By Bosco Bush
World Bank Group (WBG) has announced the appointment of Mr. Charles Undeland as the new Country Manager for South Sudan, effective July 1, 2024.
In a statement, the global financial institution said Undeland’s appointment will unify the country-level leadership across the World Bank Group to partner with South Sudan’s public and private sectors in delivering development results for the people.
“Starting today (Monday, July 1, 2024), Charles Undeland becomes the World Bank Group (WBG) Country Manager for South Sudan, a position that will unify country-level leadership across the institution to partner with the country’s public and private sectors to deliver development results for the South Sudanese people,” the statement read.
Upon his appointment, Undeland acknowledged the critical challenges impeding developmental activities in South Sudan and unveiled his working strategies to achieve tangible results during his three-year term.
“I am thrilled to be arriving as the World Bank Group’s Country Manager for South Sudan at this critical time in the country’s history and development journey,” he said.
“Over the next three years, I hope to build on our partnership to deliver results for the people of South Sudan, including enhancing resilience to climate change and other shocks, increasing private sector job opportunities, improving human capital outcomes and inclusion, and strengthening governance and macroeconomic stability,” Undeland added.
The World Bank Group currently has an active portfolio of $1.4 billion in commitments across 14 projects covering different sectors in South Sudan.
Mr. Undeland brings over three decades of experience in international development to his new position, having previously served as a Senior Operations Officer in the World Bank’s East and Southern Africa region, where he covered South Sudan among several other countries.
Undeland succeeds Firas Raad, who recently completed his three-year term as Country Manager for South Sudan and is now leading the World Bank’s program in Lilongwe, Malawi.