PROUD Sarawakian and Centennial Scholar, Wee Ai Chin, has spent over three decades in global development, serving in senior roles at the World Bank across Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
With a deep background in agricultural economics, community forestry and rural development, she led major projects across more than 25 countries, shaping policies and empowering communities from Nepal’s Himalayan hills to Bhutan’s remote forests.
Her work involved complex issues, such as tackling poverty, natural resource management and inclusive development, always rooted in the belief that real change starts with listening to the people.
After returning to Sarawak, Ai Chin channelled her global experience into local efforts mentoring young agripreneurs, launching the Kuching Natural Farmers’ Market (KNFM) and promoting sustainable food systems across the region.
In an exclusive interview with Sarawak Tribune (ST), Ai Chin reflects on her time with the World Bank, the realities of development work, and how her Sarawakian roots grounded her international career.
ST: During your time with the World Bank, what were some of your most memorable field experiences?
Ai Chin: There are too many to count, but one that stays with me is Bhutan. We were battling a severe beetle epidemic that was wiping out entire forests. Nobody had answers. I hired a team, sent them into the forest, and told them, “Don’t come out until you’ve found a solution”.
Eventually, we worked with a Swedish forester who extracted the pheromone of the female beetle, reproduced it, and built traps to attract the males. It worked. In 1.5 years, the epidemic ended.
ST: How did you ensure that community perspectives made it into your project planning?
Ai Chin: In the field, big institutions don’t matter anymore. You do what you must to get the truth. You talk to villagers, to wives, to children. You casually ask questions, observe body language. Because when you’re defending your project back in Washington, you’d better know every detail. You can’t say, “Oh, I don’t know, the engineer did that!”. As a team leader, you must know everything. Field truth informs project design, and that’s what gives it integrity.
ST: What was the work culture like in such a high-pressure, global institution?
Ai Chin: Intense. You work around the clock, often under jet lag. I’ve slept in the bathroom twice because I couldn’t get a taxi at 3:00 am. When you arrive in a country, your jet lag starts, when it ends, it’s time to fly back. People think international work is glamorous; no, it’s hard. You’re always under scrutiny, and every decision is dissected. Even a passing criticism in the media can cause a cascade of reviews. You must always be on your toes.
ST: What are the advantages and limitations of working under the World Bank umbrella?
Ai Chin: Vandana Shiva once made a public critique of the World Bank. I gently responded, “With due respect, I worked there for 32 years, it’s not entirely as portrayed”. Not many would interject, but I felt it was important to offer a different perspective. She was gracious in her response, and we connected afterward. I believe it’s because I spoke sincerely.
ST: How did cross-sector collaboration within the Bank influence your understanding of development?
Ai Chin: Everything at the Bank is multi-sector. You don’t just approve a project. You assess it economically, financially, socially, environmentally, legally; you name it. You consult with everyone, even strangers. You learn to synthesise vast inputs quickly and make smart, sound decisions. Every angle must be defensible. That level of rigour stays with you forever.
ST: You’ve worked in dozens of countries. How did you maintain a connection to Sarawak while being based overseas?
Ai Chin: I always came home every year without fail. Wherever I was in the world, whether Rome, New Delhi, or Ulaanbaatar, I would bring my children and return to Kuching. I made sure they knew their roots. We’d visit their uncles, eat durian, reconnect with family. We’d also stop in Minnesota to see their grandmother. So they knew both sides of their heritage. They’ve been to 26 countries, but Kuching was always home base.
ST: What is something you learned at the World Bank that you now apply to your community work in Sarawak?
Ai Chin: Clarity, decisiveness, hard work, and never losing sight of your objective. You push through even when people doubt you, mock you, or try to stop you. At the Bank, I learned that no matter how tough the situation is and when you wish the ground would swallow you, you stay and do the job. That’s something I bring into everything I do now, including the Kuching Natural Farmers’ Market.
ST: As someone who has worked across global development systems, what is your take on how Sarawak can grow more inclusively?
Ai Chin: First, the community must come first. A nation is made up of communities, and communities are made up of individuals. Participation is key. We still have a patron-beneficiary culture where things are handed out.
But global experience shows that giving without accountability breeds dependency. In places like Bangladesh and India, development only succeeds when people co-invest. You give something, but they must do their part. That sense of ownership, that’s what makes things last. Not many would interject, but I felt it was important to offer a different perspective.
ST: You’re one of the few Sarawakians to have worked at that level. What does it mean to you to now give back locally?
Ai Chin: It means everything. I was a Centennial Scholar and one of the top Form Six students in Sarawak, and I’ve always felt a responsibility to give back. The world gave me so much. I cannot just sit around and watch TV. Giving back is not a chore, it’s a calling. Whether it’s training farmers, running a community market, or mentoring youth, it’s about making sure what you learned goes back to where you came from.
ST: Any advice for Sarawakians who aspire to work in international development?
Ai Chin: Don’t be afraid. You may be from a small place, but your contribution can be global. Always ground yourself in your community values but be open to learning from the world. Be rigorous, be humble, and keep your integrity. The world needs more voices like ours, honest, rooted and resilient.
