Increased rumours this week proved to be right as Zoellick just announced today that he will step down at the end of his first term as World Bank president, on 30 June. Reacting to the announcement, a global coalition of campaigners has issued an open letter to World Bank governors calling for an open and merit-based process to elect the next Bank president, and for developing countries to determine the selection: Continue reading
Category Archives: The Process
Poll: who should be the next World Bank president?
The US has monopolised the Bank presidency since 1944, but leadership selection at the International Financial Institutions is becoming increasingly contested. There have been repeated promises by the Bank to open up the process and select candidates based on merit, in a fair and transparent way. As developing countries become increasingly confident and assertive this could be the year that sees the emergence of a real challenge against the US hold over the position.
But who would the credible candidates be? Below are nine heavy-weight possible candidates from developing countries. Who do you think would be the best for the job?
Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.Is this finally the week? Reality check in the US
Inside sources in Washington are abuzz. It seems this will be the week according to people in the know, and Zoellick will imminently be announcing his attention to not seek a second term. They didn’t have an exact date for the announcement – could be Tuesday or as late as Friday. But now is really the time to start thinking about the processes – after all a well designed process would have started 6 weeks ago.
So the post yesterday by Nancy Birdsall over at CGD provides a timely look into the US political constraints. She asks:
Can the Obama White House in an election year, facing a Congress suspicious of a globally honored president, eschew pushing through its own American candidate? …
World Bank or US Bank?
Interesting new article from the Bretton Woods Project about the selection of the next World Bank president, while Zoellick keeps quiet about his term’s imminent end: Continue reading
Who’s in charge of the process?
The Board of course, theoretically. But I spoke to someone very close to a board member who took the view that it’s up to Zoellick to decide if he wants to stay on or not. COGAM (board subcommittee) meets next week, I hear they’re going to discuss the paper on the selection process they approved last year.
And I spoke to someone senior in the Integrity Vice Presidency who suggested that they knew it would reflect badly on the Bank if there’s no transparent process, but what can you do, it’s up to the Board…