World Bank | The Development Podcast World Bank

The 2024 World Bank Group-IMF Spring Meetings took place from April 11-18. The focus for this year was on how the World Bank Group can turn its vision – of creating a world free of poverty on a livable planet – into real impact. This includes becoming a better Bank – one that is faster, more effective, and more ambitious. 
In this latest episode of The Development Podcast, we draw on some of the highlights from the week. We hear from Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group; Situmbeko Musokotwane, Minister of Finance for Zambia; Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General at the World Health Organization; Hassanein Hiridjee, CEO of Axian Group; Reverend Eugene Cho, President and CEO of Bread for the World; Svenja Schulze, Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany and Raj Kumar, President & Editor-in-Chief at Devex. 
Tell us what you think of our podcast here >>>. We would love to hear from you! 
Featured VoicesAjay Banga, President of the World Bank GroupSitumbeko Musokotwane, Minister of Finance for ZambiaDr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General at the World Health OrganizationHassanein Hiridjee, CEO of Axian GroupReverend Eugene Cho, President and CEO of Bread for the WorldSvenja Schulze, Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development of GermanyRaj Kumar, President & Editor-in-Chief at Devex
Timestamps[00:00] Welcome and introduction of the topic
[01:45] World Bank Group: Turning an ambitious vision into impact
[07:16] Scaling up energy solutions and investments
[09:38] Expanding quality and affordable healthcare services
[13:03] In focus: International Development Association (IDA)
[17:41] World Bank's reforms, its vision, and the road ahead
ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT PODCASTThis international development podcast brings together the data, research—and solutions—that can pave the way to a sustainable future. Through conversations focused on revealing the latest data, the best research, and cutting-edge solutions, let us introduce you to the folks working to make the world a better place. Listen and subscribe for free on your favorite platform. And rate our show! ;)
Tell us what you think of our podcast here >>>. We would love to hear from you! 
ABOUT THE WORLD BANKThe World Bank is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for low-income countries. Its five institutions share a commitment to reducing poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development.

As the world celebrates International Womens Day, we take a look at where we are on the march towards gender equality. How big is the gender gap and what would happen if we closed it? What are some stumbling blocks along this journey? And how can international organizations like the World Bank Group and IMF help achieve more progress?  
Find out the answers to these questions and more as we speak with Victoire Tomegah Dogbé, Prime Minister of Togo; Gita Gopinath, First Deputy Managing Director, International Monetary Fund; Tea Trumbic,  World Bank Manager for the Women, Business and the Law project and Maryse Mbonyumutwa - CEO of Pink Mango and Founder of Asantii as they answer these questions and more on this month’s limited series episode of The Development Podcast.
Tell us what you think of our podcast here >>>. We would love to hear from you! 
Featured VoicesGita Gopinath , First Deputy Managing Director, International Monetary Fund  Tea Trumbic, World Bank Manager for the Women, Business and the Law project Victoire Tomegah Dogbé, Prime Minister of Togo Maryse Mbonyumutwa, CEO of Pink Mango and Founder of Asantii 
Timestamps[00:00] Welcome and introduction of the topic
[04:35] Making progress on equal opportunity legislation: The case of Togo
[06:10] Visions from Rwanda: Women's empowerment and entrepreneurship
[10:12] Main insights from the World Bank's Women, Business and the Law report
[16:24] IMF: How international institutions are supporting women's rights and inclusion
ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT PODCASTThis international development podcast brings together the data, research—and solutions—that can pave the way to a sustainable future. Through conversations focused on revealing the latest data, the best research, and cutting-edge solutions, let us introduce you to the folks working to make the world a better place. Listen and subscribe for free on your favorite platform. And rate our show! ;)
Tell us what you think of our podcast here >>>. We would love to hear from you! 
ABOUT THE WORLD BANKThe World Bank is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for low-income countries. Its five institutions share a commitment to reducing poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development.

