This morning we had official confirmation from the Bank that Jim Kim will not face any competitors in his bid for his tenure at the Bank to be renewed. With absolutely no intention to reduce this coronation to a farce-like procession, the Bank has indicated they will strictly adhere to the appropriate procedures.
These 2011 procedures are worth quoting:
World Bank President, Jim Yong Kim Photo © World Bank/Dominic Chavez
In response to the DC Communiqués calling for “open, merit-based and transparent selection of the World Bank President,” the Executive Directors have approved a process for selecting the World Bank President as an important part of the governance and accountability reforms.
Well, so much for that.
Kim will shortly be interviewed by the board and should that process determine that he is the best candidate in a field of one expect an October announcement confirming Kim’s re-appointment at the forthcoming annual meetings.
The American Executive Director and his Board colleagues should be ashamed that this flawed process led to this result.
I wonder if they’ll even bother interviewing him, and if he’ll bring a CVS bag to his interview this time.
Prepare for an interesting Annual Meetings if the Board doesn’t rethink this.