Annual Report FY23

To welcome, support and advocate on behalf of WBG families worldwide

ANNUAL REPORT

welcome support advocate

Sara Jaffrey President

Mary Summers President Operations

In early FY23, we assessed our readiness to re-open in terms of health protocols, volunteer resources and operations. Our operations assessment showed that from 2019 to 2022, our traditional delivery model for member engagement had fundamentally shifted from in-person, to virtual, to a balanced-blend of the two modes.

As the Executive Committee, Staff, Volunteers and Members began the year, it was immediately apparent that our membership was ready for in-person events. As an outcome of pent-up demand for in-person engagement, the Family Network re-launched its capstone in-person events in Washington DC, such as Fall Picnic, Children’s Holiday Party, WBGFN International Potluck, and Teen Summer Program with strong popularity and high participation levels.

Virtual events and programs had increased connectivity to our Worldwide community, positioning us to better deliver on our vision that each WBG family have the opportunity to belong to a globally mobile worldwide community.

Then, in FY23 a key support program was provided in-person within the Worldwide community through our partnership with the Domestic Abuse Prevention Program (DAPP). DAPP provided direct program engagement more typically experienced within the DC area. The balanced use of multiple delivery modes is enabling us to better deliver on the rest of our vision… that each family have the opportunity to belong to a worldwide community that provides support in every WBG office location.

The Career Lab and Welcome Information Sessions offered in FY23 are ‘best practice’ examples of blended delivery design. Using an in-person/virtual format, members ‘anywhere and everywhere’ may gain tangible professional and social acumen before they arrive in the Washington, DC area, or participate via an in-person experience tailored for valuable direct member engagement. As a result, members are empowered to jumpstart their professional and family transitions... before relocating or after arrival.

The successful re-launching of events has verified that our operating model will adjust to a future already presenting itself in exciting new ways ... virtually, in-person and using blended modes.

Recognizing the operational shift and its accompanying, measurable value to members, the FY23 Executive Committee engaged in a year-long strategic planning effort. Informed by virtual, inperson and blended approaches, the resulting Better Together Strategic Roadmap focuses on three themes: Programs and Tasks to Enrich Engagement, Decentralization of the WBG Family Network Experience, and Partnerships within and outside the WBG. We thank our members whose inquiries, engagement and feedback informed our process. And we thank the FY23 Executive Committee and Core Team for participating fully, candidly and capably in producing the Better Together Roadmap for the betterment of our members.

Sara Jaffrey – President Mary Summers - President Operations

Sara Jaffrey

Mary Summers

Better Together

Developed and released in FY23, The FY23-25 Strategic Roadmap is already serving its purpose to focus our valued resources of time and talent on the priorities that move the Family Network to more fully Empower Global Families. The Better Together Roadmap focuses on three key themes:

 Programs and Tasks to enrich engagement

 Decentralization of the WBG Family Network experience

 Partnerships within and outside the World Bank Group

Value, visibility and vision guide our efforts.

Regarding value, the WBG Family Network recognizes as a priority the acknowledgement of our members’ contributions of valued skills, interests and talents within the community.

Contributions will acknowledge and reflect members’ valuable acumen honed through family life experiences, through navigating relocations, through volunteer experiences, or gained through professional, academic and credentialed accomplishments.

Regarding visibility, the WBG Family Network will increase awareness, visibility and access for the WBGFN community. We will focus on further developing partnerships with key officials of the World Bank Group in Washington DC, and in Country Offices worldwide.

We will build on recent steps that increase our visibility in Latin America and the Caribbean, among other regions, by considering both internal and external partnerships that may enhance our member’s community experience within the Region.

Better together, the Strategic Roadmap is, and will serve as a navigational compass for our Family Network community, guiding us toward Empowering Global Families and living out our vision every day.

