Delhi-born Geeta Batra is 1st woman director of World Bank body

Geeta Batra, an India-born economist, has been named as the new director at the Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) of the World Bank’s Global Environment Facility (GEF), making her the first ever woman from a developing country to hold the coveted post. Batra, 57, is currently the chief evaluator and deputy director for evaluation at the GEF IEO, affiliated to the World Bank.

Batra’s name was unanimously recommended for the coveted position at the 66th GEFcouncil meeting.

“My top priorities will be to deliver sound evaluative evidence on the results and performance of the GEF, provide leadership to ensure that the GEF IEO stays at the forefront of environmental evaluation and strengthen the IEO teams and invest in skills,” Batra told IANS. She will also build partnerships with multilateral and bilateral agencies, foundations and networks, and share knowledge of what works, where and why.