World Bank Group Historical Chronology: 1990-1999

1990
1990	International events	Lithuania declares its independence from USSR. Elections in East Germany and Hungary bring down communist regimes. East and West Germany are reunited (October 3). Iraqi forces invade Kuwait (August 2). US sends forces and organizes international coalition against Iraq. UN imposes sanctions against Iraq. Nelson Mandela is released from prison in South Africa and negotiates end of apartheid with F. W. de Klerk. Namibia becomes independent. Sandinista regime in Nicaragua agrees to free elections, and loses power to anti-Marxist coalition. Margaret Thatcher is replaced by John Major as British Prime Minister. Ornidyl, a new drug treatment for African sleeping sickness, is approved by WHO.
1990	January 1	Willi Wapenhans re-assumes Vice Presidency EMENA.
1990	January 30	The largest IBRD loan (in nominal terms) - $1,260 million to Mexico in support of that country's debt-reduction program, is approved.
1990	February 1	First funding for Croatia: Loan 3069 Istria Water Supply & Sewerage Project.
1990	February 1	First funding for Slovenia: Loan 3070 Istria & Slovene Coast Water Supply & Sewerage Project.
1990	February 20	President Conable travels to Poland, accompanied by Willi A. Wapenhans. He pledges support for reforms in Eastern Europe and Poland in particular.
1990	February 22	First funding for Poland: Loan 3166 Industrial Export Development Project.
1990	March	First operation under the Debt-Reduction Facility for IDA-Only Countries: $9.1 million to Bolivia.
1990	March 1	World Bank establishes Resident Mission in Buenos Aires, Argentina, headed by Ms. Myrna L. Alexander.
1990	March 19	Appointment of Mr. Stephen Eccles as Vice President and Controller.
1990	March 26	Announcement that IFC will open an office in Islamabad, Pakistan, headed by Mr. John Pott.
1990	March 30	Dr. Michael Irwin resigns as Director, Health Services Department and writes derogatory information about the Bank in the Wall Street Journal.
1990	March 30	First funding for Sub-Saharan Africa Region: Loan 3161 and Credit 2089 Regional Development Project (03).
1990	April 13	Announcement that the Bank has selected the design for the Main Complex Rehabilitation, following an international design competition.
1990	April 18	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Swaziland, becoming the 56th member of MIGA.
1990	April 20	Tonga becomes the 92nd member of ICSID.
1990	April 20	Environment Program for Mediterranean (EPM) becomes operational. The program is designed to provide coordinated financial support from the World Bank and the European Investment Bank (EIB). The two development banks, together with UNDP and the European Communities, fund the initial three-year cycle (1990-1993) of the Mediterranean Environmental Technical Assistance Program (METAP).
1990	April 24	First funding for St. Lucia: Loan 3184 and Credit 2120 Water Supply Project.
1990	April 25	President Conable addresses the Bretton Woods Committee in Washington, DC, calling for better governance in African countries.
1990	May 1	IFC opens Regional Mission for Central Africa in Douala, Cameroon, headed by Mr. Roger Blondel.
1990	May 2	IFC Articles of Agreement signed by Cape Verde, becoming the 135th member of IFC.
1990	May 15	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Botswana, becoming the 57th member of MIGA.
1990	May 21	Fourth Attitude Survey distributed to Bank staff.
1990	May 22	Yemen Arab Republic and Yemen PDR merge to form Republic of Yemen (bringing total IBRD membership to 151 and IFC membership to 135 and IDA membership to 137).
1990	June 5	Meeting of donors is held in Paris to plan the Africa Capacity Building Initiative, a joint program of the World Bank, UNDP, and the African Development Bank designed to improve local skills and institutions for policy analysis and economic management in Sub-Saharan Africa.
1990	June 6	Appointment of Dr. Bernhard H. Liese as Director, Health Services Department.
1990	June 14	World Bank approves its first transaction under the Expanded Cofinancing Operations (ECO) program a partially guaranteed $100 million fixed rate 15 year bond issue for India's Housing Development Finance Corporation.
1990	June 29	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Poland, becoming the 58th member of MIGA.
1990	June 30	Lending for education crosses the $1 billion mark for a fiscal year for the first time.
1990	July 1	World Bank establishes Resident Mission in Warsaw, Poland, headed by Mr. Ian M. Hume. IFC establishes Mission in Sao Paulo, Brazil, headed by Mr. Stanley R. Greig.
1990	August 1	IFC establishes Regional Mission for Southern Africa in Harare, Zimbabwe, headed by Mr. Thomas Milton.
1990	August 2	Gulf Crisis begins when Iraqi forces invade Kuwait. Enhanced security measures are instituted for Bank staff in headquarters and field offices.
1990	September 1	IFC establishes a Resident Mission in Warsaw, Poland, headed by Mr. Anthony Doran. African Project Development Facility (APDF) establishes a Regional Office for Southern Africa in Harare, Zimbabwe, headed by Mr. Omari M. Issa.
1990	September 1	President Conable travels to Hungary and Yugoslavia for meetings with government officials.
1990	September 10	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by St. Vincent and the Grenadines, becoming the 59th member of MIGA.
1990	September 12	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Malta, becoming the 60th member of MIGA.
1990	September 20	Czechoslovakia rejoins the Bank, IFC, and IDA (bringing the total membership of IBRD to 152, IFC membership to 136 and IDA membership to 138). Czechoslovakia joins MIGA, becoming the 61st member.
1990	September 23	IFC Articles of Agreement signed by Algeria, becoming the 137th member of IFC.
1990	September 23	IFC Articles of Agreement signed by Romania, becoming the 138th member of IFC.
1990	September 24	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Fiji, becoming the 62nd member of MIGA.
1990	September 25	IBRD Articles of Agreement signed by Bulgaria, becoming the 153rd member of the Bank.
1990	September 25	IBRD, IFC and MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Namibia, becoming the 154th member of the Bank, the 139th member of IFC and the 63rd member of MIGA.
1990	September 25	President Conable opens Annual Meetings in Washington, DC, warning that the Gulf Crisis must not distract the world's attention from the plight of the poor.
1990	October	Second phase of Special Program of Assistance (SPA II) is launched. Eighteen donors pledge $7.4 billion in cofinancing to support adjustment programs in low-income, heavily indebted countries of Sub-Saharan Africa.
1990	October 3	Results of the fourth Attitude Survey are released to staff.
1990	October 29	Announcement that the full text of the Administrative Manual is available electronically through the All-in-1 system.
1990	November 14	President Conable travels to Moscow, and is the first World Bank President to visit the Soviet Union.
1990	November 28	The Global Environment Facility, jointly administered by the Bank, The United Nations Development Programme, and the United Nations Environment Programme, is launched via an announcement in Paris.
1990	December 28	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Mauritius, becoming the 64th member of MIGA.

1991
1991	International events	Gulf War breaks out (mid-January) as US-led alliance with sanction of UN invades Kuwait and Iraq, expelling Iraqi forces from Kuwait. Iraq subjected to UN supervision of weapons and restrictions on military activities. Warsaw Pact annulled (April 1). Boris Yeltsin becomes President of Russia. Coup against Gorbachev fails in USSR. Chechnya declares its independence. USSR is dissolved, and some of the republics form the Commonwealth of Independent States. War begins in Yugoslavia as Slovenia and Croatia declare their independence. Yugoslavian (Serbian) Army invades Croatia, initiating a war that lasts into the mid 1990s. In South Africa, apartheid laws are repealed. Nelson Mandela is elected president of African National Congress. Former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi is assassinated. Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay sign Mercosur trade pact.
1991	January 14	Lawrence Summers takes office as Vice president for development economics and Chief Economist, replacing Stanley Fischer, who left the Bank in August 1990.
1991	January 23	The ninth replenishment of IDA resources in the amount of SDR 11.68 billion (approximately $15.5 billion) goes into effect for the three-year period fiscal 1991-1993. IDA Governors limit the combined allocation of IDA funds to the two largest active borrowers (China and India) to 30 percent.
1991	January 30	Announcement on security and travel arrangements is issued. Due to Gulf War crisis, operational travel is suspended to fourteen countries, and is restricted (possible only with Country Director's approval) for another nineteen countries. Increased security measures will be implemented at headquarters and field offices.
1991	February	African Capacity Building Initiative (ACBI) is launched.
1991	February 14	IBRD, IFC and IDA Articles of Agreement signed by Mongolia, becoming the 155th member of the Bank, the 140th member of IFC, and the 139th member of IDA.
1991	February 14	IFC establishes the Polish Business Advisory Services (PBAS) in Warsaw, Poland, to provide financial and technical advisory services for emerging businesses and entrepreneurs in Poland.
1991	March 1	IFC establishes Resident Mission in Budapest, Hungary, headed by Mr. Dennis T. Koromzay. IFC establishes Resident Mission in Prague, Czechoslovakia, headed by Mr. Vikas Thapar.
1991	March 6	President Conable advised the Board of Executive Directors that he does not intend to seek a second term as Bank Group President.
1991	March 13	Announcement that the resolution of the Gulf Crisis means that the recently instituted enhanced security restrictions may be eased for Bank staff.
1991	March 14	Executive Directors approve the Resolution on the establishment of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), with World Bank as administrator, in partnership with United Nations Development Program, and the United Nations Environment Program. Wilfried Thalwitz is appointed Chairman. The Global Environmental Facility was created to provide grants to developing countries to finance projects and activities to protect the global environment.
1991	March 18	Gregory K. Ingram appointed Administrator, Research Advisory Staff.
1991	April 1	IFC Articles of Agreement signed by Central African Republic, becoming the 141st member of IFC.
1991	April 11	Executive Directors select Lewis T. Preston to succeed Barber Conable as President of the World Bank Group upon Mr. Conable's retirement on August 31, 1991.
1991	April 12	Technical Assistance Review Task Force is created to examine the Bank's role and performance in delivering technical assistance. The Task Force report is due July, 1991.
1991	April 15	European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is established.
1991	April 23	Appointment of Mr. Ian Johnson as Administrator, Global Environment Facility.
1991	May 10	IFC launches the South Pacific Project Facility, to provide technical assistance to private entrepreneurs of the South Pacific Region to help develop small-to-medium sized enterprises.
1991	May 10	Death of Bela Balassa, international development economics specialist, who served as consultant to the Bank in many influential roles since 1968.
1991	June	IFC's Board of Directors approved an increase in the Corporation's capital to $2,3000 million.
1991	June 1	Australia becomes the 93rd member of ICSID.
1991	June 1	Mohamed T. El-Ashry is appointed Director of the Environment Department, replacing Kenneth Piddington, who served as Environment Director since April 1988.