President Hely Khan, President Operations

Mary Summers,

Hely Khan

Mary Summers

For the members by the members

Family Well-being

• Identifying Families’ mental health stressors

• Family Consultation Service (FCS) + 100%

• Rebuilding Dreams: Parental Loss Peer Group focused on families with loss of a newborn child

• Arranging HSD Counselor awareness sessions for Families when visiting Country Office

• Raising awareness about family issues with Country Directors

Spouse Issues

• Spouse Issues Committee (SPIC) – 2 members assisted, and $1525 funds disbursed through the WBGFN Barry McIsaac Emergency Funds

• Member of WBG Domestic Abuse Prevention Program Advisory Committee (DAPP)

• Ongoing work in conjunction with DAPP/HSD on access to benefit information for spouses

Empowering Global Families FY23

Virtual meetings and programs via WebEx and Zoom

Reinforced Communication Resources

Thematic sessions

• Rebuilding Dreams – supporting and recovering after pregnancy and infant loss

• WBG Family Network 50th Anniversary Celebrations

• Myths and Misconceptions about Intimate Partner Abuse

• Parenting with an Accent

• Talking to Children about Race

• DC Storytime pilot

• Flower Making Workshops

Hybrid Welcoming Information Session

Virtual Career Lab

- Tools To Move (TTM) ToolsToMove.org

- ParentingNow platform website

- Family Consultation Service

202 458 5550

- Special 50th Anniversary Celebratory Tab and Graphic on the website

- Containing celebration activities & competitions

- Information Seminars

All sessions recorded on our YouTube channel

- Presidents’ message monthly to all members

- developed a 3-year strategic roadmap

- More frequent messaging

(E-mail, Telegram, WhatsApp groups)

- Updates of Social Media Guidelines

Hybrid Office

- Staff meetings: Weekly inoffice in-person/Team –Hybrid way of working

- Worldwide: Virtual once a month - leveraging virtual for better building connections with Worldwide

- EC: Once a month

Our Mission

Improve the lives of women and children by supporting the higher education of exceptional women from developing countries who will catalyze change.

Madeleine De Kock President MMEG

105 volunteers

984hours

33 grantees

Empowering women

Events

• 5 Virtual Grantee get-togethers

• 2 Virtual kick-off events for Selection Committee

• 5 Selection Committee presentations

• 1 International Arts & Craft FAIR

• 2 Volunteer Appreciation Events

• 1 Photo Competition

• 4 MMEG Talks

33 Education Grants

• 9 grantees South Africa program

• 10 grantees Latin America program

• 10 grantees US/Canada program

• 2 grantees France program

• 2 grantees Trinity WU program

Fundraising

• Donations (including CCC and IMF’s Giving Together matching): $172,754 (Jul 22 –March)

• International Arts & Crafts FAIR: $49,763

• Institutional Donations: 3 (BFSFCU, University of Cape Town, University of Pretoria)

Empowering women

Welcoming Program Welcoming Information Session

''I would like to take this opportunity to thank the WBFN team for organizing such a wonderful session and the opportunity provided to interact with the team and the participants. I also want to thank the organizers for the great hospitality.”

“Just keep up the good work you are already doing.”

Quote from member

12 activities

99 participants

17 volunteers

552.50 volunteer hours

Georgine Ahmad

Senior Advisor

Chetna Srivastava Team Lead

Karine Yenokyan Team Lead

Caroline Giffon-Wee

Welcoming Chair

Welcoming Program

• 12 sessions

• 99 participants

Welcoming Information Sessions

Outreach and Communication

• 263 outreach to relocating families

• 332 members received Registration

Acknowledgement

Welcoming Program

WBFN Buddies

Telegram/WhatsApp Groups

• Buddies WBGFN Telegram-135 participants

• Buddies DC Visa/Permits-232 participants

Get-together (For New Members)

• 7 in-person Get-togethers after July 2022

• 32 participants

• Buddies DC Social -219 participants

It makes all the difference to have a friendly face welcoming you when you are new to a country!

