Francisco Obreque

Francisco Obreque

Lead Rural Development Specialist

Francisco Obreque is a Lead Rural Development Specialist in the Office of the Regional Director for the Planet Department (Agriculture, Climate, Environment, Inclusion, Water) in Eastern and Southern Africa.

Francisco specializes in policies, investments, and institutions that drive solutions for climate change and sustainable development.

Since he joined the Eastern and Southern Africa region in 2019, Francisco served as the Acting Practice Manager for Agriculture and Food for over a year. Previously, he was the unit’s focal point for climate change and climate finance and led the agricultural program in Malawi, based in Lilongwe.

Prior to this, he was based in Argentina and Bolivia, where he served as the focal point for agricultural investments and technical assistance, working extensively throughout the LAC region.

A Chilean national, Francisco holds a Ph.D. in Rural Development Policies from the Technical University of Munich, Germany, and is a trained Agronomist. Before joining the World Bank in 2012, he held several key roles within the Chilean Government and worked as an international consultant.