1991	June 11	Report on follow-up activities to the fourth Attitude Survey is released.
1991	June 14	First funding for St. Kitts and Nevis: Loan 3332 and Credit 2248 Agricultural Development Support Project.
1991	June 17	President Barber Conable commissions an independent review of the ongoing implementation of the Sardar Sarovar (Narmada) projects in India, which are partially financed by the World Bank. Mr. Bradford Morse is appointed to head the commission which will study the environmental and resettlement issues associated with the project.
1991	June 23	Grenada becomes the 94th member of ICSID.
1991	June 30	China replaces India as the largest IDA borrower.
1991	July 14	Mongolia becomes the 95th member of ICSID.
1991	July 18	World Bank publishes a Forest Policy Paper, announcing that it will not, under any circumstances, finance commercial logging in primary tropical moist forests (TMFs). In addition, the financing of infrastructure projects which may lead to the loss of primary forests will be subject to the rigorous environmental assessments that the Bank conducts for projects that raise environmental and resettlement issues.
1991	July 22	IFC Articles of Agreement signed by Bulgaria, becoming the 142nd member of IFC. First funding for Bulgaria: Loan 3384 - Technical Assistance for Economic Reform Project.
1991	July 26	First funding for Angola: Credit 2274 - Economic Management Capacity Building Project.
1991	July 31	First funding for Czech Republic/Slovak Republic: Loan 3374 - Structural Adjustment Loan Project.
1991	August 13	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Ethiopia, becoming the 65th member of MIGA.
1991	August 27	Executive Directors approve a $30 million Trust Fund to finance a program of technical cooperation to help the Soviet Union move toward a market economy.
1991	August 29	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Luxembourg, becoming the 66th member of MIGA.
1991	September	The World Bank and the Environment, the Bank's first annual report to the public on its environmental activities, is published.
1991	September	World Bank's poverty policy paper Assistance Strategies to Reduce Poverty is issued.
1991	September 1	Lewis T. Preston becomes the eighth President of the Bank.
1991	September 17	President Preston announces a limited reorganization of the Bank, establishing three managing directors in the office of the President: Attila Karaosmanoglu, Sven Sandstrom, and Ernest Stern.
1991	October 3	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Bolivia, becoming the 67th member of MIGA.
1991	October 7	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Dominica, becoming the 68th member of MIGA.
1991	October 15	IBRD, IFC, IDA, and MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Albania, becoming the 156th member of the Bank, the 143rd member of IFC, the 140th member of IDA, and the 69th member of MIGA.
1991	October 15	President Preston opens Annual Meetings in Bangkok, Thailand, saying that the reduction of poverty is the "overarching objective" of the Bank.
1991	October 16	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Republic of Congo, becoming the 70th member of MIGA.
1991	October 21	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Papua New Guinea, becoming the 71st member of MIGA.
1991	October 24	Chile becomes the 96th member of ICSID.
1991	October 31	Announcement that Vice President Willi Wapenhans will retire from the Bank, after 32 years of service, effective October 1992. In the interim period, he will work on special assignments for the President.
1991	November 1	Visvanathan Rajagopolan becomes Chairman of Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).
1991	November 7	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Sudan, becoming the 72nd member of MIGA.
1991	November 14	Albania becomes the 97th member of ICSID.
1991	November 19	Executive Directors authorize the Bank to negotiate a partial guarantee for a $360 million commercially syndicated loan to support the Hub Power Project in Pakistan. Total project cost is expected to be $1.5 billion, and is cosponsored by the Export-Import Bank of Japan.
1991	November 30	Senior Vice President Moeen A. Qureshi retires from the Bank after 21 years of service in the Bank.
1991	December 1	World Bank establishes Resident Mission in Moscow, Soviet Union, headed by Mr. Everardus Stoutjesdijk.
1991	December 1	Senior staff appointments: Johannes Linn appointed Vice President, Financial Policy and Risk Management; Joseph Wood Appointed Vice President, South Asia ;Wilfried Thalwitz appointed Vice President, Europe and Central Asia; Caio Koch-Weser appointed Vice President, Middle East and North Africa; Gautam Kaji appointed Vice President, East Asia and Pacifica. Mohamed T. El-Ashry appointed Chairman of the Global Environment Facility.
1991	December 1	Richard Stern appointed Manager, Energy Sector Management Assistance Programme (ESMAP); Barbara Searle appointed Ombudsman.
1991	December 2	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Peru, becoming the 73rd member of MIGA.
1991	December 5	In Washington, President Preston meets with President Nelson Mandela, President of the African National Congress, to discuss the Bank's role in post-apartheid South Africa.
1991	December 6	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Malaysia, becoming the 74th member of MIGA.
1991	December 12	First grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) is approved a $4.5 million project to protect the biological diversity of two endangered forest ecosystems in Poland.
1991	December 12	First Aid Coordination meeting for Lebanon is convened by the World Bank in Paris, attended by eleven governments and fifteen international aid organizations.
1991	December 15	World Bank establishes Resident Mission in Managua, Nicaragua, headed by Mr. Ulrich Lachler.
1991	December 20	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by El Salvador, becoming the 75th member of MIGA.
1991	December 27	First funding for Mongolia: Credit 2321 Technical Assistance Project.
1991	December 31	The Soviet Union officially ceases to exist.

1992
1992	International events	Bosnia-Herzegovina becomes independent, sparking ethnic violence between Muslims and Serbs. UN peacekeeping force established. US sends troops to Somalia, under UN auspices, on humanitarian mission. In China, Deng Xiaoping reaffirms free market economic growth. Peace accords end twelve years of civil war in El Salvador. Crisis occurs in the European Exchange Rate Mechanism, United Kingdom forced to leave. UN-sponsored environment conference held in Brazil results in 150 nations signing a Convention on Biological Diversity.
1992	January 1	World Bank establishes a Resident Mission in Cairo, Egypt, headed by Mr. Sven Burmester.
1992	January 6	Entire northwest business section of Washington, D. C. suffers an electrical power outage. Evacuation of Bank buildings proceeded smoothly, with no major injuries reported.
1992	January 10	IFC Articles of Agreement signed by Equatorial Guinea, becoming the 144th member of IFC.
1992	January 29	IFC Articles of Agreement signed by Lao People's Democratic Republic, becoming the 145th member of IFC.
1992	February 4	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Yugoslavia, becoming the 76th member of MIGA.
1992	February 5	President Preston begins a ten day trip to Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.
1992	February 11	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Argentina, becoming the 77th member of MIGA.
1992	February 11	Bank announces that 130 higher level and requisite complement of support staff will be hired in order to respond to the expansion of the Bank's business resulting from the new memberships of the Commonwealth of Independent States following the breakup of the Soviet Union.
1992	February 19	Former World Bank President Eugene Black dies in Southampton, N.Y. at the age of 93. Mr. Black was President from 1949 to 1962.
1992	March 1	Jessica Einhorn is appointed Vice President and Treasurer, succeeding Donald Roth.
1992	March 3	World Bank issues press release denying reports in the Mexican press that the World Bank advocated the legalization of abortion in Latin America. The statement said that the Bank recognizes that abortion is a health issue that needs to be addressed, but that legal issues are for the countries themselves to decide.
1992	April 1	Resident Mission in Bulgaria opens, headed by John Wilton. Resident Mission in Romania opens, headed by Arntraud Hartmann.
1992	April 8	Czechoslovakia becomes the 98th member of ICSID.
1992	April 10	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Zimbabwe, becoming the 78th member of MIGA.
1992	April 30	Hugh Scott, Associate General Counsel, retires from Bank. Mr. David Goldberg succeeds him.
1992	May 4	The Board approves a $1 billion increase in the authorized capital of the IFC, bringing total authorized capital to $2.3 billion.
1992	May 11	Operational Directive on poverty reduction and the Poverty Reduction Handbook are issued in the Bank.
1992	May 20	Memo to staff regarding the work of the Advisory Group on Higher-Level Women's issues, and how the recommendations will be implemented.
1992	May 21	IBRD Articles of Agreement signed by Marshall Islands, becoming the 157th member of the Bank.
1992	May 21	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Israel, becoming the 79th member of MIGA.
1992	May 29	IBRD, IFC and IDA Articles of Agreement signed by Switzerland, becoming the 158th member of the Bank, the 146th member of IFC, and the 141st member of IDA.
1992	June 4	The Second United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED II, or "Earth Summit") is held in Rio de Janeiro. President Preston addresses the conference, saying that promoting development and protecting the environment are complementary aspects of the same agenda.
1992	June 10	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Uganda, becoming the 80th member of MIGA.
1992	June 12	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Nicaragua, becoming the 81st member of MIGA.
1992	June 16	IBRD and IDA Articles of Agreement signed by the Russian Federation, becoming the 159th member of the Bank and the 142nd member of IDA.
1992	June 17	Tanzania becomes the 99th member of ICSID.
1992	June 18	The report of the Independent Review of the Sardor Sarovar Project, chaired by Bradford Morse, is published. Initial Bank response by President Preston says that continued support of the project is warranted and promises that the problems will be addressed vigorously and comprehensively. (Bank participation in the project was canceled in 1995.)
1992	June 19	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Tanzania, becoming the 82nd member of MIGA.
1992	June 23	IBRD Articles of Agreement signed by Estonia, becoming the 160th member of the Bank.
1992	June 29	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Belize, becoming the 83rd member of MIGA.
1992	June 29	First funding for Albania: Credit 2404 Critical Imports Project.
1992	June 30	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Honduras, becoming the 84th member of MIGA.
1992	June 30	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Paraguay, becoming the 85th member of MIGA.
1992	July 1	IFC reorganizes into Regional Departments and Specialist Departments.
1992	July 1	World Bank opens Resident Mission in Budapest, Hungary, headed by Andrew Rogerson.
1992	July 2	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Trinidad and Tobago, becoming the 86th member of MIGA.
1992	July 6	IBRD Articles of Agreement signed by Lithuania, becoming the 161st member of the Bank.
1992	July 9	Ikira Iida becomes Executive Vice President of MIGA.
1992	July 10	IBRD Articles of Agreement signed by Belarus, becoming the 162nd member of the Bank.
1992	July 13	IFC Articles of Agreement signed by Comoros, becoming the 147th member of IFC.
1992	July 14	World Bank establishes Resident Mission in Tirana, Albania, headed by Kutlay Ebiri.
1992	July 23	IBRD and IDA Articles of Agreement signed by Kazakhstan, becoming the 163rd member of the Bank and the 143rd member of IDA.
