Ms. Mariam Sherman has been appointed as the new Country Director for Vietnam, Cambodia, and Lao PDR by the World Bank, starting from May 1, 2024. Positioned in Ha Noi, Ms. Sherman will spearhead the World Bank's collaborations with the governments of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, alongside development partners and various stakeholders, focusing on initiatives that resonate with the countries' agendas and the World Bank's overarching goal of fostering a poverty-free world on a sustainable planet.
With almost three decades of experience under her belt, Ms. Sherman is well-equipped to offer the leadership required to drive significant outcomes in the region. Leveraging a robust partnership spanning thirty years, the World Bank remains committed to bolstering Vietnam's endeavors in climate action and development, which include targets such as attaining net-zero emissions by 2050 and achieving high-income status by 2045.
In April 2024, the World Bank's active IDA/IBRD portfolio in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos stands at almost US$5 billion. This substantial investment spans various sectors crucial for development, including education, health, energy, transport, water, agriculture, urban development, digitalization, and climate adaptation. Additionally, the World Bank spearheads a strategic analytical program in these three countries, aimed at assisting them in implementing vital reforms in fiscal, economic, and sectoral domains such as human capital enhancement, natural resource management, and climate action.
Ms. Sherman, a citizen of the United Kingdom, commenced her journey with the World Bank in 1997. Over the course of her distinguished career, she has occupied a range of operational and leadership positions across multiple regions, including East Asia and the Pacific, South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, and Europe and Central Asia. Before assuming her current role, Ms. Sherman held the position of Country Director for Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos, stationed in Yangon, Myanmar.