Three priorities Africa’s newbie on the World Bank board should focus on

DANNY BRADLOW and MAGALIE MASAMBA

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa recently appointed a senior South African politician, Ayanda Dlodlo, to serve a two-year term as a member of the World Bank’s 25-person Board of executive directors. She will represent a constituency consisting of Angola, Nigeria and South Africa.

Dlodlo has previously held two cabinet positions – as minister of public service and administration and state security.

The appointment of such a senior politician to executive director position offers South Africa an opportunity to influence the World Bank’s relations with Africa.

The 25 executive directors of the bank fulfil a dual function. Firstly, they operate as the governing board of the World Bank.

Their second function is to represent the interests of their countries at the bank.

Given these two remits we propose three issues that Dlodlo should prioritise in her term as executive director.

The role

Executive directors must approve all World Bank loans and