1992	July 23	Estonia becomes the 100th member of ICSID.
1992	August 5	Lithuania becomes the 101st member of ICSID.
1992	August 7	IBRD Articles of Agreement signed by Georgia, becoming the 164th member of the Bank.
1992	August 9	Belarus becomes the 102nd member of ICSID.
1992	August 11	IBRD and IDA Articles of Agreement signed by Latvia, becoming the 165th member of the Bank and the 14th member of IDA.
1992	August 12	IBRD Articles of Agreement signed by Moldova, becoming the 166th member of the Bank.
1992	August 18	New operational travel policies announced, defining when business class and first class seating is allowable.
1992	August 28	Work-Family Agenda recommendations announced to the Bank staff.
1992	September 3	IBRD Articles of Agreement signed by Ukraine, becoming the 167th member of the Bank.
1992	September 6	Georgia becomes the 103rd member of ICSID.
1992	September 8	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Mauritania, becoming the 87th member of MIGA.
1992	September 10	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Romania, becoming the 88th member of MIGA.
1992	September 11	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by The Gambia, becoming the 89th member of MIGA.
1992	September 15	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Seychelles, becoming the 90th member of MIGA.
1992	September 16	IBRD Articles of Agreement signed by Armenia, becoming the 168th member of the Bank.
1992	September 17	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Morocco, becoming the 91st member of MIGA.
1992	September 18	IBRD Articles of Agreement signed by Azerbaijan, becoming the 169th member of the Bank.
1992	September 18	IBRD Articles of Agreement signed by Republic of Kyrgyzstan (Kyrgyz Republic), becoming the 170th member of the Bank.
1992	September 18	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Belgium, becoming the 92nd member of MIGA.
1992	September 21	IBRD Articles of Agreement signed by Uzbekistan, becoming the 171st member of the Bank.
1992	September 22	IBRD Articles of Agreement signed by Turkmenistan, becoming the 172nd member of the Bank.
1992	September 23	IFC Articles of Agreement signed by Marshall Islands, becoming the 148th member of IFC.
1992	September 23	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Bulgaria, becoming the 93rd member of MIGA.
1992	September 23	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Azerbaijan, becoming the 94th member of MIGA.
1992	September 24	IDA Articles of Agreement signed by republic of Kyrgyzstan (Kyrgyz Republic) , becoming the 145th member of IDA.
1992	September 24	IDA Articles of Agreement signed by Uzbekistan, becoming the 146th member of IDA.
1992	September 24	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Estonia, becoming the 95th member of MIGA.
1992	September 30	New operational travel policy guidelines become effective.
1992	October 1	World Bank establishes Resident Mission for Central Asia in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, to serve Kyrghyzstan, Tadjikistan and Turkmenistan. The Resident Mission is headed by Mr. Parvez Hasan.
1992	October 2	First funding for Estonia: Loan 3522 Rehabilitation Loan Project.
1992	October 16	Armenia becomes the 104th member of ICSID.
1992	October 16	World Bank reorganization is announced. Vice Presidency for Sector and Operations Policy is replaced by three new vice presidencies: Human Resources Development and Operations Policy, headed by Armeane Choksi; Finance and Private Sector Development, headed by Jean-Francois Rischard; and Environmentally Sustainable Development, headed by Ismail Serageldin. All research is consolidated under the Chief Economist and Vice President for Development Economics. Regional Technical Departments are made smaller and the sector operations divisions are strengthened.
1992	October 18	Azerbaijan becomes the 105th member of ICSID.
1992	October 22	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Mali, becoming the 96th member of MIGA.
1992	October 23	First funding for Lithuania: Loan 3524 Rehabilitation Loan Project.
1992	October 23	First funding for Latvia: Loan 3525 Rehabilitation Loan Project.
1992	October 26	Turkmenistan becomes the 106th member of ICSID.
1992	November 1	The Executive Board increases in size from twenty-two to twenty-four Executive Directors with a nonelected seat created for Saudi Arabia and an additional seat for Switzerland and other constituents.
1992	November 2	IFC Articles of Agreement signed by Belarus, becoming the 149th member of IFC.
1992	November 3	The report of the Task Force on Portfolio Management (the "Wapenhans Report") is transmitted to the Executive Directors.
1992	November 4	ITF announces plans for Enterprise Network (EN) to all staff.
1992	November 16	First funding for Russian Federation: Loan 3513 Rehabilitation Loan Project.
1992	December 3	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Belarus, becoming the 97th member of MIGA.
1992	December 29	IDA Articles of Agreement signed by Portugal, becoming the 147th member of IDA.
1992	December 29	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by the Russian Federation, becoming the 98th member of MIGA.
1992	December 29	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Georgia, becoming the 99th member of MIGA.

1993
1993	International events	Czechoslovakia splits into Czech Republic and Slovakia. Maastricht Treaty comes into effect. European Union members agree to introduce a common currency, drop all trade barriers, and accept a common defense and foreign policy. Israel signs peace agreement with PLO. Cambodia is restored to constitutional monarchy under King Norodom Sihanouk. Russian President Yeltsin survives a referendum on his government and crushes Supreme Soviet rebellion. A new constitution is adopted and new Duma is elected.
1993	January 1	Czechoslovakia ceases to exist, and is replaced by the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic. IBRD, IFC, IDA and MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Czech Republic, becoming the 172nd member of the Bank, the 149th member of IFC, the 147th member of IDA, and the 99th member of MIGA. IBRD, IFC and IDA Articles of Agreement signed by Slovak Republic, becoming the 173rd member of the Bank, the 150th member of IFC, the 148th member of IDA, and the 100th member of MIGA.
1993	January 6	Occupational Streams concept is introduced in a memo to all staff.
1993	January 7	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Brazil, becoming the 101st member of MIGA.
1993	January 13	Memo sent to staff regarding the reorganization-related and Main Complex Rehabilitation office moves. GSD estimates that over 4,000 staff will move offices within the next six months.
1993	January 15	IFC Articles of Agreement signed by Lithuania, becoming the 151st member of IFC.
1993	January 19	IDA Articles of Agreement signed by Marshall Islands, becoming the 149th member of IDA.
1993	January 21	President Preston sends a memo to staff regarding the results of the Task Force on Portfolio Management (Wapenhans Report) and what it will mean for Bank business.
1993	February 6	China becomes the 107th member of ICSID.
1993	February 11	IFC Articles of Agreement signed by Republic of Kyrgyzstan (Kyrgyz Republic), becoming the 152nd member of IFC.
1993	February 23	No Smoking policy implemented in all Bank Group buildings.
1993	February 25	Yugoslavia ceases membership in IBRD and IFC (bringing total IBRD membership to 172, IFC membership to 151, and IDA membership to 148). IBRD, IFC and IDA Articles of Agreement signed by Bosnia and Herzegovina, becoming the 173rd member of the Bank, the 152nd member of IFC, and 149th member of IDA.
1993	February 25	IBRD, IFC and IDA Articles of Agreement signed by Croatia, becoming the 174th member of the Bank, the153rd member of IFC and the 150th member of IDA.
1993	February 25	IBRD, IFC and IDA Articles of Agreement signed by Macedonia, becoming the 175th member of the Bank, the 154th member of IFC and the 151st member of IDA.
1993	February 25	IBRD, IFC and IDA Articles of Agreement signed by Slovenia, becoming the 176th member of the Bank, the 155th member of IFC and the 152nd member of IDA.
1993	March 1	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Uruguay, becoming the 102nd member of MIGA.
1993	March 15	First funding for Moldova: Loan 3569 Emergency Drought Recovery Project.
1993	March 19	Yugoslavia ceases to be a member of MIGA, bringing the total membership in MIGA to 101.
1993	March 19	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Bosnia and Herzegovina, becoming the 102nd member of MIGA.
1993	March 19	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Croatia, becoming the 103rd member of MIGA.
1993	March 19	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Macedonia, becoming the 104th member of MIGA.
1993	March 19	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Slovenia, becoming the 105th member of MIGA.
1993	April 5	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Libya, becoming the 106th member of MIGA.
1993	April 7	First funding for Armenia: Loan 3585 - Institution Building Loan Project.
1993	April 7	First funding for Eritrea: Credit 2478 Recovery and Rehabilitation Project for Eritrea.
1993	April 12	IFC Articles of Agreement signed by Russian Federation, becoming the 156th member of IFC.
1993	April 23	Czech Republic replaces the former Czechoslovakia (which ceased to exist January 1, 1993) as member in ICSID, becoming member number 107.
1993	May 10	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Cape Verde, becoming the 107th member of MIGA.
1993	May 18	President Preston sends memo to staff about progress in the Main Complex Rehabilitation Project, indicating that there is expected to a cost overrun from the original estimates.
1993	May 20	First funding for Kyrgyz Republic: Credit 2491 Rehabilitation Credit project.
1993	May 27	Costa Rica becomes the 108th member of ICSID.
1993	June 4	IBRD and IDA Articles of Agreement signed by Tajikistan, becoming the 177th member of IBRD, and the 153rd member of IDA.
1993	June 8	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Lithuania, becoming the 108th member of MIGA.
1993	June 9	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Moldova, becoming the 109th member of MIGA.
1993	June 9	President Preston sends memo to staff announcing the Business Innovation and Simplification (BIAS) Committee.
1993	June 24	IBRD, IFC and IDA Articles of Agreement signed by Federated States of Micronesia, becoming the 178th member of IBRD, the 157th member of IFC and the 154th member of IDA.
1993	June 25	President Preston reports to staff on progress on women's representation among higher level staff.
1993	June 25	First funding for Ukraine: Loan 3614 Institution Building Project.
1993	July	Construction completed on Phase I of the New Main Complex, and 2,000 staff begin moves to new office space.
1993	July 1	Simplified budget process, including dollar budgeting, becomes operational in the Bank.
1993	July 1	President Preston admitted to Georgetown University Hospital for heart surgery; Ernest Stern is designated Acting President.
1993	July 9	Executive Directors approve the recommendations of the report Portfolio Management: Next Steps A Program of Actions. All Bank staff are encouraged the read the report. Project implementation is to be improved by increasing participation by borrowers, simplification of project design, and more emphasis on the entire country portfolio rather than individual projects.
1993	July 14	World Bank releases the main conclusions of its internal investigation into cost overruns in the Main Complex Rehabilitation Project. Budget overruns of nearly $50 million are blamed on unrealistically low original project estimates. No financial impropriety is alleged.
1993	July 24	Federated States of Micronesia becomes the 109th member of ICSID.
1993	August 1	World Bank establishes a Resident Mission in Almaty, Kazakhstan, headed by Mr. David Pearce.
1993	August 9	IFC Articles of Agreement signed by Estonia, becoming the 158th member of IFC.
1993	August 11	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Federated States of Micronesia, becoming the 110th member of MIGA.
