When negotiators gather at COP28, climate finance and a new goal for 2025 onwards will be high up on the agenda. Developing countries would be wise to push for a combined climate and development finance goal.

Call it a sign of the times: negotiations around the creation of a new Loss and Damage Fund for climate are breaking down, with developing nations and advanced economies at a familiar impasse. The Loss and Damage Fund—a fund meant to compensate vulnerable countries for climate impacts—is supposed to...

The real test after the meetings will be how to identify sources of concessional financing for middle-income countries while still delivering on IDA. Donors have leaned heavily on capital adequacy reforms and private sector mobilization as sources of finance, but there is no escaping the fact that t...

In fundamental ways, this era differs from the final decades of the last century. Climate change has set many parts of the world on fire and sharply raised risks from underinvestment in mitigation, adaptation and resilience (both climate and health). War on a large scale has returned to Europe, re-e...

One burning question is if the World Bank - together with the regional development banks - will use their potential in decarbonising the world economy. The first step in barricading the gates of hell has to be decarbonising the energy sector. It contributes the most to global greenhouse gas emission...

This week’s General Assembly was a gloomy affair as UN officials strained to defend multilateralism in an increasingly polarized world with several major heads of state MIA.

The likelihood of capital increase for the World Bank’s non-concessional lending arm, the IBRD, appears to be climbing. At least an odd European government appears to be doing some preparatory work for it. But any negotiations around a capital increase may be complex. Large shareholders and borrowe...

G20 leaders recognise the pivotal role the multilateral development banks (MDBs) play in tackling global challenges and supporting sustainable development. Now they must more clearly define and carry forward the agenda with urgency and at scale.

September’s crisp fall weather is arriving, and with it, another annual United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), with thousands of people descending upon New York, buzzing about what should be the world’s priorities and objectives. Fortunately, the world already has a set of #goals that were deve...

Among the many achievements, the G20 leaders’ commitment to gender equality was remarkable for their focus and breadth of coverage. The declaration focused on women-led development and women’s economic empowerment, recognizing the wide gaps in male and female employment and labor force participation...