The series contains internal memoranda to the World Bank Group President, the Regional Vice Presidents, other senior managers, and the Executive Directors for the period in which Stern was Vice President and Senior Vice President, Operations.

Issues covered relate to: the formulation and review of regional and country assistance strategies and lending programs and of structural adjustment loans and selected individual projects; operational policy and procedure; World Bank-International Monetary Fund collaboration; budgeting; and analyses of current initiatives, such as the China program, the Brandt Commission, energy development, and International Development Association (IDA) replenishments.

While Stern served as Senior Vice President from 1980 to May 1987, there is a gap in the chronological records for 1987; the series contains only seven items dating from 1987.