Effective July 1, 2024, Mr. David Sislen will assume leadership as the World Bank’s Country Director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, succeeding Mr. Faris Hadad-Zervos, who moves to a new role within the organization. With dual nationality from the US and Italy, Sislen brings extensive experience to his new post, having joined the World Bank in 2001 as an Economist within the Urban Cluster Unit.
Throughout his career, Sislen has held various pivotal roles, culminating in his recent tenure as Practice Manager for Urban, Disaster Risk Management, and Land in the Latin America and Caribbean Region, based in Washington DC.
“I eagerly anticipate taking on this new responsibility and engaging with our stakeholders in Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka,” remarked Mr. Sislen on his appointment. “My primary objective will be to drive strategic initiatives that align with the World Bank’s mission of achieving impactful development outcomes.”
In his capacity as Country Director, Mr. Sislen will oversee a substantial portfolio amounting to approximately $4.8 billion across the three South Asian countries. His mandate includes forging partnerships with national governments, development organizations, and diverse stakeholders to facilitate sustainable development and address socio-economic challenges in the region.
Mr. Sislen’s appointment underscores the World Bank’s ongoing commitment to advancing its development agenda in South Asia, focusing on enhancing infrastructure, resilience to natural disasters, and overall economic growth.
