HONIARA, (WORLD BANK) — Bernard Harborne becomes the World Bank Group resident representative for Solomon Islands and Vanuatu starting from 01 July.  

This position brings together the World Bank Group’s country-level leadership to better support the development priorities of the governments and help create an enabling environment for private sector growth. 

Harborne will lead the programmes of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)/International Development Association (IDA), International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) across the two countries, providing a single point of contact for access to the full breadth of World Bank Group products and services.  

This will enhance the institutions’ ability to address global challenges, and drive development with speed, efficiency, and impact.  

“Solomon Islands and Vanuatu stand on the cusp of a remarkable transformations. I am very pleased to be able to work with the governments of these countries to help unlock opportunities for growth, jobs, and stability. It will be an honor to support nations that are so determined to build a more prosperous, resilient future for all,” said Bernard Harborne, World Bank Group Resident Representative for Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. 

The World Bank Group’s work in Solomon Islands and Vanuatu is focused on transformative infrastructure projects such as the Solomon Islands Roads and Aviation Project, the Vanuatu Climate Resilient Transport Project, and the nation-building Tina River Hydropower Development Project in Solomon Islands. 

The institution also supports work in health, private sector development, and urban employment and skills building to drive jobs and growth.   

A British national, Bernard Harborne joined the World Bank Group in 2004 as a lead technical specialist. He worked on major investment operations focused on local community development and demobilisation of ex-combatants in war-to-peace transitions such as Afghanistan, Burundi, and Somalia, among others. 

He served as Country Manager in Côte d’Ivoire and as Resident Representative in Timor-Leste, where he supported the government’s post-pandemic economic recovery and fostered a World Bank Group approach to development in the country.