1993	August 12	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Kazakhstan, becoming the 111th member of MIGA.
1993	August 13	First funding for Belarus: Loan 3640 - Institution Building Loan project.
1993	August 25	IDA Articles of Agreement signed by Armenia, becoming the 155th member of IDA.
1993	August 26	Executive Directors approve a new information disclosure policy, Expanding Access to Bank Information. Actions resulting from the policy include a new Project Information Document (PID) and public disclosure of Environmental Assessments (EAs), Project appraisal reports, Summaries of Evaluation reports, and country economic and sector reports. A new Public Information Center will be established to provide information on Bank Group activities.
1993	August 30	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Greece, becoming the 112th member of MIGA.
1993	August 31	IDA Articles of Agreement signed by Georgia, becoming the 156th member of IDA.
1993	September 1	Michael Bruno is appointed Vice President, Development Economics and Chief Economist, replacing Lawrence Summers, who left the Bank in January 1993.
1993	September 8	Peru becomes the 110th member of ICSID.
1993	September 10	Bank issues Developing the Occupied Territories: An Investment in Peace, an assessment of the economies of the West Bank and Gaza strip.
1993	September 16	Bank issues Water Resources Management policy paper, outlining Bank assistance in the economic, environmental and equitable use of water resources.
1993	September 21	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Kyrgyz Republic, becoming the 113th member of MIGA.
1993	September 22	The independent Inspection Panel is established, with the mandate to receive and investigate complaints that the Bank has not followed its own policies and procedures with respect to the design, appraisal, or the implementation of development projects. The first members of the panel are announced April 22, 1994.
1993	September 28	World Bank agrees to provide over $1.8 billion in loans to Mexico for environmental projects over the next three years. The loans will finance projects in water supply, sanitation, industrial pollution control, protection of natural resources, capacity building, and education.
1993	September 29	IFC Articles of Agreement signed by Latvia, becoming the 159th member of IFC.
1993	September 30	IFC Articles of Agreement signed by Uzbekistan, becoming the 160th member of IFC.
1993	September 30	IFC Articles of Agreement signed by Kazakhstan, becoming the 161st member of IFC.
1993	October 1	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Turkmenistan, becoming the 114th member of MIGA.
1993	October 1	World Bank and European Investment Bank (EIB) announce the second three-year phase of the Mediterranean Environmental Technical Assistance Program (METAP). METAP II has a broadened geographic scope, an increased scale of operations, and a sharper focus on water quality, urban environmental management and domestic capacity building.
1993	October 15	First funding for Kazakhstan: Loan 3649 Rehabilitation Loan Project.
1993	October 18	IFC Articles of Agreement signed by Ukraine, becoming the 162nd member of IFC.
1993	October 19	World Bank establishes two trust funds to provide assistance to the West Bank and Gaza strip. The trust funds will support emergency rehabilitation, provide technical assistance, and finance feasibility studies.
1993	October 20	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by United Arab Emirates, becoming the 115th member of MIGA.
1993	October 22	First funding for Uzbekistan: Loan 3650 Institution Building / Technical Assistance Project.
1993	October 26	First meeting of the Consultative Group for Moldova meets in Paris.
1993	November 4	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Uzbekistan, becoming the 116th member of MIGA.
1993	November 5	First funding for Cambodia: Credit 2550 - Emergency Rehabilitation Project.
1993	November 16	Bilsel Alisbah retires as Vice President, Personnel and Administration.
1993	November 18	Headquarters Construction Department, headed by Enrico Henriod, is created to oversee the construction of the new Bank buildings.
1993	November 19	President Preston sends memo to all staff concerning cost overruns in Main Complex Rehabilitation Project. The project is now estimated to be $100 million over budget. Cost overruns are due to unrealistically low budget estimates and lack of attention by senior management , but not to financial impropriety. A set of actions to correct the situation is described.
1993	November 29	World Bank hosts conference to build consensus on an agenda to reduce world hunger. Former US President Carter and UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali address the conference in Washington. World Bank President Lewis Preston says the Bank will expand support for micro-level credit programs.
1993	December 15	President Preston congratulates participants on the completion of the Uruguay Round of the GATT trade negotiations.
1993	December 17	The tenth replenishment of IDA resources becomes effective with a commitment authority of SDR 13 billion (equivalent to $18 billion) for the three-year period fiscal 1993-1996.

1994
1994	International events	North America Free Trade Association (NAFTA) goes into effect between Canada, US, and Mexico. Zapatista revolt breaks out in southern Mexico. Nelson Mandela elected first black President of South Africa; South Africa rejoins the British Commonwealth. In Rwanda, civil war and genocide trigger UN intervention and an International Criminal Tribunal. Russian forces invade the breakaway republic of Chechnya. US forces intervene in Haiti to oust military government and restore President Aristide to power. UN troops attempt to maintain "safe areas" for Muslims in Bosnian civil war. Serbs become even more aggressive, taking UN peacekeepers hostage. Israel and Jordan sign peace treaty. Mexican financial crisis sends shockwaves throughout Latin America. Channel Tunnel connects Britain and France.
1994	January	World Bank establishes a Resident Mission in Kingston, Jamaica, headed by Mr. Robert V. Pulley.
1994	January 1	Jannik Lindbaek becomes Executive Vice President of the IFC.
1994	January 3	The Public Information Center at the Bank's headquarters is opened.
1994	January 6	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by India, becoming the 117th member of MIGA.
1994	January 6	In West Africa, the CFA franc is devalued for the first time since its creation, changing a critical parameter for Bank policy in that region.
1994	January 16	S. Shahid Husain is appointed Vice President, Personnel and Administration. Shahid Javed Burki is appointed Vice President Latin America and Caribbean Region.
1994	February 8	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by the Philippines, becoming the 118th member of MIGA.
1994	February 8	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Costa Rica, becoming the 119th member of MIGA.
1994	February 9	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Nepal, becoming the 120th member of MIGA.
1994	February 14	First funding for Macedonia: Credit 2564 Economic Recovery Loan Project.
1994	March 1	World Bank announces a series of events to commemorate International Women's Day and to re-confirm the Bank's commitment to bring women into the mainstream of development and economic growth. Speakers include US Congresswoman Patricia Schroeder, Nancy Barry, Dorothy Thomas, Sally Helgesen, and Dr. Mamphela Ramphele, and others.
1994	March 10	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by South Africa, becoming the 121st member of MIGA.
1994	March 15	Roger Chaufournier dies. Mr. Chaufournier had been a Bank staff member for 32 years, and was known primarily for his varied work toward development in the Africa region.
1994	March 28	Bernard Bell dies. Mr. Bell retired from the Bank in 1977 as Vice President, East Asia and Pacific. He was known primarily for his study of the Indian economy and for his commitment to Indonesia's economic development.
1994	April 1	World Bank establishes Resident Mission in South Africa, headed by Mr. Isaac Sam.
1994	April 6	Slovenia becomes the 111th member of ICSID.
1994	April 8	World Bank issues report Resettlement and Development : the Bankwide review of projects involving involuntary resettlement 1986-1993. Included are the Bank's guidelines on displacement and resettlement.
1994	April 19	The Bank issues a strongly worded rejection of the conclusions of a report published by the Project on Demilitarization and Democracy, which criticized World Bank lending to Indonesia. The Bank replied that the report was "ideology and factual errors masquerading as serious research".
1994	April 22	The first members of the independent Inspection Panel are announced: Chairman Ernst-Gunther Broder, Alvar Umana Quesada, and Richard Etter Bissell.
1994	May 3	The Bank unveils a three-year, $1.2 billion program to assist Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza.
1994	May 9	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Venezuela, becoming the 122nd member of MIGA.
1994	May 17	World Bank issues a statement saying that it welcomes constructive debate on development issues, but feels that the proposals of the "50 Years is Enough" anti-World Bank campaign are misconceived or outdated.
1994	May 31	World Bank issues Governance: The World Bank Experience, which argues that good government is critical to economic development.
1994	June	For the first time the Bank's net disbursements turn negative.
1994	June 1	World Bank, UNEP, UNCTAD, and the International Council on Metals and the Environment sponsor the Conference on Development, Environment and Mining in Washington, D.C. The conference is to discuss how mining can contribute to economic development and be compatible with environmentally sustainable development.
1994	June 3	A plane carrying two Bank staff on mission in Bolivia is lost in the mountains of Bolivia. A second search plane crashes during rescue operations. No traces of Peter Seidl or Harvey Olem or their Bolivian colleagues were found.
1994	June 14	IDA Articles of Agreement signed by Moldova, becoming the 157th member of IDA.
1994	June 19	Zimbabwe becomes the 112th member of ICSID.
1994	June 26	Slovak Republic becomes the 113th member of ICSID.
1994	July 6	IBRD and IDA Articles of Agreement signed by Eritrea, becoming the 179th member of IBRD and the 158th member of IDA.
1994	July 11	First funding for Georgia: Credit 2641 Institution Building Project.
1994	July 19	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Ukraine, becoming the 123rd member of MIGA.
1994	September 1	Hollis Chenery dies. Mr. Chenery retired from the Bank in 1983 as Vice President for Economics and Research. Best known for defining the Bank as a development institution, and transforming a small group of economists into the leading center for research in economic development.
1994	September 8	The Executive Directors approve recommendations for mainstream guarantees as new operational tools for the Bank.
1994	September 17	Spain becomes the 114th member of ICSID.
1994	September 24	The Code of Professional Ethics is distributed to all staff.
1994	September 26	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Benin, becoming the 124th member of MIGA.
1994	October 4	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by The Bahamas, becoming the 125th member of MIGA.
1994	October 5	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Vietnam, becoming the 126th member of MIGA.
1994	October 5	First funding for Turkmenistan: Loan 3791 Institution Building / Technical Assistance Project.
1994	October 19	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Lebanon, becoming the 127th member of MIGA.
1994	October 27	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Equatorial Guinea, becoming the 128th member of MIGA.
1994	November 18	Argentina becomes the 115th member of ICSID.
1994	November 23	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Mozambique, becoming the 129th member of MIGA.
1994	December 1	Gautam Kaji is appointed Managing Director, replacing Attila Karaosmanoglu.
1994	December 2	IFC Articles of Agreement signed by Tajikistan, becoming the 163rd member of IFC.

1995
1995	International events	Serbian massacres of Muslims spark attacks by NATO air forces on Serb targets in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Negotiations in Dayton, Ohio lead to Dayton Accords settling the status of the former Yugoslavia. NATO-led force is created to oversee the implementation of the settlement. UN War Crimes Tribunal indicts Bosnian Serb leaders for genocide. Israel and PLO agree to expand Palestinian self-rule on the West Bank. Israeli troops begin withdrawal form West Bank after nearly 30 years of Israeli military rule. In US, terrorist bombing destroys Federal Building in Oklahoma City. Israeli Prime Minister Itzhak Rabin assassinated.
