The World Bank Group recently signed a new agreement with the presidents of six historically Black colleges and universities that will promote the sharing of knowledge and talent between the development and learning institutions to advance more inclusive and sustainable social and economic development.
The six HBCUs participating in the program are Claflin University, Clark Atlanta University, Howard University, Jackson State University, Tennessee State University, and Xavier University of Louisiana. The initiative provides a framework for the World Bank Group to draw on the rich talent and research of HBCU students and faculty while providing those students and faculty access to the World Bank Group’s deep pool of development knowledge, data, and analytics.
In addition, the initiative will promote greater awareness and understanding of international development and the work of the World Bank Group at the HBCUs.
“We are very pleased to enter into this historic agreement with these HBCUs, which are all led by visionary presidents, with stellar faculty and impressive alumni,” said David Malpass, president of the World Bank Group. “We hope this alliance will provide a platform for awareness building and collaboration between students and faculty of HBCUs and the World Bank Group for developing more innovative and culturally-informed solutions to many of the world’s pressing development challenges.”
The financial imperialist World Bank has been around since 1944 and they just know realizing and recognizing HBCUs in 2022. I wonder what propelled the World Bank decision makers for reaching out to these HBCUs now? Just think, Howard University is located in Washington, DC on the same side of town. I am very interested in knowing what type of tangible resources and funding that will be earmarked to each on these institutions. In other words, let the public see the MOU.
I played a key role in developing this initiative with the WB back in 2011 when I was Senior Director for Institutional Service in the ED”s Office of Postsecondary Education. Good to see the WB’s commitment continues.