World Bank appoints agriculture specialist as Division Director for Caribbean

Agriculture specialist Achim Fock was recently appointed as Division Director for the Caribbean, the World Bank announced on Wednesday.
According to a missive, Fock’s new role is to lead the bank’s strategic engagement and the operational portfolio across Caribbean countries, overseeing lending, analytical and advisory work, and trust funds aimed at advancing sustainable and resilient development across the region.
Fock brings more than 25 years of World Bank experience to this role. He most recently served as country manager for Zambia, where he held responsibility for portfolio management and client engagement.
Previously, he served as operations manager for Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand and, before that, as operations manager for Vietnam. He has also worked as a manager of the Development Effectiveness Unit for South Asia and as a senior economist across multiple countries in Africa, East Asia, and Eastern Europe.
In his new capacity as Division Director for the Caribbean, Fock will be responsible for directing the World Bank’s programmes across the Caribbean; strengthening partnerships with Governments, civil society, and the Private Sector; and helping countries navigate the complex development challenges they face – including enabling jobs and growth in key economic sectors, supporting the energy transition, and strengthening 360° resilience through boosting disaster risk preparedness and financing, advancing resilient infrastructure, and increasing economic resilience.
He holds a PhD in Agricultural Economics, as well as Master’s Degrees in Agricultural Science and Agricultural Economics, and a postgraduate Diploma in European Integration and International Economics.