Expecting the World: Learning from Women in Left-Out Places

by Jerri Dell

Expecting the World is the story of one woman's unlikely thirty-year rise through a male-dominated international organization, to pioneer a new approach to women in development, improve livelihoods and reduce poverty. It is an intimate account of Dell's work and travel training trainers to train village women and artisans in Africa, India, the Maghreb and Peru, while raising two sons at home.

Dell's story unfolds within the historical context of the last three decades of the twentieth century, encompassing world events that took place during those tumultuous the politics of oil, war in the Mideast, and the Egypt-Israeli peace accords of the 1970s; the assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat in 1981; Nelson Mandela's release from prison in 1990; and the horror of September 11, 2001. It includes her personal encounters with international figures like World Bank president Robert McNamara and Egypt's first lady Jehan Sadat, both of whom provided critical support and inspiration for her work. 

310 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 7, 2021

Reviews

[Vaughn Eckhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took a while for me to finish this book - it was very engaging, yet I had previously failed to finish it. I'm very glad I did. Not only did the story become more intriguing as it went along, I could see every future impact of the efforts she had made before (a convoluted way to say her actions had positive consequences). The sheer tenacity was inspiring, and while my personality would align significantly more to that of Marguerite, I could still feel a sense of comradery in our womanhood. I loved the insight into other culture, particularly that of more pastoral regions. I certainly loved the American side of things as well. All you need to know is that Dell is a remarkable lady.

[Paul Blustein · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s now universally accepted by development experts that the advancement of women’s education and employment opportunities is essential to a developing country’s success. And it has similarly become accepted wisdom at the World Bank that female staff should be treated as equals to men, especially given the enhanced perspective women staffers can bring in fostering women’s rights in the developing world. But not so long ago, such views were far from widespread. Jerri Dell was at the forefront of pushing the Bank in these enlightened directions, and in this book she provides an eye-opening account of how difficult—and rewarding—it was. Full disclosure: I’ve known Jerri since junior high school, and we’re great pals. But I would say all this stuff anyway!

[Beverly Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book.

Dell paints a colorful picture of her years at The World Bank, starting as a secretary and gaining a management position despite the times not being very welcoming to women in the business world. Her travels, her conflicts, her determination, and grit are all detailed with humor and glorious detail.

She raises two boys with her husband, despite traveling the world and being away more than she would have liked. It's an amazing story.

[Mary McNeil · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written memoir of a women's coming of age, and of her experience in using that knowledge to help other women in the world's poorest places. Dell's memory for detail is remarkable, and she has given us a unique "bottom up view of the World Bank--one that should resonate with some of the Bank's most needy clients.