The World Bank has named Jordanian national Firas Raad as its new country manager for Malawi.
Raad replaces UK national Hugh Ridell, who has been country manager for Malawi since 2020.
According to the bank, Riddell is now the World Bank Country Manager for the Kyrgyz Republic.
According to World Bank website, Raad has over 27 years of experience as development and health policy professional working for the World Bank Group, the United Nations and the Jordanian Government.
His previous positions in the World Bank include Country Manager for South Sudan, Malaysia, and Kuwait.
“He also served as Head of Mission for the Office of the Quartet Representative in East Jerusalem (while on secondment from the World Bank) and as a Human Development Coordinator for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries and Senior Health Specialist in the World Bank’s Middle East and North Africa Region.
“He has a Master’s Degree and a Doctorate Degree in International Health Policy and Economics from the Harvard School of Public Health, a Master’s Degree in International Relations (with a focus on Macroeconomics and Middle Eastern Studies) from the School of Advanced International Studies and a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Johns Hopkins University,” the bank says.
While in Malawi, Riddell led the preparation and delivery of the new Country Partnership Framework under which the International Development Association (IDA)’s financing has doubled for the country.
During this time, Riddell spearheaded a comprehensive response to Malawi’s severe poly-crisis, addressing acute shortages of essential supplies by mobilising nearly $300 million through the Crisis Response Window and leading a portfolio restructuring to expedite portfolio disbursements.