Think Change

Tackling debt, transforming economies – why is the IDA replenishment so urgent?

April 02, 2024 ODI
Think Change
Tackling debt, transforming economies – why is the IDA replenishment so urgent?
Show Notes Chapter Markers

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.

Guests

  • Sara Pantuliano (host), Chief Executive, ODI
  • Annalisa Prizzon, Principal Research Fellow, ODI
  • Seynabou Sakho, Director of Strategy and Operations for the World Bank Office of the Managing Director of Operations
  • Gregory Chen, MD of Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative, BRAC International

Related resources

Introduction (Sara Pantuliano)
What is the IDA? (Annalisa Prizzon)
The history of the IDA (Seynabou Sakho)
BRAC International: A case study from Bangladesh (Gregory Chen)
Rethinking IDAs role in development finance (Annalisa Prizzon)
IDA contributions: the consequences if they are not met (Gregory Chen)
A focus on fragility
Development delayed is development denied (Seynabou Sakho)
Client countries views on MDBs (Annalisa Prizzon)
The World Bank's role in global development (Gregory Chen)
April Spring Meetings: what to expect (Sara Pantuliano)
Concluding remarks (Sara Pantuliano)