In line with its campaign to be a leading knowledge and best practices portal, the World Bank now has a global center focusing on development and security issues confronting fragile and strife-torn countries.
The opening of the Global Center on Conflict, Security and Development on Feb. 22 is also part of the World Bank’s efforts to better align its assistance and expertise with the needs of people in conflict-affected countries.
The center is expected to serve as a global hub to connect development professionals working in conflict and fragile situations around the world. It also aims to facilitate access to the latest research on volatile environments.
“Our Nairobi ‘hub’ represents a strategic shift in the way we help fragile and conflict affected countries, and will make us more flexible and smarter about how we can improve people’s lives in desperate situations,” World Bank’s managing director for operations Caroline Anstey said at the center’s launch.
The center will operate from the headquarters of nongovernmental organization Shelter Afrique in Nairobi, Kenya. It will be staffed by World Bank experts led by Joel Hellman, and work closely with the United Nations and other partners.
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