1268 participants

83 volunteers

2611 volunteer hours

WBGFN Member in Country Office

Cat Mathieu

Laurent Cinot

Daniela

Diaz Figueroa Lola Vico

Rukhsana Khattak Beverly Brar Ahu Cankorel Sadaf Khalid

Bushra Abbas Barbra Mukuve

Qudsi a Zafar

Activities

• Welcoming newcomers to duty stations

• Building communities and ongoing support to WBG families

• Physical and virtual gatherings and activities

• Increasing interaction with COs and local Staff Associations

Outcome

Highlights

• Strengthening of WW core team: RC Team Leader, 5 RCs, 3 EC Focal Points

• Partnership with COs after crisis situations: Afghanistan, Ukraine

• Expanded virtual activities throughout Covid

• Tools To Move website

• Relocation and ongoing support to 244 families in COs

• Kabul’s office families relocated in Islamabad supported

• Kyiv’s office families in Vienna supported

• 1268 WW members from 48 COs participated in global virtual events

• Reconstruction of chapters after COVID period

Professional Development Program

After a hard year without working, stuck at home because of this pandemic, I started the Virtual Career Lab, and it gave me the strength to start over again. Listening to Yvonne talking about our common situation as WBG spouses, to see all of the other fellows, feeling that I am not unique and alone, has been crucial for me. Our second session, What story do I tell myself?, pushed me to get out of my comfort zone giving me the strength to contact my former boss and colleagues. The day after they called me back proposing a short-term job.

27 Events

318 participants

11 volunteers

166 volunteer hours

Quote from Career Lab Alumni

Professional Development Program

Skill-building and Information

• Creating a mobility mindset

• Building flexibility

• Adopting a growth mindset

• Ensuring employability

Career Lab

Alumni Network

Entrepreneurs Network

Professional Development Program

Participants

• 70% Female; 30% Male

• 11% PhD

• 65% Masters

• 13% Bachelors

• 4% Some College Education, no Degree

Outcome

Activities

• Career Lab Alumni Network (CLAN) — 435 Alumni

• Career Lab Facebook Community — 301 Members

• CLAN Facebook Community 209 Members

• Career Lab redesigned and delivered virtually since May 2020

• Virtual Career Lab attended by WBGFN members in 17 countries

• Out of 94 CLAN members who responded to the annual survey, 66% have jobs or are self-employed.

Management

Resource Management Team

Supporting teams to optimize the effectiveness of our operations and resources

10 teams supported

6 volunteers

409 volunteer hours

Resource

Resource Management

Knowledge Management

Knowledge creation and sharing

• WBGFN Events Google Calendar

• Key Knowledge: Supporting those who do not have access to the WB system

• Standard of Practices: Helping to relaunch in-person events

• Continuous support to Welcoming Team

Resource Management

Data Management & Analytics

• Exceptionally good results after renovation of the connection between the WB Human Recourses system and the MMS

• Plan to promote Members updating their information in our database

Monitoring & Evaluation

• Conducting surveys and analyzing the feedback after WBGFN Events

• Surveys taken: 34, evaluation by events or semiannually/annually

• Monitoring and analyzing global participation at virtual sessions

• Testing a new system for WW Connectors

• Many users can access the Database remotely

Volunteer Engagement Team

My purpose in life is to positively impact the lives of others and through the activities of the WBGFN, I am able to impact lives through various projects.

