All You Need To Know About Nathan Belete, World Bank New Regional Director

The World Bank has recently announced the appointment of a Development Professor,and an Ethiopian national, Nathan Balete, as the country director for Zimbabwe, Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia, having worked at the bank for over 23 years.

He replaces outgoing Ms. Marjorie Mpundu, and will be based in Dar es Salam, where he will oversee the portfolio of around $12.5 billion in total commitments for the four countries

Work With the World Bank

Until his new appointment, he was the country’s director for Cabo Verde, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Mauritania, and Senegal. He was the Rural Development Economist in different countries such as Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America, between 2002-2004, Beijing, China, between June 2004 and June 2008, and New Delhi, India, between July 2008 and June 2011. Served as the Sector Leader in Nairobi, Kenya, between 2011- 2013, and as the Sector Manager in Jakarta, Indonesia, between July 2013 and June 2014.

Mr. Nathan was the practice manager where he supervised the institution’s Food and Agriculture Global Practice in the East Asia and Pacific Region, based in Vietnam, from 2014 to 2019.  

Past Accomplishments

Under his supervision as the country’s director to Senegal, the World Bank signed deals to finance four major projects worth $495 million to help improve education, electricity, economic development, and motorable roads that connect rural areas.

The World Bank in 2021, collaborated with UNCDF on development financing, and women’s entrepreneurship through the “We Finance” programme, and to improve the livelihood and empowering women.

In 2020, the World Bank, through Nathan, also signed a $35 million grant to support the Gambia’s efforts to improve effectiveness in fiscal management for better public service delivery.

He started off his career as the Programme Report Officer at UNICEF. and programme director of World Vision, a non-profit organisation.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in International Business from Messiah College in Pennsylvania and a Master’s Degree from Cornell University.