Jamal Saghir Senior Regional Advisor, Africa Region, The World Bank Group Mr. Jamal Saghir is Director of the Sustainable Development Department for the Africa Region at the World Bank. In this position, he provides overall leadership to the Bank’s activities in sub-Saharan Africa—including those financed by the International Development Association (IDA)—in agriculture, rural development, energy, environment, climate change and natural resources management, infrastructure, ICTs, oil, gas and mining, post-conflict reconstruction, social development, transport, urban development, and water. Mr. Saghir ensures the soundness and alignment of country, regional and corporate strategies, as well as the Bank’s portfolio in these sectors, so that all contribute effectively to poverty reduction and a sustainable, climate-resilient future in sub-Saharan Africa. Mr. Saghir was previously Director and Chair of the Bank Group’s Boards for Energy, Transport and Water, a position he held from 2001-10. In this capacity, he led the Bank Group’s activities and guided its lending strategy in infrastructure. In 2010, the Bank committed $24 billion in infrastructure investments. He joined the World Bank in 1990, after working as a senior advisor on privatization, energy and infrastructure in the governments of Tunisia and Quebec, Canada. At the Bank, he has served in senior advisory and leadership roles in a variety of private sector development, privatization and restructuring operations in Africa, Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. In 1998, he was named the Bank’s Sector Leader for Urban Water and Sanitation, in the Infrastructure Development Group, and promoted to Sector Manager in 1999. Mr. Saghir is also an appointed member of the United Nations Secretary General’s Advisory Group on Energy and Climate Change, and a member of the Global Energy Assessment. He is a frequent speaker on sustainable development issues at international conferences of decision-makers and thought leaders.
H.E. Tolessa Shagi Minister of Mines, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia H.E. Mr. Tolessa Shagi replaced Sinknesh Ejigu, the former minister of Mines, after her appointment as Ethiopia’s ambassador to Brazil. Tolessa has served the Geological Survey of Ethiopia as a geologist between 1983 and 1989, becoming team leader up until 1996. He has also served as Geo-technical expert at the then Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development. Between 2006 and 2010, Tolessa held the post of director general of the GSE. In October 2011, he became state minister for Mines. Tollesa has a Bachelor’s degree in geology from the Addis Abeba University (AAU)in 1982, and a masters degree in applied geology from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT).
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