1995	February 1	Richard H. Frank appointed Managing Director.
1995	February 1	Announcement to staff that Lewis Preston has been diagnosed with cancer, and that Ernest Stern will serve as Acting President until further notice.
1995	March 3	With the signing of its two final loan agreements with the IBRD, the Republic of Korea becomes the first country to progress from being a purely concessional borrower to being an IDA donor and an IBRD graduate.
1995	March 10	IFC Articles of Agreement signed by Moldova, becoming the 164th member of IFC.
1995	March 16	Executive Directors select James D. Wolfensohn to serve as the ninth President of the World Bank Group.
1995	March 17	Armeane Choksi sends memo to staff on the recently completed Social Summit in Copenhagen, describing the Bank's position on the controversies over NGO involvement, adjustment, Africa, and multilateral debt.
1995	March 31	IDA Articles of Agreement signed by Azerbaijan , becoming the 159th member of IDA.
1995	April 18	IFC Articles of Agreement signed by Armenia, becoming the 165th member of IFC.
1995	April 19	Nicaragua becomes the 116th member of ICSID.
1995	May 4	Lewis T. Preston dies in Washington.
1995	May 23	First funding for Azerbaijan: Credit 2708 - Petroleum Technical Assistance Project.
1995	June 1	James D. Wolfensohn becomes the ninth president of the Bank. He issues memo announcing his immediate plans and what he expects from staff.
1995	June 1	Venezuela becomes the 117th member of ICSID.
1995	June 15	A $1.5 billion loan to Mexico is approved to strengthen the country's financial sector and ease the burden on the poor of post-devaluation problems.
1995	June 29	IFC Articles of Agreement signed by Georgia, becoming the 166th member of IFC.
1995	June 30	World Bank commitments amounted to $22.5 billion in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1995.
1995	June 30	Pepe Camacho retires as General Counsel for IFC.
1995	July 7	Mozambique becomes the 118th member of ICSID.
1995	July 10	Personnel function is reorganized and becomes the Human Resources Department.
1995	July 23	Bolivia becomes the 119th member of ICSID.
1995	August 23	Oman becomes the 120th member of ICSID.
1995	August 25	Uzbekistan becomes the 121st member of ICSID.
1995	September 3	St. Kitts and Nevis becomes the 122nd member of ICSID.
1995	September 8	Vice Presidents announce the establishment of two Bank-wide working groups on Change Agenda: one to focus on the issue of professional excellence, and the other on how to develop a culture of client responsiveness, results and accountability.
1995	September 22	IFC Articles of Agreement signed by Bahrain, becoming the 167th member of IFC.
1995	October	Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) announces the release of its Investment Promotion Network (IPAnet), an Internet-based information exchange targeted to the international investment community.
1995	October 5	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Guinea, becoming the 130th member of MIGA.
1995	October 10	IBRD Articles of Agreements signed by Brunei Darussalam, becoming the 180th member of IBRD.
1995	October 10	Annual Meetings begin in Washington. President Wolfensohn emphasizes partnerships, and calls for a new "compact" between the Bank, donors, and recipient countries.
1995	October 11	IFC Articles of Agreement signed by Azerbaijan Republic, becoming the 168th member of IFC.
1995	October 11	IFC Articles of Agreement signed by Eritrea, becoming the 169th member of IFC.
1995	November 18	The Bahamas becomes the 123rd member of ICSID.
1995	November 30	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Colombia, becoming the 131st member of MIGA.
1995	November 30	Shahid Husain, Senior Vice President, Management and Personnel, retires from Bank. Wilfried Thalwitz retires from position of Vice President, Europe and Central Asian Region.
1995	December	The Bank approved a Global Environment Trust fund grant of $3.2 billion to finance an energy project in the Russian Federation to explore further development of the natural gas sector to reduce gas emissions.
1995	December 5	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Armenia, becoming the 132nd member of MIGA.
1995	December 15	President Wolfensohn sends memo to staff, emphasizing that the organization is made up of one team, and forbidding the use of "higher level" and "support level" employment designations.

1996
1996	International events	Binyamin Netanyahu becomes Israeli prime minister, and the peace process slows. Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto is dismissed in Pakistan, bringing the country to the brink of disaster. IRA resumes campaign of violence. Controversy develops over claims to property, confiscated from Jews by Nazis, still being held by Swiss banks 50 years after the end of the Second World War.
1996	January 1	Five Managing Directors appointed: Gautam Kaji and Caio Koch-Weser in charge of Bank's operations, policies, and programs; Sven Sandstrom in charge of Human and Information Resources and Management Services; Jessica Einhorn in charge of finance and resource mobilization; Richard Frank in charge of private sector development strategy.
1996	January 1	Johannes Linn appointed as Vice President, Europe and Central Asia Region. Kermal Dervis is appointed Vice President, Middle East and North Africa Region. Timothy Thahane is appointed Vice President, United Nations Affairs. Mark Malloch Brown is appointed Vice President, External Relations. Michael Bruno is appointed Senior Vice President.
1996	January 4	Gary Perlin appointed Vice President and Treasurer, replacing Jessica Einhorn.
1996	January 23	Dorothy Hamachi Berry appointed Vice President of Human Resources.
1996	February 23	Trust Fund for Bosnia and Herzegovina is created.
1996	February 26	President Wolfensohn launches the World Bank Participation Sourcebook, and calls for empowerment of stakeholders in development decision-making.
1996	March 1	World Bank approved the first emergency reconstruction project for Bosnia and Herzegovina, including $45 million from the Trust Fund for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
1996	March 1	World Bank President Wolfensohn discussed debt relief, trade, and graduation from the World Bank with 14 leaders of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). It is the first time a World Bank President has addressed this group.
1996	March 7	IFC Articles of Agreement signed by St. Kitts and Nevis, becoming the 170th member of IFC.
1996	March 12	World Bank announces that foreign direct investment (FDI) in South Asia set a record high in 1995. FDI more than tripled in all developing countries from 1991 1995, and became the single largest source of development financing, reaching a record $90 billion in 1995.
1996	March 12	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Republic of Yemen, becoming the 133rd member of MIGA.
1996	March 15	Bahrain becomes the 124th member of ICSID.
1996	March 15	United Nations and World Bank announce the United Nations Special Initiative for Africa , a joint UN/World Bank expanded program of assistance to Sub-Saharan Africa. World Bank assumes special responsibility for mobilizing resources for basic education and health reform. Other aspects of the program include transition to peacetime economy, building local capacity for governance, water and food security, and information technology.
1996	March 15	World Bank reorganizes existing units to a new Vice Presidency for Resource Mobilization and Cofinancing, headed by Hiroo Fukui as Vice President.
1996	March 15	Brian Wilson appointed Vice President for Financial Policy and Institutional Strategy.
1996	March 19	Donors approve eleventh replenishment of IDA resources, which will allow concessional lending of $22 billion; new contributions from donor countries are expected to total approximately $11 billion, with the rest coming mainly from repayments of IDA credits and contributions from the World Bank itself.
1996	March 22	Algeria becomes the 125th member of ICSID.
1996	April 1	President Wolfensohn visits Sarajevo to meet with government officials, development partners, and NGOs to discuss reconstruction efforts.
1996	April 1	World Bank appoints two vice presidents for the Africa Region: Callisto Madavo and Jean-Louis Sarbib.
1996	April 8	World Bank sponsors conference on Early Child Development in Atlanta, Georgia, based on the Bank report Early Child Development: Investing in the Future.
1996	April 13	World Bank- and European Commission-sponsored donor conference of 50 countries and 30 international organizations pledges to provide $1.23 billion for reconstruction in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
1996	April 16	Several hundred mayors and government officials from North, South, and Central America and the Caribbean meet in Miami, Florida, to discuss the emerging role of the city in a global economy and other issues confronting city governments in a conference sponsored by the World Bank, IADB, USAID, OAS and the Inter-American Foundation (IAF).
1996	May 8	Panama becomes the 126th member of ICSID.
1996	May 18	The World Bank calls for a worldwide phase-out of leaded gasoline and a conversion to unleaded fuels to reduce health problems such as neurological damage, high blood pressure, and heart disease linked to lead in the urban environment.
1996	May 20	First funding for Tajikistan: Credit 2861 Institution Building Technical Assistance Project.
1996	May 22	World Bank institutes internal management feedback process to improvement managerial practices and to strengthen communications in the Bank.
1996	June 3	World Bank sponsors conference on epidemic of tobacco-related and non-communicable diseases in Washington, D.C.
1996	June 4	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Algeria, becoming the 134th member of MIGA.
1996	June 14	First funding for Bosnia-Herzegovina: Loans, 4038, 4039, and 4040 Consolidation Loans Project.
1996	June 17	President Wolfensohn, saying that annual financial audits and routine supervision are not sufficient to ensure accountability, announces that independent audits of country procurement and related aspects of project execution will be undertaken by OPR, LEG, and an external audit firm - for select projects.
1996	June 20	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Sierra Leone, becoming the 135th member of MIGA.
1996	June 24	World Bank releases new report on poverty Poverty Reduction and the World Bank: Progress and Challenges in the 1990s and vows to redouble efforts to ensure success in its central mandate to help developing countries reduce poverty. The Bank says it will judge itself and its staff by their contributions to achieving this goal.
1996	June 25	Fiftieth anniversary of the Bank's opening for business.
1996	June 27	1996 World Development Report: From Plan to Market is published, analyzing the successes and failures of transition economies.
1996	July 11	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Guatemala, becoming the 136th member of MIGA.
1996	September 10	President Wolfensohn promises to continue strong support to Palestinian people, pledging continued Bank assistance toward employment-generating projects and toward creating a favorable legal and incentive environment in the West Bank and Gaza.
1996	September 10	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Eritrea, becoming the 137th member of MIGA.
1996	September 16	Managing Directors Gautam S. Kaji, Caio Koch-Weser, and Sven Sandstrom announce the launch of the "networks" initiative, beginning with the Human Development Network.
1996	September 25	Fourth Environmentally Sustainable Development (ESD) conference Rural Well-Being: From Vision to Action opens in Washington.