Quote from WBFN volunteer

14 One on One Meetings

4 volunteers total FY

263volunteer hours

Volunteer Engagement Team

Resources Activities

• One on One meetings with potential volunteers

• Engaging with volunteers at the office

• Regular short presentation at the Welcoming Information Session

• Daily Support to WBGFN teams and Special Events, including Children’s Holiday Party and Open House

Achievements

• An increasing number of new members willing to volunteer

• Re-engaging past contributors to volunteer in our activities

• MMS Database

Communication Team Members

Marketing

• 50th anniversary events and webinars

• Tools To Move

• GCS Expo / MMEG booth

• Kiosk articles

• LinkedIn

• Facebook

• YouTube

• Telegram and WhatsApp

Social Media

Editorial Committee

Digital Communications

• Digital Media

• WebMagazine

• Content Editor

Design

• Creative layouts

• Videos

LinkedIn

• 4170+ Followers on LinkedIn

• 83 Posts on LinkedIn

YouTube

Facebook

• 2000+ Page likes on Facebook

• 2240 Followers on Facebook

• 248 Posts on Facebook

• monthly worldwide highlights

• 79 Video on YouTube

Best performing FB posts

Support via WhatsApp groups

Visibility inside WBG – Kiosk articles

• 12 articles

• Theme—Community, TCKs, 50th anniversary

• Popular—Mobile Careers, Relocation tips

• Annual meeting Presentation

• Annual Report

• @-a-glance; 6466 subscribers

• Websites—WBFN, Book Project, Tools To Move

• Quality assurance of website content

Learning program

Empowering our members with the knowledge and skills to navigate their new virtual environment

Info Seminars

145 hours of instruction

34 activities

635 participants

4 volunteers

250 volunteer hours

English Classes

Learning program

English Classes

Everyone is super professional, courteous and amazingly friendly!”

Quote from student

• Beginner/Intermediate Level to become familiar with using English while building friendships and community

• Advanced Level to feel at ease in a professional environment while expanding your network

Learning program

Information Seminars

I just attended today’s information seminar and I found it extremely helpful. I suppose human contact and real faces make the transition less overwhelming Quote from member

Regular Topics

• G-4 Visa Options

• Pension Plan

• US Estate Planning and Taxation

• US Income Tax for G-4 Visa Holders

• US Work Authorization

• Year End Income Tax Planning

New Topics

• Parenting with an accent

• Myths and Misconceptions about Intimate Partner Abuse

• Talking to Children about Race

• Making Decisions in Times of Transition

• WBGFN Men’s Real Talk Real Bond

Social Program Interest Groups

“I joined the Fiber Arts group after the Interest Groups Informational Fair held in the WBGFN office in November 2022. Group members warmly welcomed me, and they encouraged me in my work. I enjoyed visiting together the textile Museum and the Palestinian embroidery exhibition. They inspire me, and I am glad to be part of this lovely group.”

Quote from Fiber Arts group participant

• Advanced Spanish Language group

• African Book Club

• American Book Club

• Bridge Club

• Creative Kitchen

• English Book Club

• French Book Club

• Intermediate French Language group

• International Cultural Group

• Investment Club

• Mahjong Group

• Mindfulness Group

• Moms and moms to be

• Storytime

• The Fiber Arts Group*

*Quilts and other crafts produced have been donated to fundraisers in the local communities New initiatives are always welcome!

Social Program

Interest Groups

“The most useful part of this program learning about Mindfulness in a way that enables me to bring to the learning to practice on daily activities. I appreciate the professionalism and enthusiasm that our teacher, Caroline, brings to every session; plus, I think that the respect and privacy with which every session is handled, enables the participants to share learnings and experiences in an open way, since our group is a safe space for personal growth and development.“

Quote from WBGFN Mindfulness group

16 activities

522 participants

33 volunteers

674 volunteer hours

Family Programs

Disabilities Program

Youth Programs

Family Programs

Rebuilding Dreams

Family Programs

I now know that anyone can be a leader, and I will strive to be more confident in myself and not doubt myself. Thank you for offering this program, it led me in the right direction! I wouldn't change anything!

Quote from Youth Leadership participant

Rebuilding Dreams

Family Programs

Disabilities Program

Activities

• Recording of previous Educational seminars

Community

• Connect families

• Connect to services or organizations

Disabilities Team

Resources

Resource Database

• Key organizations and programs

• Health resources

• Schools

• Sport and art activities

Loubna Djemame

BOOK PROJECT IS CELEBRATING ITS 40th ANNIVERSARY THIS JULY.

