Ninth Edition - September 23, 2009 Promoting Inclusion in the Post-Conflict Balkans Public Disclosure Authorized n the former Yugoslavia, a series and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, of violent wars erupted during Montenegro, and Serbia, as well as Ithe 1990s. Ethnic conflicts and IFC representatives from Albania and economic disruptions prevailed as a Bosnia-Herzegovina. new map emerged in fits and starts— The group immediately decamped via ultimately yielding seven new states. bus for a unique field trip with some lo- Today, memories of conflict are still cal country office staff. First stop: meet- fresh. In a sub-region where the mere ings with various ethnic and religious presence of a cross or minaret was once communities around Kosovo, including a pretext for violence, it is hardly sur- the Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptians. prising that the Bank Group’s develop- In Fushe-Kosove, near Pristina in ment work is fraught with challenges. central Kosovo, Muhamet Arifi a Roma In the post-conflict Balkan states, from Balkan Sunflowers—an interna- Public Disclosure Authorized perhaps more than any place on tional NGO that promotes reconciliation Earth, the Bank Group’s effectiveness through volunteerism and community is inextricably linked to diversity and engagement—explained why these com- Father Sava Janjic met the Bank’s Chief inclusion. For that reason, Diversity munities face barriers to healthcare and Diversity Officer, Julie Oyegun, and Resident Chief Julie Oyegun recently convened education. A full 40 percent of the Roma Representatives from six Balkan countries. a group of Country Managers in Pris- community lack birth certificates, IDs, or tina, Kosovo, hosted by the Country any form of official documentation. This institution, this is important to us. If Manager Ranjit Nayak. means they cannot access state social people don’t count, we can’t help them.” services, or World Bank programs. Down the road in the history-rich To better include poor “For the State, these people do not town of Prizren in southern Kosovo, minorities, talk with them exist,” said Ranjit Nayak, the World participants met mayor Ramadan Public Disclosure Authorized Attending were World Bank Coun- Bank’s Representative in Kosovo, and try Managers from Albania, Bosnia host of the visit. “As a development continued on page 2 Q & A with Joy Phumaphi towards better development results. Vice President, Human Development Network One of my very first jobs back home was as a local government auditor, Joy Phumaphi was appointed the Vice traveling from village to village to President of the Human Development see whether our development projects Network in early 2007. Next month, were delivering on their promises, she concludes her Bank tenure and and trying to understand where they will return to her native Botswana. were falling short. So I’ve always had Public Disclosure Authorized this hands-on, practical approach to Q: Your career has included prom- working for results you can see, mea- inent posts as Botswana’s Minister of sure, and above all verify. So working Health and as an Assistant Director- for the Bank meant getting to harness General at the World Health Organi- its broad mandate, capacity, and skills zation. Why join the Bank in 2007? base, to help achieve better overall A: Joining the World Bank was a big milestone for me in working continued on page 4 thE-Junction September 23, 2009 | page 2 Promoting Inclusion in Post-Conflict Balkans (continued from page 1) Muja. Local representatives from the In Macedonia, the Government still staff receive support in improving Bosnian, Gorani, and Turkish minori- confronts a huge challenge in breaking their English-language skills, which ties were also present. the cycle of poverty, reported Markus could serve to diminish linguistic “Prizren is in many ways a model of Repnik. But he singled out a promising barriers to reconciliation. multiculturalism, with different com- new initiative—conditional cash trans- Referring to “an exhilarating two munities and religions co-existing,” fers based on a Brazilian model—that days,” Ranjit Nayak called the event said Nayak. “We met the mayor and provides financial incentives to families rich, productive, and enjoyable. “The visited Muslim, Christian Orthodox, to send children to school. “Macedo- combination of meetings with Ko- and Christian Catholic shrines in the nia is the first country in the region to sovar citizens, Government officials, centre of the old town. It was a good launch such a program,” he said. and internal sessions got us thinking example for us all to see where there is Kosovo’s President Fatmir Sejdiu in ways that were unique—and I must an earnest attempt to work together.” thanked the group for the Bank Group’s say that I got more than what I had At the Serb Orthodox Monastery efforts, and said Kosovo’s develop- initially anticipated.” near Decan in western Kosovo, Fa- mental priorities continue to be energy, “I was struck by how much each of ther Sava Janjic spoke of the