1996	September 28	African Governors of the Bank request that the World Bank take a lead role in the Partnership for Capacity Building in Africa initiative.
1996	October 1	At his Annual Meetings speech, President Wolfensohn identifies corruption as a "cancer" and a barrier to development, and calls for a new compact between donors, investors and recipients; the integration of social, cultural, and institutional issues with development; the Bank to serve as a knowledge organization; and to revitalize the Bank's quality.
1996	October 1	Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt initiative was approved by governments around the world meeting in Washington, enabling poor countries with good policy performance to escape from unsustainable debt and to focus their energies on sustainable development and reducing poverty.
1996	October 8	World Bank announces that Alternate Work Schedules (AWS) will be adopted as an option for staff.
1996	October 9	President Wolfensohn begins his first trip to the South Asia region, visiting Nepal and India.
1996	October 22	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Qatar, becoming the 138th member of MIGA.
1996	November 7	Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative (HIPC) Trust Fund formally established, to be administered by the IDA, and with an initial funding of $500 million from the World Bank, to be joined with funds from other donors. HIPC Implementation Unit created in World Bank.
1966	November 21	The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the World Bank sign an agreement to cooperate in all ways possible to promote sustainable human development and increase tolerance and understanding between individuals and cultures.
1996	November 27	World Bank releases Taking Action to Reduce Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa, outlining specific actions that the Bank will take to improve results in poverty alleviation.
1996	December 7	Summit of the Americas on sustainable development meets in Bolivia to reaffirm and broaden commitments made in the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. World Bank is represented by Maurice Strong.
1996	December 11	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Haiti, becoming the 139th member of MIGA.
1996	December 13	The World Bank's Operations Evaluation Department releases the Annual Review Of Evaluation Results 1995, finding modest improvements in the Bank's operations but no sharp break from long-term trends, and making recommendations for improvement in performance.
1996	December 20	World Bank announces the creation of three new networks: Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development (ESSD), Finance, Private Sector and Infrastructure (FPSI), and Poverty Reduction and Economic Management (PREM).

1997
1997	International events	Russia and Chechnya sign peace treaty. Labour Party under Tony Blair wins British elections, ending 18 years of Conservative rule. In China, Deng Xiaoping dies. Hong Kong is returned to China. Devaluation of Thai currency sets off regional economic crisis. In Britain, the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, provokes widespread emotional reaction. In Zaire, President Mobutu Sese Seko is overthrown by Laurent Kabila. Fears for the environment grow as the "El Nino" effect on global climate produces extreme weather conditions. British scientists clone a sheep, setting off widespread disquiet over the implications of genetic engineering.
1997	January 22	IFC announces reorganization of institutional structure.
1997	January 31	President Wolfensohn's memo to staff describes the three pillars of the "Strategic Compact" to renew the institution and to improve development effectiveness.
1997	February 1	World Bank appoints new vice presidents: Jean-Michel Severino is Vice President for East Asia and the Pacific Region; Mieko Nishimizu is Vice President for South Asia; Joseph Stiglitz appointed as Vice President, Development Economics and Chief Economist; Mark Baird is appointed Vice President, Strategy and Resource Management. Joseph Wood is appointed Senior Adviser in the President's office.
1997	February 8	President Wolfensohn visits Senegal, Ghana, Mozambique, and South Africa.
1997	February 19	President Wolfensohn's memo to staff describes the "Cost Effectiveness Review", aimed at reducing overhead, lowering the cost of doing business, reviewing cost effectiveness of all services, and allowing the institution to shift resources to front-line operations.
1997	February 21	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Panama, becoming the 140th member of MIGA.
1997	March 4	World Bank approves its first ever direct sub-national reform loan. The US$125 million loan the first in a series of four loans to Brazilian states chosen for their leading roles in the reform of state governments will support the process of privatization in the state of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil.
1997	March 7	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Dominican Republic, becoming the 141st member of MIGA.
1997	March 26	IFC Articles of Agreement signed by Cambodia, becoming the 171st member of IFC.
1997	April	The World Bank and the World Conservation Union (IUCN) convene a conference in Gland, Switzerland to begin dialogue between the champions and critics of large dams. The conference sparked the launching of the World Commission on Dams.
1997	April 6	World Development Indicators 1997 published, providing benchmarks by which success in poverty alleviation can be measured.
1997	April 23	Uganda receives debt relief package, becoming the first country to benefit under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative.
1997	April 28	World Bank and the World Trade Organization (WTO) sign a formal agreement of cooperation to coordinate efforts to further integrate developing countries into the global economy.
1997	May 7	The World Bank's independent Inspection Panel announces potential investigation of the NTPC Power Generation project in India on behalf of citizens in the project area.
1997	May 12	The Kingdom of Morocco and the World Bank co-host the Mediterranean Development Forum, a conference for over 400 representatives of government, private sector, and non-governmental organizations on the role of information, knowledge, and technology in economic development in Marrakech.
1997	May 20	World Bank announces that an International Advisory Group (IAG) has been established to provide independent evaluation of the World Bank Group's handling of environmental and social issues related to the proposed Nam Theun 2 hydropower project in Lao People's Democratic Republic. The Bank indicated that it will make a decision on whether to support the proposed project only after the successful completion of the studies and public consultations, in conformity with the institution's operational policies and guidelines.
1997	May 29	IFC Articles of Agreement signed by Turkmenistan, becoming the 172nd member of IFC.
1997	May 29	World Bank approves $248.3 million IDA credit to India's National Family Welfare Program, following extensive consultation with stakeholders in the "participatory planning and management" approach.
1997	May 30	World Bank announces the approval of the first loan to post-apartheid South Africa the Industrial Competitiveness and Job Creation project.
1997	May 30	World Bank announces the approval of $200 million in partial risk guarantees to Russia and the Ukraine to assist the development of commercial satellites.
1997	May 30	66 staff and guests were affected by fish poisoning in Main Complex cafeteria, 28 of whom were treated at Georgetown Hospital. All affected staff members quickly returned to good health.
1997	June 13	Bosnia and Herzegovina becomes the 127th member of ICSID.
1997	June 25	At UN Earth Summit in New York, President Wolfensohn urges revitalization of environmental goals and prioritizes climate change, protecting biodiversity, ozone depletion, desertification, and clean water as activities central to meeting human needs and reducing poverty.
1997	June 25	World Bank and World Wide Fund for Nature (World Wildlife Fund) announce partnership for forest conservation and sustainable use.
1997	June 30	Managing Director Richard Frank retires from the Bank.
1997	July 1	Richard Stern is appointed Deputy Vice President, Human Resources. Mohamed Muhsin is appointed Chief Information Officer.
1997	July 2	Operational Core Services Network launched.
1997	August 5	MIGA announces that it issued a record high number of contracts in fiscal 1997, for projects in 25 developing member countries.
1997	August 11	World Bank announces its participation in the funding of the $16.2 million project to clear landmines in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the first time that the Bank has financed landmine clearance.
1997	August 14	Colombia becomes the 128th member of ICSID.
1997	August 26	World Bank releases two reports - Everyone's Miracle? Revisiting Poverty and Inequality in East Asia and India: Achievements and Challenges in Reducing Poverty - which indicate that despite the "East Asian Miracle", poverty inequality is more widespread, and is a cause for concern.
1997	September 7	Latvia becomes the 129th member of ICSID.
1997	September 8	World Bank President James D. Wolfensohn addressed the 8th International Anti-Corruption Conference in Lima, Peru, and urged greater transparency, accountability and integrity in public affairs.
1997	September 10	Debt relief package for Bolivia approved by World Bank under the HIPC initiative.
1997	September 12	The World Bank's independent Inspection Panel agrees to an investigation of the NTPC Power Generation project in India on behalf of citizens in the project area who claimed damage due to resettlement.
1997	September 15	Funeral of Aron Broches, one of the "fathers" of the World Bank.
1997	September 16	President Wolfensohn addresses Tokyo symposium on development cooperation organized by World Bank and Japan's Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund (OECF), arguing the continued importance of aid organizations.
1997	September 23	President Wolfensohn opens Annual Meetings in Hong Kong, calling for a narrowing of the gap between rich and poor, and good governance in member nations. He describes the Bank's Strategic Compact.
1997	October 1	World Bank announces a new Global Debt Issuance Facility (GDIF), which replaces the World Bank's existing multicurrency note program, and which will serve as the general documentation platform for a wide range of the Bank's bonds, ranging from international benchmark issues to small private placements.
1997	October 6	World Bank's Fifth Conference on Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development opens in Washington.
1997	October 13	President Wolfensohn travels to Bangladesh and Pakistan.
1997	October 24	Year 2000 Computer problem (Y2K) prevention program announced to all staff.
1997	October 26	In Paris at the World Congress of Accountants, President Wolfensohn called on the private sector to be more aggressive in fighting corruption and money laundering, and urged businesses and governments to adopt stricter standards of transparency and civic responsibility.
1997	October 27	Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) International Centers week begins in Washington.
1997	November 3	World Bank releases report Confronting AIDS: Public Priorities in a Global Epidemic, identifying priorities for responding to the disease.
1997	November 4	Donor representatives from 14 countries and 12 international development agencies meet for the Bangladesh Aid Group Meeting, which is held in Dhaka (instead of its normal venue of Paris) to allow greater participation from government agencies.
1997	November 4	World Bank and the J. Paul Getty Trust agree to a partnership to sustain cultural heritage in developing countries-to improve access to, conservation of, and education about cultural heritage resources.
1997	November 13	US Congress approves continued funding for IDA.
1997	November 26	Information Solutions Network becomes operational.
1997	November 30	Managing Director Gautam S. Kaji retires from the Bank.
1997	December 1	Shengman Zhang is appointed Managing Director and Corporate Secretary.
1997	December 11	Consultative Group for Tanzania met in Dar Es Salaam (instead of its normal venue in Paris), with twenty-five donor governments and aid agencies.
1997	December 11	Fifth Consultative Group Meeting for Vietnam met for the first time in Tokyo.
1997	December 16	IBRD, IFC, IDA and MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Palau, becoming the 181st member of IBRD, the 173rd member of IFC, the 160th member of IFC, and the 142nd member of MIGA.
1997	December 16	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Austria, becoming the 143rd member of MIGA.
1997	December 17	Annual Review of Development Effectiveness and theAnnual Report on Portfolio Performance released, showing some improvement in project performance, and calling for continued attention to high priority problem areas, improving project supervision, monitoring and evaluation, and enhancing the quality of proposed projects.
1997	December 19	Global Environment Facility announces a US$4.57 million grant to support Sri Lanka's efforts to conserve medicinal plant populations, their habitats, and their sustainable use. The Sri Lanka Conservation of Medicinal Plants Project is the first of its kind approved by the World Bank.
