Head of Office and Program Leader based in Juba, South Sudan, in the Africa region, covering health, education and social protection.

Mr. Pontara holds a PhD in Economics from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Prior to joining the World Bank Group, he was an ODI Fellow at the Ministry of Planning and Finance in Maputo, Mozambique.

About The World Bank

The World Bank Group has a bold vision: to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. In more than 100 countries, the World Bank Group provides financing, advice, and innovative solutions that improve lives by creating jobs, strengthening economic growth, and confronting the most urgent global challenges. For more information, please visit www.worldbank.org, www.miga.org, and www.ifc.org.