Much of what we know about access to finance comes from studies of microfinance, small loans typically made to self‑employed individuals or household businesses. This large body of evidence has shown that microcredit often increases business activity, but on average it has limited effects on profits and job creation. These findings have shaped how policy makers think about finance and development.
Continue reading
During the working visit of H.M. the King and H.M the Queen of the Netherlands to the United States in April, a high-level reception was hosted at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington D.C. In his speech, the King emphasized the long-standing ties between the Netherlands and the U.S., but also challenges and potential ways to strengthen our relations. Subsequently, their Majesties circulated through the crowd, joined by the Ministers in attendance, for various topical discussion.
Continue reading
Martijn Groen currently serves as Alternate Executive Director for IDB Invest and Counselor at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in Washington DC. In this role, he represents the Dutch position at the Board of the Bank and works on investment and strategic priorities across Latin America and the Caribbean.
The IDB Group is the largest multilateral bank focused on Latin America and the Caribbean, with more than USD 35 billion in annual financing in 2025. For Dutch companies, the IDB Group offers opportunities in sectors such as infrastructure, water, energy transition, logistics, and digitalization through procurement, project financing and private sector investments. Martijn also serves as a contact point for Dutch companies interested in working with the IDB Group in the region.
Before joining the IDB Group, Martijn worked as a career diplomat at the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with postings in Colombia, Zimbabwe and Iraq.
The 2026 World Bank Group/IMF Spring Meetings in Washington, D.C. marked a pivotal moment for global water policy with the launch of the “Water Forward: Driving Jobs and Prosperity” flagship initiative. This high-level event, held on April 15, 2026, repositioned water security not merely as a humanitarian goal, but as a fundamental prerequisite for economic stability and job creation.
The transition toward sustainable urban transport is accelerating through a powerful synergy between Dutch technical expertise and global financial backing. Recent workshops in Bandung, Indonesia, and Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia—organized through the ACTIVE program, a Dutch government initiative—demonstrate how targeted knowledge exchange can strengthen major international investments, including those of the World Bank Group (WBG).
The Transforming Transportation 2026 (TT26) conference, held in Washington, D.C., recently concluded with a powerful message: transport is no longer just about infrastructure—it is the engine for global economic security and job creation. Under the theme “Powering Jobs and Growth,” the 23rd edition of this flagship event, co-hosted by the World Bank and the WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities, gathered world leaders to address how smarter mobility can bridge the gap between poverty and opportunity.
Continue readingCommodity prices forecast to rise by 16% this year, fueling inflation and slowing growth
WASHINGTON, April 28, 2026—Energy prices are projected to surge by 24% this year to their highest level since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, as the war in the Middle East sends a severe shock through global commodity markets, according to the World Bank Group’s latest Commodity Markets Outlook. Overall commodity prices are forecast to rise 16% in 2026, driven by soaring energy and fertilizer prices and record-high prices for several key metals.
Continue readingAt the FOMACO 2026 Forum in Nouakchott, Mauritania, collaboration was at the heart of advancing coastal resilience in West Africa. From the perspective of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO-TIO/CWF), it was inspiring to see how strong partnerships are helping to move Nature-based Solutions (NbS) from concept to implementation.
Together with the World Bank’s West Africa Coastal Areas Management Program (WACA), IUCN, and key Dutch partners including EcoShape and NL2120, we co-organized a series of sessions, a plenary session, a deep dive and a two-day pre-forum workshop, and activities during the forum focused on scaling impact.
Continue readingTwo new IDA grants will improve water and health service delivery to 4.5 million Syrians across the country
WASHINGTON, April 23, 2026 – The World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved today US$225 million in grant financing from the International Development Association (IDA) to support Syria to enhance the delivery of public services in its water and health sectors. The approved financing package spans two new projects aimed at improving people’s lives by securing reliable access to water and sanitation and improving access to quality health services. Both projects are expected to benefit about 4.5 million Syrians across the country.
Continue reading
Netherlands for the World Bank 