Tracy Hart

Global Lead, Fragile and Conflict States, Environment, Natural Resource, and the Blue Economy
World Bank
United States

May 30, 2023

Tracy Hart is the Global Lead for Fragile and Conflict States in the Environment, Natural Resources and Blue Economy Practice in the World Bank. In this role, Tracy's primary focus is to develop and implement effective approaches that promote sustainable environmental practices while addressing the specific needs and circumstances of regions experiencing ongoing conflict. Tracy’s professional trajectory within the World Bank showcases a rich journey characterized by many positions and contributions.

During her high school years, Tracy actively participated in Model United Nations, cultivating her interest in global affairs. This passion led her to pursue her studies at the School of Foreign Service in Georgetown University. In the third year of her undergraduate program, she attended the University of Dakar in Senegal. Throughout her time in Senegal, Tracy had the opportunity to travel extensively within the country, exploring rural areas and gaining firsthand insights into agriculture and local communities. Later, Tracy earned a Master’s and PhD in agricultural and resource economics, with a specialization in water resource economics, from the University of California at Berkeley.

With over 26 years of experience at the World Bank, her role has often been instrumental in conducting environmental impact assessments for development projects in countries facing perpetual fragility and conflict. As such, her work involves navigating the complex humanitarian-development nexus and ensuring that basic services and livelihoods are provided while making sure that the project “does no harm.”  Her role involves actively seeking ways to help communities develop, with a particular focus on conflict prevention in natural resource management initiatives. She has been working in addressing environmental challenges in Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, and Sahel countries. These experiences have enabled her to have the time and flexibility to move from doing no harm to exploring how to improve the livelihoods of communities.

Tracy's work has included the "Great Green Wall" initiative in Sudan, where she spent 5-6 years collaborating with communities at the forefront of climate change. Witnessing the profound effects of climate change on these communities, Tracy worked closely with them to provide essential resources such as solar power, wells, windbreaks, and improved small-scale irrigation systems. Tracy has seen first-hand how climate change is making regions increasingly uninhabitable for communities that have lived there for generations.

Her deep commitment to community-driven development traces back to her transformative experiences as a Peace Corps volunteer in Mauritania from 1987 to 1989. During this period, Tracy actively collaborated with women's cooperatives (and some men’s cooperatives), focusing on small-scale vegetable gardening and irrigation system enhancements. Immersed in the dynamics of these communities, Tracy gained invaluable insights into decision-making processes, conflict resolution, and the power of shared learning. Her work at the micro-level, spanning multiple villages and involving close interaction with diverse stakeholders, continues to shape her approach as she now applies her expertise to projects encompassing hundreds of communities worldwide. This experience forms the backbone of her inductive reasoning, enabling her to offer informed and contextually relevant solutions to the challenges that communities face.

Following her Peace Corps experience, Tracy pursued a PhD in Agricultural and Resource Economics at UC-Berkeley, where she encountered numerous challenges and opportunities. While most of the other students pursuing PhD sought to become academics, Tracy's passion laid in applied work rather than teaching theory. She constantly questioned herself, pondering the purpose behind her chosen path. In this regard, she reminds young people of the importance of thinking about the purpose behind their chosen path, whether in the academic or applied worlds, amidst the diversity of goals among their peers. By continually asking the fundamental question of "Why am I doing this?", Tracy encourages young people to stay connected with their driving forces and forge a path that resonates with their true aspirations.

Guided by her personal beliefs as a Quaker, Tracy is committed to living a life that promotes peace and seeks to ‘‘remove the occasion of war’’, which a Quaker phrase. She has embraced this phrase, striving to embody peace through her actions and words. She firmly believes that personal convictions should not be at odds with professional endeavors. On the contrary, according to her, integrating one's beliefs into their work can ignite a deeper passion and foster genuine dedication. In this regard, Tracy's own journey has been shaped by a desire to bridge the gap between her authentic self and her professional life. As a result, Tracy's dedication to promoting peace extends beyond the confines of her workplace; she actively strives to foster a peaceful environment in her personal life and within her family, community, and the wider world.

Tracy finds environmental peacebuilding to be an avenue that aligns her personal and professional views. As a supporter of the Environmental Peacebuilding Association (EnPAx), she has closely witnessed the development and evolution of this program, understanding its fundamental purpose from its inception. She appreciates the organization's mission and is proud of being a member of EnPAx.