Mariam Sherman, new World Bank Country Director for Viet Nam, Cambodia and Lao PDR

HA NOI —The World Bank has appointed Ms. Mariam Sherman as the new Country Director for Viet Nam, Cambodia, and Lao PDR, effective May 1, 2024.

Based in Ha Noi, Ms. Sherman will lead the World Bank’s engagements with the governments of Viet Nam, Cambodia and Laos, development partners, and other stakeholders on initiatives aligned with the countries’ priorities and the World Bank’s vision to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet.

Ms. Sherman brings nearly 30 years of experience to her new role and is poised to provide the leadership necessary to achieve impactful results in the region. Building on a strong three-decade partnership, the World Bank will continue supporting Viet Nam’s climate and development goals, including achieving net zero by 2050 and high-income status by 2045.

As of April 2024, the World Bank’s active IDA/IBRD portfolio in the three countries amounts to nearly US$5 billion, with investments spanning across sectors including education, health, energy, transport, water, agriculture, urban development, digitalization, and climate adaptation. The World Bank also leads a strategic analytical program in Viet Nam, Cambodia and Laos to support the countries to undertake critical reforms in fiscal, economic and sectoral areas such as human capital, natural resource management and climate actions.

A British national, Ms. Sherman joined the World Bank in 1997 and has held diverse operational and leadership roles throughout her career across various regions including East Asia and Pacific, South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, and Europe and Central Asia. Prior to her current appointment, Ms. Sherman served as the Country Director for Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos based in Yangon, Myanmar.