As of 1 July 2024, Charles Undeland becomes the World Bank Group (WBG) Country Manager for South Sudan, a position that will unify country-level leadership across the institution to partner with the country’s public and private sectors to deliver development results for the South Sudanese people.
South Sudan is one of 21 country offices transitioning to a single WBG Country Manager or Resident Representative.
“I am thrilled to be arriving as the World Bank Group’s Country Manager for South Sudan at this critical time in the country’s history and development journey. Over the next three years, I hope to build on our partnership to deliver results for the people of South Sudan, including enhancing resilience to climate change and other shocks, increasing private sector job opportunities, improving human capital outcomes and inclusion, and strengthening governance and macroeconomic stability”, said Undeland, the new World Bank Group Country Manager for South Sudan. “Unified Bank Group leadership will improve our speed and make us a better partner to the government, the private sector, and ultimately the people we serve.”
In South Sudan, the WBG works to support the country’s journey out of fragility and help it achieve its long-term development aspirations. The WBG’s current engagement includes an active portfolio of $ 1.4 billion in commitments across 14 projects covering different sectors.
Undeland joined the WBG as a Senior Governance Specialist in South Asia in 2009 and brings to his new position, over three decades of experience in international development. Over the past four years, he served as Senior Operations Officer in the World Bank’s East and Southern Africa region where he covered South Sudan among several countries.
This has provided him with an in-depth knowledge of the country’s development landscape, challenges, and opportunities.
Undeland succeeds Firas Raad who recently completed his three-year term as Country Manager for South Sudan and is moving on to lead the World Bank’s program in Lilongwe, Malawi.
The introduction of joint country representation is an important step towards building a stronger World Bank Group. Undeland will represent the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the International Development Association, the International Finance Corporation, and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency. 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, scale, and impact.