Dear WBFN Member,
Warm greetings from both of us.
As we begin this new term, we would like to express our sincere appreciation to Joel and the outgoing Executive Committee for their leadership and service. We are also grateful for the confidence you have placed in us to lead WBFN, and for the warm support shown to our new Executive Committee. Together, we are committed to serving our community and delivering on the priorities that matter most to our members.
This year, we will continue building on the FY26-28 strategy developed last year. While FY26 laid the foundations and began translating that strategy into concrete initiatives, informed by the feedback of our members, FY27 will focus on deepening the implementation and extending its reach, so that families feel welcomed, connected, and supported wherever their WBG journey takes them.
Strengthening WBFN’s global presence remains central to this effort. We are proud of the progress made in FY26, including strengthening 8 chapters across our 6 regions and launching the Teen Summer Program (TSP) in 3 new countries. This year, we aim to expand TSP further and introduce Family Day events in several locations, bringing together staff and families in partnership with Country Management Teams. Our Local Connectors continue to develop programs tailored to welcome local spouses. We are also creating a playbook to help Regional and Local Connectors establish and grow WBFN communities worldwide, ensuring a consistent and welcoming experience for members wherever they are posted.
Communications will continue to play an important role in keeping our global community connected. In FY26, we launched Global Connect, a newsletter for and by our members, which has already started sharing stories and perspectives from Vienna, Islamabad, Dar es Salaam, and Singapore. We are also excited about our upcoming redesigned website and the recent introduction of WBFN’s Viva Engage page, which will help raise awareness of WBFN activities among WBG staff and families.
Career support is our third strategic priority. The monthly thematic sessions introduced in FY26, featuring expert guest speakers, were well received, with 40% of participants attending from country offices. In FY27, we plan to build on this progress by introducing mentorship and expanding professional networking opportunities for our members across locations and professions.
These initiatives promise an exciting year ahead, and we welcome your ideas, feedback, and involvement. If you would like to contribute as a volunteer, we would be delighted to have you join us in bringing these programs to life.
This month’s At a Glance website article introduces the new members of our Executive Committee and shares their backgrounds, experiences and motivations for volunteering with WBFN. We hope you will enjoy getting to know the dedicated volunteers who will be serving our community this year.
July is also a particularly busy relocation season for families. Moving to a new country often involves important decisions about housing, schools, and settling into an unfamiliar environment, which can be both exciting and stressful. We encourage members preparing for a move to connect with WBFN volunteers and members in their destination country. You may also find valuable resources in the HR Global Mobility website’s “Know Before You Go” checklist and WBFN’s “Tools to Move” website, both designed to help families navigate their relocation journey with greater ease and confidence.
In this month’s Global Connect, we will spotlight our Regional and Local connectors whose dedication ensures that relocating members are welcomed with support, friendship, and a sense of belonging wherever they go. We will also feature this year’s Teen Summer Program, taking place in 5 cities: New Delhi, Vienna, Nairobi, Washington DC, and Singapore. Over 5 weeks in June and July, WBFN teens will have the opportunity to build skills, connections, and confidence through this flagship program.
We hope you will take part in WBFN activities this year and continue to help strengthen our vibrant global community. As always, we value your feedback and ideas. Please feel free to write to us at familynetwork@worldbank.org.
With appreciation and warm regards,
Milka and Taoufik