Shortly after assuming the presidency, Barber Conable discontinued the Managing Committee that, during the Clausen years, had provided overall administrative control of the World Bank Group. In its place, Conable created an advisory body made up of the Bank Group vice presidents who reported directly to the president (some vice presidents reported to other vice presidents; they were excluded). This body was originally known as the Policy Committee, then renamed the President's Council in May 1988. It advised on policy decisions for consideration by the Board of Executive Directors, on strategic objectives, resource mobilization and allocation, workforce strategies, and other managerial and operational policy issues. A staff member in the president's office served as the secretary for the committee/council.
This series contains the official records of the council, from May 1987 to July 1991, grouped in two subseries. The files in the first subseries, amounting to 10 linear feet, are the records of the weekly meetings of the council, including agendas, minutes and other committee minutes, memoranda, talking points, internal working papers and reports (including Board papers), country strategy notes, operational directives, speeches, press releases and clippings, and other documents discussed. The second subseries, 2 linear feet, is the set of papers distributed to the council members for background information; the first seven files (of a total of nine) include a list at the beginning of the file providing the title of each document in the file, the originator, and the date. The files include a few pieces of correspondence and a few annotations and comments from council members.
These records document internal deliberations within the Bank Group during the Conable era, covering a wide spectrum of topics. Discussion topics relate to country strategy papers, lending activities (resumption of lending to countries, loan prepayment fee policy, impact on the Bank Group's net income, lending guidelines for tobacco), experience with adjustment lending,operations strategy in heavily indebted middle income countries, private sector development, a proposed AIDS program for Africa, the preparation of the Annual Portfolio Review, and approaches to budget. Discussions also concern IDA-9 negotiations, IFC capital increase, implications of the Montreal Protocol for the Bank Group and involvement in the Global Environment Facility, development of committees and working groups (private sector development working group, task forces on poverty and technical assistance review), the Bank Group's environmental policy and position including revamping the Tropical Forestry Action Plan, a pilot cooperation program for the Brazilian rainforest, Development Committee work and reports, World Bank Group history project, management of records, information disclosure, information management and technology strategy, relations with the Bank Group's Staff Association, internal audit program, and staffing and compensation matters.
