Suma Chakrabarti: UK should demand more roles at World Bank in return for foreign aid

The World Bank headquarters in Washington. Britain is the largest donor to its International Development Association
The World Bank headquarters in Washington. Britain is the largest donor to its International Development Association
ALAMY

Britain should have more influence at the World Bank in return for the billions of pounds it provides to help the world’s poorest countries, the head of Europe’s development bank has said.

Sir Suma Chakrabarti, president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, said the UK was “naive” in not demanding more senior roles in return for the financial support it provides.

Britain is the largest donor to the World Bank’s International Development Association, the low-interest loan fund for poor countries, but has just two people representing British interests among the 34-strong senior management team who set strategic priorities.

Sir Suma Chakrabarti
Sir Suma Chakrabarti
ALAMY

“We should have more senior Britons in the World Bank system. Those are things the UK should be thinking about. It is the biggest IDA