The World Bank has announced the appointment of Robert Taliercio O’Brien as the Country Director for Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone in the Western and Central Africa Region, effective January 2, 2024.

Mr. Taliercio, an American national, brings a wealth of experience to this role, having joined the World Bank in 2000 as a Young Professional in the Africa region.

Throughout his career at the World Bank, Mr. Taliercio has held various key positions, including Practice Manager, Lead Economist, and Country Economist in multiple regions such as East Asia and the Pacific, Europe and Central Asia, and Africa.

His most recent assignment was as Regional Director in the Latin America and Caribbean Region for the Equitable Growth, Finance, and Institutions (EFI) Department.

Prior to joining the World Bank, Mr. Taliercio served as a Lecturer in Public Finance at the Harvard Institute for International Development and as a Manager for HIID’s Program on Investment Appraisal and Management. He also held a visiting professor role at the Bolivian Catholic University.

Mr. Taliercio has made significant contributions to the field, having written on public finance policy and administration in academic journals, books, and development publications.

He has received service awards from the Ministers of Finance of the Republic of Korea and the Kingdom of Cambodia. In his new position, Mr. Taliercio's key priorities will include leading strategic dialogue with the mentioned countries, supporting the implementation of the Africa Region’s priorities, deepening policy dialogue and partnerships with governments and key stakeholders, and overseeing the delivery and implementation of the lending and non-lending portfolio.

Mr. Taliercio holds a PhD and a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard University, a Master of Arts in Latin American Studies from Stanford University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Public and International Affairs from Princeton University. His extensive academic background, coupled with his diverse professional experience, positions him well for this significant role in the World Bank's operations in the Western and Central Africa Region.