The Global Research Institute, the W&M Washington Center, and the Global Scholars Program
are pleased to present:
The Future of Development Finance: A Conversation with
Former World Bank Group President David Malpass
Wednesday, January 10, 6:00-7:30pm
William & Mary Washington Center
901 4th Street, NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20001
Join us for a conversation with former World Bank President David Malpass, moderated by Samantha Custer, Director of Policy Analysis at AidData.
Ample time for audience Q&A will be provided. An appetizer & drinks reception will follow with a chance to connect with students from William & Mary's Global Scholars Program — an experiential learning opportunity that engages undergrads in real-world policy outcomes.
David R. Malpass was the 13th President of the World Bank Group (WBG). Nominated by U.S. President Donald Trump on February 6, 2019, Malpass’s term as WBG President was marked most notably by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to mounting the institution’s largest ever crisis response to address the effects of the pandemic, the World Bank Group under Malpass also increased support for fragile and conflict-afflicted states and implemented tools to deal with increasingly problematic debt levels among its poorest members. Prior to his departure, Malpass launched the WBG’s Evolution Roadmap, intended as a review and enhancement of the institution’s operational and financial models.
Prior to his Presidency of WBG, Mr. Malpass served as Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs, representing the United States in international settings. In 2018, Mr. Malpass advocated for the capital increase for the IBRD and IFC as part of a reform agenda. He was also instrumental in advancing the Bank Group and IMF’s Debt Transparency Initiative.
Before joining the U.S. Treasury, he was an international economist and founder of a macroeconomics research firm. As chief economist of Bear Stearns, he conducted financial analyses of countries around the world.
Samantha Custer directs AidData's Policy Analysis Unit (PAU), which blends qualitative and quantitative approaches to answer real-world questions in a way that is both academically rigorous and policy relevant. Her research examines the influence of development investments and public diplomacy efforts, generates new evidence on the use and impact of open data, and leverages surveys to learn from the experiences of decision-makers in low- and middle-income countries regarding the impact of external money and ideas on domestic policy reforms.
Ms. Custer holds a dual masters in Foreign Service and Public Policy from Georgetown University and has a 20-year track record of leading teams and supporting evidence-based decision-making as an international relations scholar-practitioner.