Wolfensohn led the World Bank onto the cutting edge of every important development debate, and was at the forefront of the effort to combat HIV/AIDS, as well as other deadly diseases that threaten so many impoverished countries. He has been a forthright spokesman for women’s rights and a champion of environmental concerns, as well as a formidable advocate in arguing for debt reduction for the most heavily indebted nations.
针对每次重要发展而展开的讨论中，沃尔芬森都带领世界银行走在最先面，在抗击艾滋病及其它威胁贫困国家的重大疾病的战斗中他也始终走在最前面。他曾是妇女权利的代言人，环境保护的支持者，也是不屈不挠为最大的负债国争取减免债务的倡导者。他还带领世界银行付出了巨大的努力，帮助从波斯尼亚、塞拉里昂到东帝汶这些从内战中苏醒过来的国家进行重建。