Spring Meetings 2026 | How Electricity Access Supports Jobs and Growth Worldwide
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How an AI-powered Jobs Tool Made Hidden Skills Visible
Thousands of people work, solve problems, and care for others every day, but their skills often go unseen in the formal labor market. In Argentina, an AI‑powered employment pilot is beginning to change that by revealing a wealth of experience that up to now has remained invisible and helping people connect, often for the first time, with public employment services.
Continue readingWorld Bank Group and IMF to Hold 2029 Annual Meetings in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
New global platform aligns country reforms, financing, and partnerships to scale delivery
WASHINGTON, April 15, 2026—The World Bank Group, in partnership with multilateral development banks, development finance institutions and key partners, today launched Water Forward, a global platform to help improve water security for 1 billion people by 2030. The platform will align policy reforms, financing, and partnerships to expand reliable water services and strengthen systems against droughts and floods—essential conditions for job creation.
Continue readingJoint Statement by the Heads of the International Energy Agency, International Monetary Fund, and World Bank Group
Washington, D.C.: The Heads of the International Energy Agency, International Monetary Fund, and World Bank Group met today as part of the coordination group they established in early April to maximize their institutions’ response to the energy and economic impacts of the war in the Middle East. At the end of their meeting, they issued the following statement:
“As we noted earlier this month, the impact of the war is substantial, global, and highly asymmetric, disproportionately affecting energy importers, in particular low-income countries. The shock has led to higher oil, gas and fertilizer prices, triggering concerns about food security and job losses as well. Some oil and gas producers in the Middle East have also seen a dramatic loss of export revenue.
The situation remains very uncertain, and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is yet to normalize. Even after a resumption of regular shipping flows through the Strait, it will take time for global supplies of key commodities to move back towards their pre-conflict levels—and fuel and fertilizer prices may remain high for a prolonged period given the damage to infrastructure. Due to supply disruptions, shortages of key inputs are likely to have implications for energy, food, and other industries. The war has also forcibly displaced people, impacted jobs, and reduced travel and tourism, which may take time to reverse.
Today, we shared our latest assessments, ahead of the release this Tuesday, April 14, of the IEA’s monthly Oil Market Report and IMF’s World Economic Outlook. We also discussed the situations of the countries most affected by the shock as well as the responses by our institutions. Our teams are working closely, including at country level, to leverage our respective expertise and help countries through tailored policy advice and, in the case of the IMF and World Bank, financial support where needed.
We will continue to monitor closely and assess the impact of the war on energy markets, the global economy and individual countries, and to coordinate our response and support to our member countries—working with, and drawing on, other international organizations’ expertise as needed to lay the foundations for a resilient recovery that delivers stability, growth and jobs.”
“Credit: World Bank Group. All rights reserved”
World Bank Group Launches Initiative to Improve Water Security for 1 Billion People
New global platform aligns country reforms, financing, and partnerships to scale delivery
WASHINGTON, April 15, 2026—The World Bank Group, in partnership with multilateral development banks, development finance institutions and key partners, today launched Water Forward, a global platform to help improve water security for 1 billion people by 2030. The platform will align policy reforms, financing, and partnerships to expand reliable water services and strengthen systems against droughts and floods—essential conditions for job creation.
Continue readingTo turn demographic growth into jobs, get the rules right
The world is entering a decade defined by two hard realities: a historic demographic surge and tighter public finances.
Yet current projections suggest that far fewer jobs will be created. The gap is large — and it is growing. It’s exacerbated with every shock — conflict, natural disasters, and economic volatility.
Continue readingMDB Heads Deepen Collaboration to Support Countries Through Heightened Global Uncertainty
Washington D.C., 17 April 2026 – In a period of heightened global uncertainty, including the evolving situation in the Middle East, the Heads of Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) today underscored the importance of close cooperation to support stability, safeguarding development progress, and responding to mounting pressures in their member economies.
“MDBs are working more closely than ever to support our members and clients through a complex and evolving global environment,” said Masato Kanda, President of the Asian Development Bank and current Chair of the MDB Heads Group. “By combining our financial strength, knowledge, and partnerships, we are helping countries manage immediate pressures while building resilience for the future.”
MDB Heads – meeting today on the sidelines of the World Bank Group–International Monetary Fund Spring Meetings – noted that the impacts of current global developments are already being felt through higher energy costs, supply chain disruptions, and tighter financial conditions. The Heads emphasized MDBs’ readiness to deploy timely and effective support to help countries and clients manage risks, maintain macroeconomic stability, and protect vulnerable populations.
Against this backdrop, MDB Heads reaffirmed their shared commitment to deepen collaboration and deliver impact at scale, with a strong focus on private sector development, job creation, infrastructure, and long-term sustainable growth in line with their respective mandates, strategies, and operational focuses.
Fostering private sector development and job creation
The Heads emphasized the importance of strengthening efforts to mobilize private finance and expand financing capacity, including through originate-to-distribute/share approaches that enable MDBs to create bankable opportunities and crowd in private capital at scale. They agreed to establish a working group to take this work forward. They recognized the importance of increasing transparency of credit risks in emerging markets through the Global Emerging Markets (GEMs) consortium, scaling up local currency financing, including through the development of domestic financial markets to help mitigate exchange rate risks; and disciplined use of blended finance. The Heads further agreed to closer collaboration on a common approach to measuring the impact of MDB operations on creating more and better jobs to lift households out of poverty, improve social cohesion and reduce vulnerability.
Strengthening MDB collaboration in key areas for growth and resilience
MDBs are strengthening collaboration on critical minerals – working together to support diversified, resilient, and responsible supply chains to underpin energy security, digital transformation, job creation, and value addition in their countries of operation. MDBs also launched Water Forward – a global initiative to advance investable, scalable water systems that drive jobs, prosperity, food security, and resilience. MDB Heads said they will continue joint efforts on other priority areas, including artificial intelligence.
Improving the effectiveness of MDBs as a system
MDB Heads reaffirmed their commitment to working more effectively as a system, including through a sharper focus on quality and value. They agreed on a common framework on Value for Money in procurement to ensure the quality and sustainability of MDB-financed projects, which each bank will refine to its own operational context. They also highlighted progress in the use of mutual reliance frameworks to ensure seamless joint financing of MDB projects.
The Heads of MDBs Group includes the African Development Bank Group, Asian Development Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Council of Europe Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Investment Bank, Inter-American Development Bank Group, Islamic Development Bank, New Development Bank, and the World Bank Group. The International Monetary Fund also participates in the Heads discussions.
PRESS RELEASE NO: 2026/040/ECR
“Credit: World Bank Group. All rights reserved”
Spring Meetings 2026 | How Digital Health and AI Can Expand Access to Care at Scale
Portfolio of Guarantees Pushes MIGA’s Total Issuance over $100 Billion
Guarantees to AMEA Power would support up to 23 renewable energy and battery storage projects in countries across Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia.
Washington, April 9, 2026 – The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), home of the World Bank Group Guarantee Platform, has signed a framework agreement with AMEA Power, Ltd. to support a portfolio of guarantees of up to 23 renewable energy and battery storage projects—including onshore wind power plants, solar photovoltaic power plants, and battery energy storage systems—across countries spanning Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia.
Continue readingJoint Statement by the Heads of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank Group and the World Food Programme
Washington, D.C.: The Heads of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank Group (WBG) and the World Food Programme (WFP) met to discuss the global economic and food security impacts of the war in the Middle East. They issued the following statement:
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Netherlands for the World Bank 