Jakob Kopperud is the аIJʿª½±¡¯s Special Representative to Europe, a position he took up on June 1, 2021.
In this role Mr. Kopperud is overseeing the аIJʿª½± offices in Europe that promote and manage the Bank¡¯s institutional relationships with European governments and institutions; and providing advice to Senior Management on all aspects of the аIJʿª½± Group¡¯s relations with European countries.
A Norwegian national, Mr. Kopperud has extensive expertise in donor relations, multilateral cooperation, development policy and communications, and has built a strong network in European capitals and in multilateral fora over his more than 20 years working for the аIJʿª½± Group. He served as the аIJʿª½± Special Representative to the UK & Ireland from 2018 to 2021; as Advisor on аIJʿª½± Multilateral Engagement and аIJʿª½± delegate to the OECD from 2015 to 2018; led the аIJʿª½±'s relations with the Nordic Countries from 2003 to 2015; with the Netherlands from 2009 to 2013; and with international parliamentary organizations from 2008 to 2014. Mr. Kopperud also worked in the аIJʿª½±¡¯s office in Juba, South Sudan in 2008. Before joining the аIJʿª½±, he was with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs - first as a desk officer with the multilateral bank and finance section, and later as a communications advisor to the Minister for International Development. Earlier in his career, Mr. Kopperud also ran his own consultancy; and worked for Norwegian¡¯s People¡¯s Aid. Mr. Kopperud holds a MSc in Policy and International Development from the University of Bristol.