1997	December 23	Guyana becomes the fourth country to receive debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, with the World Bank "buying back" and canceling $27 million in debt.

1998
1998	International events	Tensions mount in Kosovo as the ethnic Albanian majority demands greater autonomy from Serb-dominated Yugoslavia. Northern Ireland acquires a fragile peace when the Good Friday accord is signed after 22 months of negotiations and thirty years of violence. Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha dies. Hindu nationalist Vajpayee becomes Prime Minister of India. India and Pakistan conduct independent underground nuclear tests. Indonesian dictator Suharto steps down after 32 years in power. A UN Tribunal convicts a Rwandan for genocide, the first such verdict. Asian currencies and stock markets continue to plunge, creating an economic crisis for the continent. In Russia, the ruble is devalued and international loans go unpaid; it is the most difficult economic year since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990. Hurricane Mitch pounds the Caribbean and Central America, killing over 10,000 people. 258 people are killed when US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania are bombed. US retaliates with air strikes against Islamic radical sites in Afghanistan and the Sudan. US President Clinton faces impeachment possibilities over a sex scandal.
1998	January 12	President, Managing Directors, and Vice Presidents meet for a two-day Strategic Forum to discuss institutional priorities and strategies.
1998	January 24	President Wolfensohn visits Ethiopia, the first visit by a Bank president to Ethiopia since 1953.
1998	January 26	World Bank, World Health Organization, and SmithKline Beecham announce a cooperative program to eliminate elephantiasis.
1998	February	Announcement of the formation of the World Commission on Dams, sponsored by the World Bank and the World Conservation Union (IUCN). The Commission begins work in May, 1998, and releases its initial report in November 2000.
1998	February 5	Creation of the Special Financial Operations Unit (SFO) to assist countries facing critical situations in the financial sector.
1998	February 10	GEF replenishment meetings close in Paris, attaining the target of $2.75 billion in continued funding.
1998	February 18	World Faiths and Development conference held at Lambeth Palace, London, and hosted by President Wolfensohn and the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. George Cary. The conference was attended by representatives of main faiths of the world, and was called to discuss how to reconcile religious belief and development actions.
1998	February 24	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Singapore, becoming the 144th member of MIGA.
1998	February 26	World Bank announces that President Wolfensohn will visit six Central American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.
1998	March 4	ISG announces selection of SAP as vendor for information systems renewal effort, replacing over 60 fragmented information and business systems.
1998	March 9	President Wolfensohn travels to Dominican Republic.
1998	March 10	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Burundi, becoming the 145th member of MIGA.
1998	March 19	World Bank and IMF provide debt relief to Cote d'Ivoire under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. Cote d'Ivoire is the fifth country to receive such assistance.
1998	March 24	In a demonstration of its new flexible lending policies, the World Bank offered financing to Uganda for education using a package that is part grant, part interest-free loan.
1998	April	World Bank launches AIDS Vaccine Task Force to speed up deployment of effective and affordable AIDS vaccine. The Task Force supports high-level dialogue with policymakers and industry; "pushes" private research and development (R&D) by subsidizing vaccine trials or reducing the risks involved in vaccine development in the short run; and "pulls" greater R&D investment by demonstrating or assuring a future market for an AIDS vaccine in developing countries. The Task Force is considering expanded lending for existing and new vaccines, like hepatitis B; an AIDS vaccine purchase fund for the poorest countries, to be activated when a low-cost, effective vaccine is available, and "contingent" loans for purchase of an AIDS vaccine. The Task Force is also sponsoring studies of the potential demand for a vaccine in developing countries.
1998	April 1	First meeting of the full assembly of 161 member countries of the Global Environment Facility is held in New Delhi, India.
1998	April 1	A meeting of African agricultural policymakers and researchers, organized by World Bank and African Development Bank, is held in Abidjan to discuss food security and economic growth.
1998	April 2	IFC Articles of Agreement signed by Chad, becoming the 174th member of IFC.
1998	April 2	Board of Directors approves Humans Resources Policy Reform proposals. Included are: phaseout of Non-Regular Staff (NRS) category; stronger recruitment and leadership selection processes, professional development, and modernizing the pension system.
1998	April 3	Asia-Europe (ASEM) Meeting is held in London. Participants agree to establish a trust fund, managed by the World Bank, to provide technical assistance to Asian countries on restructuring financial sectors.
1998	April 7	Safe Motherhood Inter-Agency Group meets at World Bank in Washington in a world-wide call to action for maternal health.
1998	April 16	World Development Indicators 1998 is released.
1998	April 17	Development Committee meets in Washington to discuss the Asian Financial Crisis, HIPC implementation, MIGA general capital increase, a report on multilateral development banks, and other issues.
1998	April 30	World Bank inaugurates resident mission in Rabat, Morocco.
1998	May 5	South Asian seminar on accountability and good governance, organized by EDI in cooperation with other aid organizations, is held in New Delhi.
1998	May 12	Establishment of the Oversight Committee on Fraud or Corruption Involving World Bank Staff. The committee will oversee investigations concerning misuse of Bank funds.
1998	May 18	World Bank postpones consideration of proposed loans to Indonesia pending resolution of civil strife. Indonesian President Suharto resigns from office May 21.
1998	May 22	Consultative Group for Cote d'Ivoire meets for the first time in Abidjan (instead of its normal Paris venue), with 13 countries and 18 aid organizations attending.
1998	May 26	World Bank Board of Directors postpones consideration of four projects in India as a response to India's resumption of nuclear tests.
1998	May 28	World Bank and IFC open offices in Frankfurt, Germany.
1998	June 1	Regional Information Service Centers close.
1998	June 8	World Bank hosts the 14th Meeting of the Caribbean for Cooperation in Economic Development (CGCED) for member government officials, multilateral institutions and NGOs to discuss country and regional economic matters.
1998	June 11	Special Program of Assistance to Africa (SPA) meets in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire. This is the first meeting to be held in Africa.
1998	June 14	Consultative Group for Vietnam meets for the first time in Hue City to discuss economic reforms and progress.
1998	June 23	Operations Evaluation Department releases Recent Experience with Involuntary Resettlement, a study of eight dam projects approved between 1984 and 1991, concluding that implementation of resettlement needs to be strengthened.
1998	June 25	World Bank inaugurates its resident mission in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
1998	June 26	The Consultative Group for Guinea met in Paris. 10 governments, 16 aid organizations, and representatives from the private sector attended.
1998	July 1	Non-Regular Staff (NRS) phaseout begins.
1998	July 9	Motomichi Ikawa appointed as Executive Vice President of the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA).
1998	July 13	World Bank and the Russian government reach an agreement on a far-reaching structural reform program bases on transparency and accountability, private sector promotion, good governance and sound financial intermediation.
1998	July 15	President Wolfensohn sends memo to all staff regarding allegations of corruption, and vows to vigorously protect the reputation of integrity and independence that the Bank has earned.
1998	July 17	President Wolfensohn sends memo to all staff containing his response to US Senator Mitch McConnell on corruption issues.
1998	July 19	Senior Vice President and Chief Economist Joseph Stiglitz visits Beijing to discuss macroeconomic situation, structural reform efforts, and the East Asia financial crisis.
1998	July 24	World Bank approves first batch of proposals for technical assistance given from the ASEM Trust Fund to assist Asian countries reforming financial sectors.
1998	July 30	Loan Administration Change Initiative (LACI) is endorsed by the Board and will be implemented for all projects. LACI replaces transaction-based disbursement system to quarterly lump-sum disbursement arrangements.
1998	August	Pollution Prevention and Abatement Handbook 1998, replacing the 1988 Environmental Guidelines, is released for use in Bank Group operations.
1998	August 6	World Bank approves US$1.5 billion structural adjustment loan to the Russian Federation for economic reform. This is the largest loan ever made by the Bank in Europe and Central Asia.
1998	August 20	GSD Security announces increased security vigilance at World Bank headquarters and field offices due to actions stemming from the bombings of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.
1998	August 21	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Latvia, becoming the 146th member of MIGA.
1998	September 1	Managing Director Jessica Einhorn retires from World Bank.
1998	September 3	World Bank Inspection Panel decides not to investigate Lesotho Highlands Water Project, stating that harmful conditions exist but are the result of a historical neglect and apartheid, and are not linked to the World Bank project.
1998	September 4	Jean-Francois Rischard appointed Vice President for Europe.
1998	September 4	After an internal investigation, two World Bank staff members are fired for embezzling trust funds. The Bank pledges continued vigilance to prevent a recurrence of this type of misconduct.
1998	September 23	World Bank 1998 Annual Report issued, saying that in a year of profound change and volatility in global financial markets, the World Bank provided timely help to countries in crisis, and improved its capacity to respond to the needs of all its client countries as a result of a major program of internal reform.
1998	September 25	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Iceland, becoming the 147th member of MIGA.
1998	September 28	World Bank and UNESCO co-sponsor Understanding Culture in Sustainable Development: Investing in Cultural and Natural Endowments conference in Washington.
1998	October 5	Development Committee meets in Washington to discuss the Asian financial crisis and the Bank Group's response, Bank-Fund collaboration, the increase role of partnerships, HIPC implementation, and post-conflict assistance.
1998	October 6	President Wolfensohn opens the 1998 Annual Meetings in Washington, warning that financial reforms are not sufficient, and that human needs and social justice must also be sought.
1998	October 15	President Wolfensohn's memo to staff announces new measures to combat fraud and corruption, including a telephone hotline, and the expansion of the mandate of the Oversight Committee on Fraud or Corruption to encompass oversight of all allegations of fraud or corrupt practices, both within the Bank Group, or in association with Bank-financed contracts.
1998	October 15	Ibrahim Shihata retires from position of Vice President and General Counsel of the World Bank.
1998	October 22	Croatia becomes the 130th member of ICSID.
1998	October 26	Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) International Centers Week opens in Washington.
1998	October 28	The World Bank and International Labor Organization meet in Washington to discuss enhanced collaboration between the two organizations.
1998	November 3	World Bank pledges short term and longer term assistance to Central American victims of Hurricane Mitch.
1998	November 10	World Bank report Assessing Aid: What Works, What Doesn't and Why is published, calling for more foreign aid and for open trade, secure private property rights, the absence of corruption, respect for the rule of law, social safety nets, and sound macroeconomic and financial policies.
1998	November 26	Macedonia becomes the 131st member of ICSID.
1998	November 30	World Bank joins with the music television station MTV and UNAIDS to produce a documentary on HIV/AIDS called Staying Alive.
