Sylla appointed as World Bank Group resident representative for Namibia
Mariama Cire Sylla has been appointed as the World Bank Group’s joint Resident Representative for Namibia effective 1 October 2024,This newly created position provides a single point of contact for access to the full breadth of World Bank Group products and services and will enhance the institution’s ability to address global challenges and drive development with speed, efficiency and impact.
A Guinean national, Sylla brings to her new role more than 18 years of experience in trade, commercial strategy, private sector development and finance across Africa, Europe, and the United States. Since joining the World Bank Group in 2014, she has led several programs and initiatives aimed at fostering private sector development and job creation in Africa.
Sylla previously served as IFC’s Country Head for Burundi, where she oversaw the institution’s programme and operations. Before that, she served as IFC’s coordinator for fragile and conflict-affected states in the Sahel and West Africa regions.
“Namibia is a country brimming with potential and offers excellent development opportunities across sectors including agriculture, renewable energy, and housing,” Sylla said. “I look forward to working with partners in the country and implementing the new, unified World Bank Group approach, which will enable us to support impactful projects for the people of Namibia in an integrated, holistic manner.”
Policy development
In Namibia, the World Bank Group is working with public and private sector partners to improve the government’s capacity to design and implement policy in strategic areas, increase the private sector’s ability to generate jobs and income, and position Namibia’s economic growth on a greener, more resilient and inclusive trajectory.
Sylla holds a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Oxford (UK), a master’s degree in economic policy from Williams College (US) and a master’s degree in economics and business administration from the University of Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne (France). She is the co-author of the book: Better Led, Served and Governed World – Envisioning the Future, published in 2014.
The introduction of joint country representation is an important step towards building a stronger World Bank Group.
Namibia is one of 21 World Bank Group offices transitioning to a single World Bank Group Country Manager or Resident Representative for the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA).