The Vice president of the World Bank Human Development Network, Ms Joy Phumaphi, is expected to embark on an official visit to The Gambia, from August 20th to 22nd, 2008, according to a report from the department of state for Basic and Secondary education.

During her three-day visit to The Gambia, the World Bank official is expected to work with officials of the sector towards strengthening the already existing cordial relationship between her organization and the department, with a view to providing her a stronger basis to give her endorsement to the newly prepared EFA/FTI proposal, which is set to be presented to the Board for approval in September 2008.

Her Excellency, Ms Phumaphi and delegation are expected to pay a ‘courtesy call’ on the vice president of the Republic of The Gambia, Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, to register her compliments and appreciation for the smooth relationship between the World Bank and The Gambia Government.

Ms Joy Phumaphi, a Botswana national, before joining the Bank in February, 2007, served as assistant director general for Family and Community Health at the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Geneva, and she also represented the World Health Organisation in the Board of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI).

From 1994-2003, Ms Phumaphi served in various capacities - as a member of parliament, a cabinet minister with responsibility for lands and housing - in the course of which she developed Botswana’s first national housing policy. She also served as minister for health, during which tenure Ms Phumaphi restructured the health ministry of that country, making it more focused on results, and implementing a multi-sectoral plan to provide prevention, care, and treatment services for HIV/AIDS.

Joy Phumaphi holds a Master of Science degree in Financial Accounting and Decision Sciences from Miami University, Ohio.