1998	December 2	Clear Air Initiative in Latin American Cities is launched in Washington, composed of World Bank units and external partners.
1998	December 10	World Bank provide $150 million grant to Mozambique for economic reform as part of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative.
1998	December 11	World Bank and IMF host a special meeting of donors to provide balance of payment supports for former Soviet Union countries affected by Russian crisis.
1998	December 21	World Bank Inspection panel agrees that complaints made against the India Ecodevelopment Project are justified, and instructed Bank management with the government to address the complaints.

1999
1999	International events	US President Clinton is acquitted of impeachment charges. King Hussein of Jordan dies after of reign of 46 years; he is succeeded by his son King Abdullah. Czech Republic, Poland, and Hungary join NATO. NATO goes to war against Yugoslavia to protect the ethnic Albanian majority in the province of Kosovo. Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic is charged with crimes against humanity by the Hague Tribunal. Nelson Mandela retires as president of South Africa. King Hassan II of Morocco dies. In Israel, Ehud Barak is elected prime minister, replacing Binyamin Netanyahu. General Olusegun Obasanjo elected president of Nigeria. Former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto is imprisoned for alleged corruption while in office. Military coup led by Gen. Pervaiz Musharraf overthrows Pakistani government . Two separate earthquakes devastate eastern and northwestern Turkey, killing thousands. During a UN-sponsored referendum, East Timor votes for independence from Indonesia, sparking an international crisis when pro-Indonesian forces retaliate. Indonesia elects Muslim leader Abdurrahman Wahid president in nation's first democratic transfer of power Russia launches a major offensive against separatist guerillas in Chechnya, for the second time in a decade. Panama gains control over the Panama Canal. Russian President Boris Yeltsin resigns and is succeeded by Vladimir Putin. World Trade Organization conference disrupted by violent protests in Seattle World population passes the six billion milestone. The world prepares for potential computer glitches due to the Y2K problem.
1999	January 1	Single currency Euro begins in Europe.
1999	January 15	World Bank announces new managerial appointments: Peter Woicke appointed as Managing Director; Nemat Shafik appointed as Vice President for Infrastructure and Private Sector Development; Manuel Conthe appointed as Vice President for Financial Operations; Gary Perlin appointed Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; Afsaneh Mashayekhi Beschloss appointed as Vice President and Treasurer; Motoo Kusakabe appointed as Vice President for Resource Mobilization and Cofinancing; David de Ferranti appointed as Vice President, Latin America and Caribbean Region; Anil Sood appointed as Vice President, Strategy and Resource Management; Katherine Sierra appointed as Vice President Operational Core Services Network.
1999	January 21	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Mongolia, becoming the 148th member of MIGA.
1999	January 21	OED's 1998 Annual Review of Development Effectiveness (ARDE) is published. The report shows an improvement in the number of projects with a "satisfactory" rating, but shows need for institution-strengthening in member countries.
1999	January 24	President Wolfensohn, in a speech in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, calls for development partners to look beyond individual projects and adopt a Comprehensive Development Framework to improve the effectiveness of development activities.
1999	February 10	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Australia, becoming the 149th member of MIGA.
1999	February 18	World Bank announced new loan and hedging products as a step toward more flexible financial products and risk management tools. The new products are a fixed-spread LIBOR-based loan, and free-standing hedging products linked to borrowers' existing IBRD loans.
1999	February 19	Commonwealth-World Bank Task Force on Small States begins operations in Saint Lucia, and Bank proposed a development agenda specifically tailored for 43 small nations.
1999	February 26	Consultative Group for Cambodia meets in Tokyo.
1999	March 16	As a result of what the Bank called fraudulent practices, a Canadian firm is declared permanently ineligible to be awarded any Bank-financed contracts. The decision was made by the Bank's Sanctions Committee, based on a report by the Bank's Internal Auditing Department.
1999	March 19	Parliamentarians from five South Asian nations meet in Dhaka for a seminar on good governance, transparency and accountability sponsored by Transparency International, the Parliamentary Centre, and the World Bank.
1999	April 5	World Bank prepares an IDA credit, and organizes an emergency donor meeting for Macedonia to assist the country in meeting the economic impact of the Kosovo crisis.
1999	April 8	Based on the recommendations of the World Bank Sanctions Committee, President Wolfensohn permanently debars one individual and three corporations from further contracts in Bank-financed projects. The debarment is a result of fraudulent activities on the part of the contractors.
1999	April 14	World Bank announces temporary debarment of an Italian corporation due to misrepresentation of prior experience.
1999	April 19	World Bank Executive Directors approve a program for policy-based guarantees, extending the Bank's existing partial credit guarantee instrument beyond projects to include sovereign borrowings in support of structural and social policies and reforms. This is the latest in a series of new lending instruments intended to make the make more responsive to client concerns and to enhance client choice. Previous new lending instruments include Learning and Innovation Loans, Adaptable Program Loans, Programmatic Structural Adjustment Loans, and Special Structural Adjustment Loans.
1999	April 26	World Bank publishes World Development Indicators 1999, warning that the new millennium could reverse the development gains recently made, and that new strategies are needed for the future.
1999	April 27	The World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB), and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreed to establish the Joint Africa Institute (JAI) in Abidjan, C te d'Ivoire to provide policy-related training to about 400 government officials and private sector participants per year on macro-economic management and policies, as well as structural and social issues, such as poverty alleviation, gender, governance, environment, and other reform policies.
1999	April 27	World Bank, IMF, and other high level officials meet to formulate plan to assist Balkan countries affected by the Kosovo crisis, and agree to give World Bank and European Union joint responsibility to coordinate work and mobilize support for the Balkan region.
1999	April 28	World Bank inaugurates office in Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic.
1999	April 30	Managing Director Caio Koch-Weser retires from Bank.
1999	May 13	World Bank approves debt relief for Guyana as part of Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative.
1999	May 19	World Bank and UN Centre for Human Settlements launch the Cities Alliance, a multi-donor partnership to develop strategies to improve living conditions in cities in developing countries.
1999	May 21	World Bank Board approves the Partnership for Capacity Building in Africa (PACT). PACT calls for African leadership, and continued partnership, in development efforts, recognizes the centrality of "capacity" in the development process, and a realistic plan of action.
1999	June 10	Jeffrey Goldstein appointed Managing Director of the World Bank, to become effective in September, 1999.
1999	June 12	World Bank and European Commission launch joint website on Economic Reconstruction and Development in South East Europe, to foster participation in recovery efforts.
1999	June 18	Bolivia serves as a pilot country for the Comprehensive Development Framework with the approval of two loans for health and institutional reform.
1999	June 21	First Annual Bank Conference on Development Economics (ABCDE) in Europe opens in France.
1999	June 23	Jozef Ritzen appointed as Vice President for Development Policy; Eduardo Doryan appointed as Vice President, Human Development Network.
1999	June 24	Special Program of Assistance for Africa (SPA) donors meet in Washington to discuss the coordination and effectiveness of aid to Africa.
1999	June 24	Executive Directors approve the China Western Poverty Reduction Project, but state that no work be done or funds disbursed until a review is made by the Inspection Panel.
1999	June 29	World Bank joins with high-level task force in fighting corruption in East Asia. Task force members include Transparency International staff, as well as government officials, academics, business people, and others.
1999	June 30	Mozambique receives debt relief through the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative.
1999	July 1	SAP Information Renewal Systems become operative.
1999	July 2	World Bank, on the recommendation of the Sanctions Committee, debars two firms from further involvement in Bank-financed contracts due to corrupt or fraudulent practices.
1999	July 18	President Wolfensohn visits Albania, Macedonia, and Kosovo.
1999	July 28	Consultative Group for Indonesia, sponsored by the World Bank meets in Paris.
1999	July 28	First Donors' conference for Kosovo, sponsored by World Bank and European Commission, meets in Brussels.
1999	August 9	Mats Karlsson appointed as Vice President for External Affairs and UN Affairs.
1999	August 17	Earthquake in Turkey devastates Marmara region.
1999	September 3	The World Bank welcomed the outcome of the referendum in East Timor and said the vote should be seen by all sides as a first critical step in building the country after many years of civil strife.
1999	September 7	World Bank opens new liaison office in Singapore.
1999	September 7	World Bank pledges aid to Turkey in aftermath of earthquake.
1999	September 9	World Bank Executive Directors formally request the Inspection Panel to undertake an investigation of the China Western Poverty Reduction Project to see whether Bank management had observed its policies on involuntary resettlement, indigenous peoples, and environmental assessment.
1999	September 14	World Bank presents a Strategic Action Plan for dealing with AIDS in Intensifying Action Against HIV/AIDS in Africa: Responding to a Development Crisis. The report portrays AIDS advocacy as a central development issue, and calls for increased resources, technical support, and education.
1999	September 16	1999 Annual Report is released, stating that the Bank was able to maintain its focus on poverty reduction while at the same time providing rapid response to financial and natural crises, assisting in post-conflict recovery, launching the Comprehensive Development Framework, joining with UNAIDS and other partnerships, and providing debt relief through HIPC.
1999	September 16	World Bank issues its first Policy Based Guarantee Operation. The guarantee instrument was issued to Argentina.
1999	September 21	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by St. Kitts and Nevis, becoming the 150th member of MIGA.
1999	September 24	Dr. Mamphela Ramphele appointed Managing Director, Human Development.
1999	September 27	World Bank and OECD launch Global Corporate Governance Forum, to identify the major elements of reform and how the Bank and its partners can contribute to governance and accountability in member nations.
1999	September 27	President Wolfensohn appointed to second term as World Bank President.
1999	September 28	President Wolfensohn opens Annual Meetings in Washington, and puts governance issues at the center of development.
1999	September 29	IDA Articles of Agreement signed by Barbados, becoming the 161st member of IDA.
1999	October 28	World Bank debars five firms, based on the recommendations of the Bank's Sanctions Committee, which found that the firms had engaged in fraudulent or corrupt practices.
1999	October 28	World Bank Inspection Panel returns from a three week visit to China to study the proposed China Western Poverty Reduction Project.
1999	November 5	Ko-Yung Tung is appointed Vice President and General Counsel of the World Bank.
1999	November 9	Michel Camdessus announces his retirement as Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund.
1999	November 11	Second World Faiths Development Dialogue held at Washington, hosted by the World Bank and the Archbishop of Canterbury. The meeting is to help to bridge the gap between faith communities and the World Bank in order to enable them to work together more effectively.
1999	December 1	MIGA Articles of Agreement signed by Cambodia, becoming the 151st member of MIGA.

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World Bank Group Historical Chronology: 1990-1999