[Promotional materials, International Conference on AIDS (13th : 200 : Durban, South Africa)]

September, 1999, with an official
endorsement at the World Bank/IMF
Annual Meetings to double the
amount of relief, make more countries
eligible for assistance, and speed up
the process.
In January, 1999, Mr. Wolfensohn
introduced the Comprehensive
Development Framework (CDF),
drawing on the lessons of
development experience and putting
into action the key concepts laid out in
his Annual Meetings speeches of 1997
and 1998. Together with the Bank's
partners, the CDF is now being piloted
in 13 countries.
The CDF is meant to be a compass -
not a blueprint. It is an approach that
places the country front and center and
focusing on building stronger
partnerships to reduce poverty.
The CDF has been discussed with a
wide variety of audiences including
ministers and senior officials of both
developed and developing countries,
academics, civil society and the
private sector, and other stakeholders.
Also, a network of CDF focal points
within multilateral, bilateral and UN
agencies have been meeting regularly
on various aspects of implementation.
The CDF is also meant to enhance the
Strategic Compact, a major reform
program in the Bank which Mr.
Wolfensohn launched to improve the
institution's effectiveness in fighting
poverty, and to meet the needs of a
rapidly changing global economy. A
central feature of Mr. Wolfensohn's

Strategic Compact is to incorporate
key aspects of the information
revolution into the Bank's work by
transforming the institution into a
Knowledge Bank.
Prior to joining the Bank, Mr.
Wolfensohn was an international
investment banker. His last position
was as President and Chief Executive
Officer of James D. Wolfensohn Inc.,
his own investment firm set up in 1981
to advise major U.S. and international
corporations. He relinquished his
interests in the firm upon joining the
World Bank.
Before setting up his own company,
Mir. Wolfensohn held a series of senior
positions in finance. He was Executive
Partner of Salomon Brothers in New
York and head of its investment
banking department. He was Executive
Deputy Chairman and Managing
Director of Schroders Ltd. in London,
President of J. Henry Schroders
Banking Corporation in New York, and
Managing Director, Darling & Co. of
Australia.
Throughout his career, Mr. Wolfensohn
has also closely involved himself in a
wide range of cultural and volunteer
activities, especially in the performing
arts.
Currently, in addition to serving as
President of the World Bank Group, he
is Chairman of the Board of the
Institute for Advanced Study at
Princeton University.
In 1970, Mr. Wolfensohn became
involved in New York's Carnegie Hall,

World Bank Group President James D. Wolfensohn

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