Ms. Vera Songwe has been appointed as Country Director, Senegal, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, and Mauritania based in Dakar, Senegal.
A Cameroonian national, she joined the Bank in 1998 as a young professional in the East Asia and Pacific Region. She has worked on a diverse set of countries and regions including Cambodia, Morocco, Tunisia, Malaysia, Mongolia, and the Philippines.
Her most recent assignment at the Bank was as Advisor to Managing Director Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
According to Obiageli Ezekwesili, “Vera Songwe brings to this position a unique and exciting combination of solid analytical and field experiences, and leadership skills, from working at the corporate, country and sector levels”.
In her new position, the new Country Director’s top priorities will be to work in close collaboration with the governments and national stakeholders – including private sector and civil society - to develop and implement innovative growth policies; work with World Bank Group teams and partners to support the countries in building partnerships and mobilizing resources and, lead and support staff in implementing the priorities of the Africa Strategy and the relevant World Bank Group corporate priorities.
Vera was selected to this position through the Bank-wide competitive managerial selection process. Her appointment is effective November 14, 2011.
