Freetown — World Bank director of strategy and operations Colin Bruce is due in Freetown today to discuss with President Koroma's government on priority development assistance issues in the frame of the country's new poverty reduction strategy.

The expert would also engage government official on preparation and possible avenues and areas of World Bank assistance priorities in support of the process.

Bruce's visit coincides with Sierra Leone's preparation of a new PRSP which, when completed and put into operation, is expected to help move Sierra Leone out of post-conflict station. At this time also, the World Bank preparing a new Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) to be aligned to the new PRSP.

This will inform Bruce's meetings with President Ernest Koroma and finance and development minister, David Carew.

Bruce will also interact with local councils and project beneficiaries in the field to get a feel of progress in the country's decentralization process towards which the World Bank has been contributing. Provision will also be made for Bruce to meet the donor community, the World Bank Country office staff and project staff.

Bruce, a Guyanese national, joined the World Bank in 1988 and has since held various positions, the most recent assignment being Country Director, Comoros, Eritrea, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles and Somalia.

He is currently responsible for supporting the Africa Region Vice President of the World Bank to generally manage the Region, which includes guiding Country and Sector Directors on key strategic issues and identifying cross-cutting operational issues and trends for senior management attention.

Bruce is known for leading the preparation of the historic Paris Declaration on aid effectiveness.