The Policy, Planning and Research Senior Vice Presidency (PPRSV) was established in May 1987, reporting directly to the World Bank Group (WBG) president. Its formation was a key part of a comprehensive Bank-wide reorganization designed to better integrate research, policy, and strategic planning. This integration aimed to make the Bank's research more relevant to policy development and to improve support for its operational activities.

W. David Hopper was named PPR senior vice president and served in this role until December 31, 1989. The senior vice president was responsible for managing the PPR Complex, advising the WBG president on international and economic development issues, developing strategic priorities, and ensuring that budget allocations reflected those priorities.

Upon completion of the 1987 reorganization, PPRSV's functional responsibilities were organized under two vice presidents and three department directors, all of which reported to Senior Vice President Hopper:

• Development Economics Vice Presidency (DEC)

• Sector Policy and Research Vice Presidency (PRE)

• Strategic Planning and Review Department (SPR)

• Programming and Budgeting Department (PBD)

• Economic Development Institute (EDI, moved into DEC in spring 1988)

Also reporting to the PPRSV was the Secretariat of the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).

On December 31, 1989, PPRSV was restructured into the Policy, Research and External Affairs Senior Vice Presidency (PRESV) as part of further fine-tuning the 1987 reorganization. This change included the termination of the Planning and Budgeting Department, with its functions incorporated into the newly established Corporate Planning and Budgeting Vice Presidency (CPB), which reported directly to the president. The External Affairs Department (EXT) was transferred from the terminated External Affairs and Administration Senior Vice Presidency (EAASV) to PRESV.

Wilfried P. Thalwitz became Senior Vice President of PRESV on January 1, 1990, serving until November 30, 1991. PRESV continued to report directly to the president and retained similar responsibilities as its predecessor, focusing on strategic and policy issues, international and economic development, research quality, and external relations.

At its establishment, PRESV oversaw:

• Development Economics Vice Presidency (DEC)

• Sector Policy and Research Vice Presidency (PRE, later PRS)

• Strategic Planning and Review Department (SPR)

• External Affairs Department (EXT)

• Secretariat of CGIAR

• Geneva Office (PREGE)

Subsequent changes included the termination of the SPR in July 1990, with policy review functions transferred to the newly established Policy and Review Department (PRD) in DEC. The International Economic Relations Division and the U.N. Office in New York, both of which had been reporting to SPR since its creation in May 1987, were returned to EXT.

On November 30, 1991, following President Lewis Preston's reorganization, all senior vice presidencies were terminated and replaced by managing directors without administrative or line responsibilities. Departments previously reporting to PRESV were abolished or redistributed:

• SPR was abolished

• EXT was subordinated to the Personnel and Administration Vice Presidency (PAA)

• Geneva Office was subordinated to DEC

CGIAR Secretariat was subordinated to the Sector and Operations Policy Vice Presidency (OSP, previously PRS).