Dutch Royal Couple and Ministers Engage with IFI Leaders in Washington D.C.

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.

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SM26 Flagship: Water Forward

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.

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Dutch Expertise Meets Global Investment: A New Blueprint for Urban Mobility

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).

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Transforming Transportation 2026: Powering Jobs, Growth, and Dutch Partnerships

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.

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The Netherlands helps advance Climate Resilience in West Africa (WACA)

At 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.

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Spring Meetings 2026 | Unlocking Women’s Economic Power

How can increasing women’s economic participation help create more and better jobs?

Expanding women’s access to jobs, finance, and digital tools can increase labor force participation, support business growth, and drive job creation at scale. When women can manage economic risks, connect to markets, and access capital, they contribute directly to stronger and more inclusive economic growth.

The World Bank Group works with countries and partners to strengthen the systems that enable women’s economic participation—such as social protection, digital inclusion, and access to capital. Together, these pathways help women build resilience, participate fully in the economy, and grow enterprises that generate jobs.

This discussion explores progress toward the World Bank Group’s 2030 ambitions, the barriers that remain, and what it takes to scale impact. It also highlights how coordinated action across policy, institutions, and investment can accelerate women’s economic inclusion and support sustainable job creation.

“Credit: World Bank Group. All rights reserved”

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.

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