Sarah Cliffe has worked for the last twenty years in countries emerging from conflict and political transition, covering Afghanistan, Burundi, CAR, DRC, Guinea Bissau, Ethiopia, Haiti, Indonesia, Liberia, Rwanda, Sudan, South Africa, and Timor Leste.
Prior to joining the Bank, she worked for the United Nations Development Program in Rwanda, the Government of South Africa, and the Congress of South African Trade Unions, as well as for a major management consultancy company in the United Kingdom on public sector reform issues. She holds degrees in History and Economic Development from Cambridge and Columbia Universities.
Since joining the Bank, her work has covered post-conflict reconstruction, community driven development and civil service reform. She was chief of mission for the Bank’s program in Timor-Leste from 1999 to 2002; led the Bank’s Fragile and Conflict-Affected Countries Group from 2002-2007 and was Director of Operations for East Asia and the Pacific from 2007 – 2009. She is now Special Representative and Director for the World Development Report on Conflict, Security and Development.