Global public debt is at unprecedented levels. The UN has reported that nearly half of the world’s population lives in countries that spend more paying off debts to other countries than they spend on healthcare for their own people. While needs soar as countries try to address the impact of the poly-crisis and invest significantly to transform their economies and societies, economic growth is in sharp retreat in many nations in the Global South. The World Bank is calling for donor governments to step up. They have put ‘IDA replenishment’ top of the agenda at this month’s Spring Meetings in Washington, D.C. But why is the World Bank calling for this record replenishment? Join us as we explore the case for the IDA to become more effective and efficient at a time of soaring needs. GuestsSara Pantuliano (host), Chief Executive, ODIAnnalisa Prizzon, Principal Research Fellow, ODISeynabou Sakho, Director of Strategy and Operations for the World Bank Office of the Managing Director of OperationsGregory Chen, MD of Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative, BRAC International Related resourcesODI on multilateral development banksODI Day at the 2024 Spring Meetings Bigger, but also better: why MDB reform must go further (ODI blog)One year on, the World Bank must focus on how to implement its Evolution Roadmap (ODI blog)Matching finance to need (Davos 2024 event video)Strengthening MDBs: the triple agenda (Annual Meetings 2023 event video)What do borrowing countries think of MDB reform? (Think Change podcast)
