World Bank Appoints New Regional Director for the South Caucasus

Sebastian Molineus has been appointed World Bank Regional Director for the South Caucasus effective July 1, 2019, the World Bank told InterPressNews.

According to WB, in this position, Sebastian Molineus will oversee the Bank’s program in the three countries - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and lead the development and implementation of the Bank’s Country Partnership Strategies in these countries in coordination with development partners and civil society. Mr. Molineus will be based in Tbilisi, which hosts the Bank’s Regional Office for the South Caucasus.

“Mr. Molineus, a German national, joined the World Bank Group in 2002 as Project Manager in IFC’s Moscow office. He has since held positions both at IFC and the World Bank with a focus on corporate governance, capital markets, as well as financial and private sector development. He is currently Director in the Finance, Competitiveness & Innovation Global Practice.

In his new position, Mr. Molineus’ top three priorities will be to: Lead the Bank’s engagement with governments, stakeholders, and partners in all three South Caucasus countries; Oversee the delivery and implementation of the Bank’s financial, advisory, and convening services, and guide the future direction of the programs, including formulation of Strategic Country Diagnostics and Country Partnership Frameworks; Work with the International Finance Corporation and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency to strengthen World Bank Group delivery.

Mr. Molineus was selected to this position through the Bank-wide competitive managerial selection process. He will succeed Ms. Mercy Tembon, who successfully served as the Regional Director for the South Caucasus from September 2015 to June 2019, “ the World Bank said.

Levan Gurgenidze - Progressing Towards Transparent and Fair Elections in Pakistan: Mapping the Course for Democratic Advancement
Azerbaijan’s energy resources as one of the key elements of Europe’s energy diversification
George Katcharava - On the second anniversary of the war in Ukraine, there is no alternative to Georgia’s EU and NATO membership to ensure our national security and prosperity