Book Project volunteers

I hope the rest of your team are well and safe. And eager to get back to the jobs that you love so much. I could see the passion your entire team had for what you do for the world. It’s something for others to be inspired by. I feel like not enough people know about your project and the good that is being done globally….

When you come back, we want to be first in line to supply your book needs.”

Quote from Brian Richard, Foreman of the Warehouse Charles County Public Schools, Maryland A faithful and generous donor

18 volunteers

1406 hours

2 large and 3 small shipments

It's a wonderful milestone for us and, more importantly, for the children who received the books we've donated through these 40 years.

The first post-Covid shipment, to India, all shrink-wrapped and ready to go

Loaded onto the 40foot container, on its way to the port and then Mumbai

Volunteers now working on the second shipment, another 40-footer, to Sierra Leone

Activities

• The Book Project reopened in September 2022 after having been on lockdown since March 2020.

• A reduced number of former volunteers returned, but their enthusiasm and dedication made up for the small numbers. Other volunteers have slowly returned, and new volunteers have signed on since then.

Shipments

• the first post-Covid shipment, a 40-foot container with approximately 30,000 books in 576 boxes, sailed for Mumbai India in March, and should have arrived on April 23.

• Volunteers are currently working on the second 40foot container, this one for Sierra Leone.

• Three small shipments were forwarded by private individuals: two of five boxes, and one of six boxes, to the Dominican Republic, Nigeria, and Bolivia.

Our commitment

• Supporting sustainable environmental recycling through current and new NGOs

• Continuing emphasis on literacy opportunity for girls as well as boys

• Supporting Shipment Sponsors facing challengers in their recipient countries.

to the cornerstones of the Family Network…

Paul Corsi , Catherine Mathieu, and Mimi Besha

Our staff

WBGFN Volunteers – The team behind the scenes

The Family Network has partnered with many departments at the World Bank, and...

IFC-International Finance Corporation

Global Corporate Solutions (GCS)

Shipment

Food and Conference Services

Multimedia

Printing Security

Staff Services

Art Program

Fitness Center

Health & Safety Directorate (HSD)

Domestic Abuse Prevention Program

Field and Travel Health

Occupational Health

Mental Health and Wellbeing

People and Culture Department (PaC)

Ethics and Business Conduct (EBC)

Data Privacy Office

Legal Institutional Administration (LEGIA)

Multicultural Families Employee Business Resource Group (EBRG)

Operations Policy and Country Services (OPCS)

Pension Administration

Staff Association

GLOBE

WBG External and Corporate Relations (ECR)

1818 Society

…to our partners

... reached out to many sister organizations to exchange ideas, collaborate, and build a better community of expat spouses and partners..

AFSP (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention)

CASE (Center for Adoption Support and Education)

FIGT – Families in Global Transition

IADBFA – International American Development Bank Family Association

IMFFA – International Monetary Fund Family Association

SPAN- Safe Passage Across Networks

UNLESA –United Nations Local Expat Spouse Association

UNWG – United Nations Women Guild

UNDP - United Nations Development Program

Foreign Service Institute, US Department of State

Habitat for Humanity

And a special mention to the Bank-Fund Staff Federal Credit Union (BFSFCU) for their sustained support, advice, seminars, and contributions .

for the Executive Committee FY24

Mary Summers President

Barbra Nayiga Mukuve Secretary

Hely Khan President Operations

Ana Rakic Nominating Chair

Catherine Brown Member-at-Large

Radu Buoreanu Member-at-Large

Caroline Giffon-Wee Member-at-Large

Qudsia Zafar Member-at-Large

Armine Vardanyan Member-at-Large

Patricia Myers Member-at-Large

Bushra Abbas Member-at-Large

Mamadou Billo Diallo Member-at-Large