Nairobi has become the new home for the World Bank’s freshly appointed Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa, Ndiamé Diop. He takes the baton from retiring Vice President Victoria Kwakwa, at a time that the institution is looking to deepen its commitment to localized leadership and client-focused service delivery.
Mr Diop steps into the new role at a critical juncture for the region, which is grappling with both immense challenges and transformative opportunities. His relocation to Kenya’s capital symbolizes a strategic shift toward proximity-based governance, ensuring the Bank’s operations remain tightly aligned with the realities of the communities it serves.
Now in charge of a staggering Sh9.87 trillion ($76 billion) portfolio spanning 400 active projects across 26 countries, the seasoned development economist, with a quarter-century of experience across three continents, brings an impressive track record of scaling impact in complex environments.
After his recent exploits in Nigeria, where he orchestrated the Bank’s largest African portfolio Sh2.21 trillion ($17 billion), his ability to drive systemic change through policy innovation, particularly in digital infrastructure, agribusiness, and financial inclusion, is clear.
This expertise will prove invaluable as Eastern and Southern Africa seeks to accelerate job creation, expand energy access, and strengthen regional integration. Additionally, his leadership comes at a time the region is facing intersecting priorities such as advancing climate-smart development, mitigating fragility, and recovering from global economic shocks.
He also holds a PhD in Economics and has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and books on topics such as fiscal policy and growth, monetary policy and inflation, natural resource abundance, Dutch disease, and economic diversification.
He is also fluent in French, English, and Wolof and possesses an intermediate level fluency of Arabic and Bahasa (Indonesian). His arrival signals the World Bank’s reinforced commitment to homegrown solutions, with Nairobi serving as the nerve center for a development strategy that prioritizes resilience, inclusivity, and sustainable growth.
As Eastern and Southern Africa look toward a brighter future, Diop’s blend of scholarly insight and on-the-ground experience offers a promising foundation for transformative change.
