Voices for the World's Poor : Selected Speeches and Writings of World Bank President James D. Wolfensohn, 1995-2005

As president of the World Bank, James Wolfensohn managed operations in almost 150 countries and was responsible for tens of billions of dollars in aid to the world's poorest nations. During his ten years and visits to more than 120 countries, Wolfensohn tirelessly drew the world's attention to the need to provide hope and a better future for the world's poor. He transformed the World Bank, made it more open and transparent, and integrated the views of the poor into development planning. He also changed the face and the character of an institution that was previously seen by many as heartless and arrogant. By describing the challenge of development in terms of people, and not only numbers, Wolfensohn put the spotlight back on the World Bank's real purpose—fighting global poverty and helping the world's poor forge a better life. 'Voice for the World's Poor' brings together the most important and inspiring speeches and writings by James Wolfensohn during his time as World Bank president. Spanning all ten years of his presidency (1995-2005), the book presents Wolfensohn's most stimulating and thought-provoking ideas on critical global issues including poverty, debt relief, corruption, HIV/AIDS, climate change, human rights, and globalization. Written during some of the most tumultuous times in recent history, Wolfensohn addresses and examines key global events and issues, from Bosnia's reconstruction, the Asian financial crisis, and the rise of the antiglobalization movement to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the aftermath of the Iraq war, and the outpouring of help for the victims of the tsunami of December, 2004. Over 100 speeches, essays, and letters chart Wolfensohn's thinking on development and his emergence as an advocate and voice for the world's poor. This book will be an invaluable resource for anyone interested in international relations, international development, the World Bank, and James Wolfensohn himself. As president of the World Bank, James D. Wolfensohn oversaw over ten thousand employees and managed operations in almost one hundred and fifty countries. Responsible for tens of billions of dollars in aid to the world's poorest nations, Wolfensohn made sustainable poverty reduction the World Bank's overarching mission and used the Bank as a bully pulpit to declare institutional war on global poverty. Under his leadership, the Bank grew in both size and scope, becoming the single largest provider of resources to the developing world for HIV/AIDS programs, the largest supporter of environmental projects, and the largest funder of education. Wolfensohn not only turned the Bank into a respected source of research on developing countries but helped the Bank return to its position as the pre-eminent global economic institution that it once was. This volume brings together the most important and inspiring speeches made by James Wolfensohn during his time as World Bank president Voices of the World's Poor brings together over 100 of Wolfensohn's most important and inspiring speeches, essays and letters during the decade of his presidency. It presents the most thought-provoking ideas on critical global issues, including poverty, HIV/AIDS, trade, globalization, education, human rights, peace and security. Written during some of the most tumultuous times in recent history, Wolfensohn's writings examines key global events and issues, from Bosnia's reconstruction, the Asian financial crisis, and the rise of the globalization movement, to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the aftermath of the Iraq war, and the outpouring of help for the victims of the tsunami of December 2004. The works collected here describes both Wolfensohn's thinking on development and his advocacy for the world's poor. This book will be an invaluable resource for any audience interested, in development, international relations, the World Bank and Wolfensohn himself Spanning all ten years of Wolfhenson presidency (1995-2005), the book presents his most stimulating and thought-provoking writings on critical global issues, including poverty, debt relief, corruption, HIV/AIDS, climate change, human rights, and globalization. Written during some of the most tumultuous times in recent history, Wolfhenson writings address and examine key global events and issues, from the Asian financial crisis, the rise of the antiglobalization movement and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 to strife in Sudan, the global spread of AIDS and the global war on terror. With over 100 of Wolfensohn's writings, this book will be an invaluable resource for readers interested in international relations, international development, the World Bank, and James Wolfensohn himself "Voice for the World's Poor brings together over 100 of Wolfensohn's most important and inspiring speeches, essays, and letters during the decade of his presidency."--BOOK JACKET