Massimiliano Paolucci has been appointed as the World Bank Group Country Manager for Albania, effective July 1, 2025. This role aims to consolidate leadership at the country level to better support Albania's public and private sector goals. Paolucci will oversee programs from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) in Albania, providing a unified point of contact for World Bank Group services.
"Albania’s ambitious development agenda aims to enhance the prosperity of its citizens and speed up the accession process to the European Union (EU). The World Bank Group’s new joint representation will bolster our integrated approach in the projects we support, positioning us as a more effective partner for the government, the private sector, and the citizens of Albania," stated Massimiliano Paolucci.
The World Bank Group is implementing a five-year Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for fiscal years 2023-27 in Albania. This framework focuses on job creation, strengthening human capital, and enhancing resilience to shocks with an aim to build a stronger and more inclusive society.
Paolucci, an Italian national, previously served as the World Bank’s Country Manager for Kosovo and North Macedonia. His past roles include positions such as Country Officer for the Dominican Republic, Country Program Coordinator for Brazil, Special Representative based in Rome, and Special Representative to European Institutions in Brussels.
The move towards joint country representation marks an important step in building a stronger World Bank Group by unifying leadership at the country level. Albania is among several offices transitioning to this model with a single manager overseeing IBRD, IDA, IFC, and MIGA operations.