Ayat Soliman is the World Bank’s Strategy and Operations Director in the Latin America and Caribbean Region, where she contributes to the definition and successful implementation of the strategic vision of the World Bank engagement in the region, focusing on fueling growth, reducing poverty, supporting equality and protecting the environment. In addition, she coordinates the day-to day management of the World Banks overall operational engagement, with a portfolio of ongoing projects, analytical products and technical assistance of about US$32 billion across 31 countries of the region.
Ms. Soliman has over 25 years of experience working on development issues at the World Bank, United Nations and private sector. Prior to her current assignment, Ms. Soliman served as the Regional Director for Sustainable Development in the Eastern and Southern Africa region, where she led a team of 300 staff and an active portfolio of $20.4 billion in investments across the region in urban and social development, agriculture, water, disaster risk management and environment sectors, as well as the delivery of the Bank’s new core analytical report on climate change for selected countries.
Previously, she served as the Regional Director for Sustainable Development in the Middle East and North Africa region and the Global Director in the Water Global Practice.
She brings extensive experience serving a wide range of low and middle income country clients, as well as delivery of programs in fragile and conflict affected settings. She holds an MSc and BSc in Environmental and Mechanical Engineering from the American University in Cairo.