The series consists of records related to Bernhard H. Liese's participation in the World Health Organization (WHO)-led joint health programs while he was a public health specialist in the Population, Health and Nutrition Department (PHN) and continuing through to his appointment as director, Health Services Department (HSDDR).

Records consist of internal memos between Liese and colleagues in PHN and HSD, and between President McNamara and senior Bank staff. External correspondence in the form of letters and faxes are between Liese and representatives of WHO, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Edna McConnell Clarke Foundation, and other organizations. Also included are back-to-office reports, mission Terms of References, progress reports, Board of Executive Director records, Board papers, WHO/ Special Programme for Tropical Disease Research and Training (TDR) meeting records (agenda, minutes, reports and summary of recommendations), briefing notes, grant agreements, press releases, brochures, publications, and draft articles and research papers prepared by Liese and others.

Most records relate to Liese's attendance at meetings of the statutory bodies of the TDR (1990 - 1999) including the Standing Committee, Joint Coordinating Board (JCB), and the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC). Briefing notes also document the history of the TDR program and the Bank's support. Records also include discussions on the Bank, WHO and UNDP financial contributions to the Tropical Disease Research Fund and expenditures on tropical disease control.

Series also contains records related to World Bank research studies initiated and funded by the Bank with support from the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation (1986 - 2002). Liese managed an international comparative study on Organization and Management of Tropical Diseases in which research was undertaken jointly by the Bank, consultants, and the foundation between 1989 and 1990. These records take the form of correspondence and background research material regarding a series of case studies on tuberculosis, schistosomiasis, and malaria control. Final products of these research studies include the 1991 publication titled "Organizing and Managing Tropical Diseases: Lessons of Success" and the 1992 report "Organizing and managing tropical disease control programs : case studies".

Records also relate to Liese's management of the Bank's financial support to the former WHO Programme for the Control of Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) through the Bank Special Grants Program, later the Development Grant Facility (1992 - 1998). Records concerning Liese's attendance at an ARI clinical course are also included. A smaller volume of records (1990 - 1995) pertains to Liese's participation at Meetings of Interested Parties (MIP) of WHO's Division of Diahrroeal and Acute Respiratory Disease Control (CDR), MIP of the Expanded Programme of Immunization and statutory meetings related to family and reproductive health. CDR was formerly the WHO Control of Diarrhoeal Diseases (CDD) and ARI.

Also included in the series are draft and final versions of publications authored or co-authored by Liese, including "Onchocerciasis Control Program in West Africa - Commitment to Success".