HARARE, November 2, 2021—The World Bank has said that it will continue to provide technical and financial assistance to respond to the challenges facing the economy while contributing to economic growth and poverty reduction, with emphasis on post-COVID recovery.
New World Bank Country Manager for Zimbabwe Marjorie Mpundu said top priorities will be to continue to develop and implement the Bank’s strategy of engagement in Zimbabwe, through technical assistance and trust-funded activities, which includes support for Zimbabwe’s COVID-19 response.
“Zimbabwe, like other countries, continues to bear the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and requires strategic support to save lives, protect livelihoods, enhance economic growth, and improve social sectors. Thus, our work through technical and financial assistance will seek to respond to these diverse challenges while contributing to economic growth and poverty reduction, with emphasis on post-COVID recovery,” said Mpundu.
Speaking on her announcement as the new country manager, Mpundu also said she will maintain and enhance good working relations with the government and all stakeholders.
Mpundu, a Zambian national, holds an LLB from the University of Zambia, an LLM (international business) from the University of Manchester and an LLM (international Law) from Cornell Law School. She joined the Bank in 2005 as a legal associate in the Legal Vice Presidency. She has since held various positions in legal covering Europe, Central Asia, Middle East and North Africa, including as decentralized senior counsel in Australia and in Kenya. Recently, she was the senior strategy and operations officer in the office of the vice president for Eastern and Southern Africa.
The World Bank is currently administering the Zimbabwe Reconstruction Fund (ZIMREF) that was established in 2014 to strengthen the country’s systems for reconstruction and development. ZIMREF has multi-sectoral projects that support the business environment, gender, education, public financial management, climate change, state owned enterprises and poverty monitoring. The $150 million World Bank Country portfolio also includes the Zimbabwe Idai Recovery Project, the Health Sector Development Project and the Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project. The portfolio also includes the IFC’s advisory programs, namely the Victoria Falls Tourism Destination Program, Health Care Quality Assurance Assessment and Zimbabwe Warehouse Receipts Program.
