St. Marys grad works amid lurking danger in Afghanistan

ST. MARYS - Unlike most Memorial High School graduates, Bob Saum travels to work in an armored vehicle, escorted by armed guards.

He is The World Bank's country director for Afghanistan and lives just a few hundred feet from his office but still needs protection during the short commute.

Saum on Wednesday described to the St. Marys Rotary Club his daily life in Kabul, the capital of a country that has seen armed conflicts over the centuries.

"We really don't do a whole lot of movement outside of the office. I have a cook and a cleaner who go out and do shopping because we're not allowed to go out from a security perspective," he said. "We're very fortunate that The World Bank has never been a target at all. The biggest concern is collateral damage. We maintain a low profile."

The 1980 Memorial High school graduate said the bank's offices and his home have bunkers in case of attacks. High fences are designed to foil snipers. This sheltered life has become the norm for Saum, who has lived in Afghanistan since May 2012.

Guards watch the entrances to his home and explosive-sniffing dogs provide more protection, Saum noted.

He is able to go to other country's embassies for dinner or other events but otherwise is told to stay home.

The World Bank employees work for six weeks and then receive two weeks of rest and relaxation to make up for the tight security and limitations, he said.

While on break, Saum tries to return to the United States or visit other countries.

While visiting he tries to pick up spices and cooking supplies for his chef, Saum said.

His office is made up of four converted houses, complete with meeting rooms, computers and Internet access all powered by generators, he said.

Saum spends much of his time meeting with government officials to work on policies and grants.

"The World Bank is a sister organization to the United Nations. We are owned by the countries of the world. The World Bank is tasked with fighting poverty around the world, so we work in the least-developed countries in the world providing either low-cost loans or, in some cases, grants," he continued.

The World Bank gives about $1 billion annually to the Afghan government, he said.

"I spend time working with them on what they want to do with education, what they want to do on infrastructure. We work with them on analytical work. We do research," Saum said.

The bank works on education, health and infrastructure projects, Saum added.

Saum has worked for The World Bank since 1998. Prior to moving to Kabul, he worked in Washington, D.C., from 2009-2012. He was the manager for financial management in the South Asia region from 2004-2009. Before that, he worked on public financial management and accountability in east Asia and Africa.

He has also lived in Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Nigeria, working for nonprofit organizations focused on refugee assistance and rural development from 1992-1998.