WASHINGTON, January 11, 2005—The World Bank today announced that Pamela Cox is its new Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean, in charge of overseeing the Bank’s lending and poverty-fighting operations in the region.
"I welcome the opportunity to work in Latin America and the Caribbean at this point in the region's development,” said the new Vice President.“I am struck by how much progress the countries of the region have made over recent years -- on political transitions, reforming governance and strengthening economic management. At the same time, poverty and inequality remain pervasive across the region, and I see enormous continuing scope for the World Bank to work with its clients on attacking these deep-seated challenges."
Over the last few months, Ms. Cox has made numerous trips to countries in Latin America --including Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay-- to visit Bank projects and meet officials and project beneficiaries. Her first official trip to the region as Vice President will be to Brazil (Jan.17-19) and Grenada (Jan. 20-21), where she will meet with government officials and civil society representatives, and visit Bank projects and their beneficiaries in the field.
Pamela Cox replaces David de Ferranti, who stepped down as the Bank’s Regional Vice President on December 31, after five and a half years in the position. Mr. De Ferranti is now serving as a Special Adviser in the Managing Director’s Office until the end of June, when he will retire from the Bank following a career of over 24 years.
“Under David de Ferranti’s leadership, the Bank built solid relationships with our clients, encouraged innovation and excellence, and fought poverty and exclusion, leaving us a strong base to build on,” said Ms. Cox.
Prior to becoming Vice President, Pamela Cox was the Bank’s Director of Strategy and Operations for Africa (2000-04) and served as Country Director for South Africa and other African countries (1996-2000). She has also held management positions in East Asia, and worked on agricultural and environmental issues in South Asia and Latin America since joining the Bank in 1980. She holds two masters degrees in Development Economics/International Economics and in Law and Diplomacy, as well as a Ph.D. in Development Economics and Policy from the Fletcher School at Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts.
The World Bank serves 30 client countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Bank lending to the region reached $5.3 billion in fiscal year 2004 (July 2003-June 2004) for human development (health and education), financial and private sector development, public sector governance and social protection projects, among others. The Bank’s portfolio of projects under implementation in the region totals $19.3 billion.