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 files provide an overview of economic and political developments in the region and reflect the Bank’s efforts to work with various organizations in the region such as the Gulf States Development Organization, the Middle East Industrial Projects Corporation, and the Middle East Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) during the period of the 1960s and 1970s.  Visits to the region by Bank officials and other representatives and the activities of Resident Representatives in the region are covered in the correspondence and reports found in the Operational Correspondence.  There are a number of files on proposed  projects and the work of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNWRA).

The Country Files cover activities of multilateral organizations in the region, such as the Arab Development Bank, and document progress made in the population, agriculture, health and nutrition, urban development, irrigation, water supply and sewerage, transportation, energy and power, telecommunications, tourism, and industrial development and finance sectors.

3.3   Accruals   Accruals are expected.

3.4 Arrangement   Arranged in the following sub-fonds and series

                                Sub-Fonds: Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
                                       Series: Operational Correspondence, 1949-1971, 3.75 linear feet 

                                Sub-Fonds: Europe, Middle East and North Africa (EMENA)
                                       Series: General Country Files, 1972-1986, 20 linear feet
                                       Series: Reports of Retrospective Reviews of Regional Work Programs 
                                                  and Budgets, 1980-1984, 0.16 linear feet
                                       Series: Memoranda and Program Materials for Installing the Core
                                                  Management Information System (MIS) in EMENA, 1984, 0.16
                                                  linear feet

In addition, 15 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

4.4 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 05, Records of the Europe Regional Office; WB IBRD/IDA 58, Donated Materials Collection, William Bennett

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