2.3  Archival history The World Bank adopted a central filing system in 1946.  One of the four parts of the central file was “Operational Files” which contained records relating to the management of Bank operations in a region plus separate files for operations in each country.  In 1972, the “Operational Files”  were removed from the central file and separate filing centers for each region were established under the general control of the central files unit.  The regional file centers were discontinued in 1998 and the regional and country files were transferred to the archives. All records-keeping since 1998 is the responsibility of the regional office.  During the period of the central filing system, many offices also kept separate working files.  These files are included in this fonds.

3.1  Scope and content  The Operational Correspondence and Country Files for the Africa Region provide economic and political overviews of the countries in the region. Participation in the IBRD/IDA lending programs is documented in the correspondence, reports, statistical tables, and studies.  Developments in the industrial, forestry, agriculture, population, and health sectors of the region as a whole are reflected in the correspondence and reports in the General Country Files.  Activities of multilateral institutions working with the Bank are also covered in these files.

3.3   Accruals   Accruals are expected.

3.4   Arrangement  Arranged in the following two series and four sub-fonds:

              Series: Operational Correspondence, Africa, 1946-1971, 11.66 feet 

              Series: General Country Files, Africa, 1984-1986, 27.5 feet

              Sub-Fonds: East Africa

                   Series: Operational Correspondence, East Africa, 1952-1971, 11.66 feet 

                   Series: Technical Assistance Projects Files, East Africa,  1971-1985,  5.5 feet

             Sub-Fonds: West Africa

                    Series: General Country Files, West Africa, 1972-1983, 35.42 feet

             Sub-Fonds: East and South Africa

                    Series: General Country Files, East and South Africa, 1972-1983, 19.58 feet

            Sub-Fonds: Regional Co-financing Advisor

                    Series:  Chronological files, 1985-1998. 11 linear feet

                    Series: Correspondence With Special Program for Assistance Donors, 1985-1998, 5
                                linear feet

                    Series: Special Program for Assistance Files re Donor Meetings and Working Groups,
                               1985-1998, 13 linear feet 

In addition, 58 other sub-fonds, each containing the records of a single office, include series that have at least some records dating before 1987.

4.1 Conditions of access   Records are subject to the World Bank Policy on the Disclosure of Information.

4.2 Conditions of reproduction  Records are subject to the Copyright Policy of the World Bank Group.

4.3 Language/scripts  English; some French

4.5  Finding aids   Annotated list of organizational units with series that include files predating 1987.

5.3  Related units of description WB IBRD/IDA 01, Country Operational Files, 1946-1998; WB IBRD/IDA  43, Records of Individual Staff Members, Berend de Vries; WB IBRD/IDA 58, Donated Materials Collection, A.D. Spottswood; WB IBRD/IDA 64, Records of the Burkina Faso Country Office; WB IBRD/IDA 65, Records of the Burundi Country Office; WB IBRD/IDA 66, Records of the Kenya Country Office; WB IBRD/IDA 67, Records of the South Africa Country Office; WB IBRD/IDA 69, Records of the Zimbabwe Country Office; and WB IBRD/IDA 74, Records of the Ivory Coast Country Office.

7.1 Rules or conventions    Internal World Bank Group Archives rules 
7.2 Date(s) of descriptions  2004-06-22