Terms of Reference

Appointed to the Board to represent, and vote on behalf of the Governments of Ireland, Denmark, Lithuania and the FYR Macedonia.

Work Schedule

Full time position based in London with regular Board Consultation visits to the countries of operation to meet with local business people, Ambassadors and Governments to discuss issues and local developments (business and political).

Full Board and sub committee meetings were held every two weeks.

At these meetings loans were evaluated and approved and the basic Governance Business of the Bank conducted.

During my three year term I attended every Board meeting and was involved in the evaluation and approval of €14 billion of loans and investment.

The governance of such a large institution with such a difficult mandate, extensive geographical and political reach was quite complex and difficult to explain in a short note such as this.

The bank has 59 sovereign states as shareholders, with most of the world's most influential NGO's in constant communication with the Bank, so the governance structures and the operations had to be in line with international best practice. In fact, as a Board, we were often dealing with issues involving intricate and inter related political, business, environmental, human rights and democratic that we were writing the rule book as we went.

For example

Meeting the political representatives of minority groups who had recently been involved in armed conflict with government forces.

Deciding whether to hold the Banks AGM in a country where conflicting information was being presented about human rights abuses, delayed economic reform, allegations of political corruption, high level intelligence about potential terrorist threat to kill foreigners, etc.

Staff of foreign investors being kidnapped by criminal gangs.

Ongoing allegations of political interference and corruption while trying desperately to structure loans to businesses and create jobs.

Meeting with reforming Prime Ministers and their teams, to discuss economic reform and understand the difficulties they were experiencing. Then being advised of one being assassinated and deciding whether to advise on more or less radical reforms.

Engaging with the Chairmen of Central Banks to discuss currency flight and how to deal with it without adversely impacting on FDI and international trade.

Regular engagement with NGO's to understand local issues and to take their concerns into consideration when evaluation investments and the conditionality to attach.

Reviewing every loan from not only a credit viewpoint, business perspective but also from a sustainability viewpoint, likely demonstration impact and whether it will assist democratic reform.

Writing Regional and country plans for economic etc. reform that were consistent with the plans of the Government, WHO, World Bank, IMF, EIB, EC and other interested parties.

The Minister expresses his appreciation of Mr Flynn's work on the Board of the Bank and his contribution to the continuing good relationship between the countries in the constituency.