chal- agriculture, education, and transport. He my colleagues cares about our insti- lenges of everyday life in a region underlined the importance of nurturing tution, and the efforts they make in that is overwhelmingly Muslim. He better relations with Serbia, as well as different ways to make it an even better pledged to continue to serve the en- with other neighboring countries, while one,” said Nayak. “I remain most grate- tire community, following the egali- expressing hope that Kosovo’s ethnic ful to Julie [Oyegun] for selecting our tarian traditions of the monastery. tensions would be overcome. region as her pilot, and for bringing us Jan-Peter Olters, the World Bank Oyegun complimented the very together in this forum in Pristina.” Representative in Montenegro, said progressive constitution and remarked “Each of these participants invest- the value of the Bank’s emphasis on that, with 50 percent of the popula- ed their time and commitment in this socioeconomic development is clear. tion under the age of 30, Kosovo had venture, and I cannot thank them “It was very much a message I took a unique opportunity to steer the enough for trusting me and embrac- away from the meeting with Father culture away from its difficult past. ing the unknown so wholeheart- Sava in the Orthodox monastery,” he “Reconciliation takes time,” responded edly,” said Oyegun. “I think we saw said. “The hope for a more prosper- President Sejdiu, “but it can be best how our institutional commitment ous future might alter the outlook assisted through economic progress.” to diversity and inclusion is of direct and increase willingness to reach relevance to the client’s economic beyond and over one’s fence.” “Diversity is how development. This is innovative, we do business” value-added D&I, at the heart of our To include poor minorities, As the assembly of regional leaders operational effectiveness.” talk with their elected officials moved to adjourn, consensus emerged Jan-Peter Olters called the experience The next day, Kosovo’s Prime Min- that frequent face-to-face interaction insightful: “For diversity to be a source ister Hashim Thaci, President Fatmir between Bank staff and ethnic com- of wealth and inspiration, as stressed Sejdiu, and several Ministers met with munities will help foster better inclu- by all of us, we need a combination of the Bank Group representatives. sion in World Bank programs. understanding, respect, and tolerance— The delegation briefed the Prime Camille Nuamah, said she will and an exchange of views and ideas. Minister on key aspects of the institu- redouble efforts to make projects eth- On many levels, through our programs, tion’s efforts to serve the poorest of nically neutral or even ethnicity- and the World Bank Group can provide this the poor from all ethnic groups across gender-affirmative. She plans to meet forum for all the Balkan countries. diverse communities. The representa- individually with staff to stress the “This experience is certain to re- tive in Albania, Camille Nuamah, gave importance of diversity and inclusion. sound and influence the way we are an account of the Bank’s Social Service “Diversity is not just who we are, doing our jobs here in the Balkans,” Delivery Project, which is reaching but how we do business,” said Simon Olters concluded. women and disabled people more ef- Gray, the Bank’s Representative in Our thanks to Lundrim Aliu who fectively than previous initiatives. Serbi. He recommended all regional contributed to this story. thE-Junction September 23, 2009 | page 3 Q & A with Ranjit Nayak World Bank’s Representative in Kosovo Q: You have been the Bank’s Rep Q: What are some particular diversity in the Washington Office in Kosovo for almost three years challenges, therefore, for the Bank’s is emphasized differently than now. What is your role? office in Pristina? diversity in the field offices. Her A: I manage the Bank portfolio A: One of the challenges I had coming here not only recognized of operations, the country office coming in to the assignment was the variety and nuances of D&I here in Pristina, and coordinate to make the Bank office ethnically issues we face globally as an the Kosovo team, both here and diverse. So I began hiring Serbs into institution, but also in some virtually in Washington and other the office through a very neutral ways she helped us integrate the offices. I am also responsible for recruitment process, initially with differing discussions on diversity our coordination with develop- much difficulty. This is the reality at the Bank’s Board and Staff in ment partners, the Government, of the development environment in Washington and in Country Offices. NGOs, and civil society. Working which the Bank works. Q: After this experience, what in a post-conflict state, we have Q: Why, in your view, is it priorities emerged? additional stakeholders, including important to aspire to being more A: It became clear to my col- NATO, the UN mission, Interna- inclusive in your office? leagues and me that we need to tional Civilian Office, the European Union mission, and others.