Representation in the World Bank Group

Website

www.worldbank.org

Constituency

Belgium
Austria
Belarus
Hungary
Kosovo
Luxembourg
Czech Republic
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Turkey

Belgian representatives

Biographies

NATHALIE FRANCKEN

Alternate Executive Director (IBRD, IDA, IFC) and Director (MIGA)

Since November 1, 2018, Nathalie Francken is the Alternate Executive Director at the International Bank for the Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Development Association (IDA) and International Financial Corporation (IFC) and the Director for the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) for the Constituency composed of Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Czech Republic, Hungary, Kosovo, Luxembourg, Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Turkey (EDS10).

Prior to joining the WBG, Nathalie Francken chaired the Board of Directors of the Belgian Development Agency (Enabel). She also served as Advisor on Agriculture and Food Security at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Cooperation of Belgium. Last, she was a Research Manager at the Centre for Institutions and Economic Performance (LICOS) at the Catholic University of Leuven. She has field experience from various developing countries and was a Young Professional and Economist at the African Development Bank. She has carried out numerous assignments as advisor, consultant, and researcher for the Cornell University Food and Nutrition Policy Program, the Government of Madagascar, Irish Aid, UNICEF, FAO, and the World Bank. Her research on development economics focuses on public finance, service delivery, food and nutrition security, and the social implications of the natural resource curse. She has published in several peer reviewed international journals, including World Development and Energy Policy.

Nathalie Francken earned a Ph.D. in Economics and Masters of Science in Economics and Agricultural Engineering at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium.

MARLèNE BECO

Director’s Senior Advisor

Since November 1, 2018, Marlène Beco is the Belgian Director’s senior Advisor at the World Bank Group for the EDS10.

After an experience at the European Commission within the DG Research and Innovation, Unit Renewable Energy Sources, Marlène Beco joined, in 2008, the private Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, where she acted as Advisor to the Minister.

She was in charge of the European Economic and Financial Affairs Council meetings, of issues related to the International Monetary Fund and Development Banks, as well as Finexpo. In 2011, she moved to the private office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. She stayed in charge of economic and financial issues (free trade agreements and economic diplomacy) as well as development cooperation. For two years, she was a member of the Board of Directors of the Belgian public Credit Insurer Credendo. In 2016, she joined the Interamerican Development Bank Group (IDBG) as Alternate Executive Director.

Marlène Beco received a Master in Political Sciences from the University of Brussels, a postgraduate diploma in European Affairs and International relations from the University of Liege and a Master in Management from HEC Management School.

HEIDY ROMBOUTS

Director’s Advisor (representative for the Directorate-general for Development Cooperation)

Since November 1, 2018, Heidy Rombouts is the Belgian Director’s Advisor at the World Bank Group for the EDS10.

Heidy Rombouts has been working in the field of international development cooperation for almost 20 years, in various roles, multiple countries and with a variety of organizations, ranging from non-profit and academic to bi- and multilateral. As an academic and policy advisor at the Institute of Development Policy and Management (UA / Beleidsondersteunend Steunpunt) she gained solid expertise in the contemporary aid architecture, fragility, social inclusion, security and governance. At the implementation level she worked with the Belgian Technical Cooperation (now Enabel) at the Brussels headquarters and in Mali and continued as a GIZ team leader in Kenya. In 2015 she joined the team of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association as project coordinator. She is an acknowledged public speaker and has researched, published, and consulted widely in her field.
Heidy Rombouts received her Ph.D. in Social and Political Sciences from University of Antwerp and a Master of Laws and Master in Sociology from the Catholic University of Leuven.