The transition away from fossil fuels could create as many as 30 million ‘green’ jobs in clean energy and low-emissions technologies by 2030. So what is a ‘green job’? How can countries and companies support jobs that benefit people and the planet? And how can young people prepare for green jobs of the future? 
Find out the answers to these questions and more as we speak with Ashish Khanna, Practice Manager, Energy and Extractives, West and Central Africa, World Bank; Manoj Sinha, CEO, Husk Power; Anubha Shukla, Vice President, D2R, Husk Power; and Nidhi Pant, a 2023 winner of the UK’s Earthshot Prize and Co-Founder of S4S Technologies as they share their personal stories and examples on why investing in renewable energy is crucial in the fight to create world free of poverty on a livable planet.   
Tell us what you think of our podcast here >>>. We would love to hear from you! 
Featured VoicesAshish Khanna, Practice Manager, Energy and Extractives, West and Central Africa, World BankManoj Sinha, CEO, Husk PowerAnubha Shukla, Vice President, D2R, Husk PowerNidhi Pant, a 2023 winner of the UK’s Earthshot Prize and Co-Founder of S4S Technologies
Timestamps[00:00] Welcome and introduction of the topic
[02:49] Case study: S4S Technologies, green jobs and value chains
[07:27] Case study: Husk Power Systems, gender, renewable power industry, green transition and jobs
[11:28] Personal story: Starting a career and a business in the renewable energy sector
[15:10] Nigeria and the Distributed Access Through Renewable Energy (DARES) Program
[19:11] The link between green jobs and renewable energy
[20:03] DARES Nigeria project: Access to electricity and green jobs
[22:43] Business models: The role of the local community in terms of innovation
[24:41] Overlapping crisis: Green jobs as a part of the recovery to create stability in the world
[26:26] Closure
ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT PODCASTThis international development podcast brings together the data, research—and solutions—that can pave the way to a sustainable future. Through conversations focused on revealing the latest data, the best research, and cutting-edge solutions, let us introduce you to the folks working to make the world a better place. Listen and subscribe for free on your favorite platform. And rate our show! ;)
Tell us what you think of our podcast here >>>. We would love to hear from you! 
ABOUT THE WORLD BANKThe World Bank is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for low-income countries. Its five institutions share a commitment to reducing poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development.

Forced displacement is a development challenge, not only a humanitarian concern. As of September 2023, 114 million people were displaced, and this number continues to grow as conflict and insecurity rise across the globe. Most refugees are hosted by developing countries, and the issues around support and integration of refugee communities are often deeply political.
In this episode— the second in our special series on how to end poverty on a livable planet—we're asking the question: How can we better support the world’s growing number of refugees and their host communities? What economic benefits can refugee integration bring to societies?
Tune in to hear the real-life experience of Abdullahi Mire, winner of the 2023 UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award, who grew up in one of the largest refugee camps in the world and is now a champion of refugee education; and Nancy Karambo Riungu, a Kenyan entrepreneur working with refugees. We also get insights from the UN Refugee Agency’s Raouf Mazou and The World Bank’s Xavier Devictor on how humanitarian agencies, development institutions and the private sector can better support refugees. Stay with us until the end of the episode to catch the reading of a poem by Kinshasa- born, British poet JJ Bola, who reflects on life as a refugee.
Tell us what you think of our podcast here >>>. We would love to hear from you! 
Featured VoicesXavier Devictor, the World Bank’s Co-Director of the 2023 World Development ReportRaouf Mazou, Assistant High Commissioner for Operations at UNHCRAbdullahi Mire, winner of the 2023 UNHCR Nansen Refugee AwardNancy Karambo Riungu, a Kenyan entrepreneur and expert tailor working directly with refugees. 
Timestamps[00:00] Welcome and introduction of the topic
[02:24] Abdullahi Mire, the recipient of the 2023 UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award
[08:41] Rethinking responses to refugees: The role of education
[11:07] Global Refugee Forum: Drivers of forced displacement
[12:41] Climate crisis, refugees, impact on host countries
[16:52] The impact of refugees from an economic perspective
[18:25] How the World Bank supports refugees and host communities
[22:00] Success stories in terms of durable solutions for refugees
[23:59] Benefits that the private sector can bring to refugees and host communities
[27:13] Visions from an entrepreneur in Kakuma who's working with refugees
[31:48] Closing remarks from Xavier Devictor (World Bank) and Raouf Mazou (UNHCR)
[33:22] Poem by Kinshasa-born British poet and writer, JJ Bola
ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT PODCASTThis international development podcast brings together the data, research—and solutions—that can pave the way to a sustainable future. Through conversations focused on revealing the latest data, the best research, and cutting-edge solutions, let us introduce you to the folks working to make the world a better place. Listen and subscribe for free on your favorite platform. And rate our show! ;)
Tell us what you think of our podcast here...

The 28th UN Climate Change Conference (COP 28) comes at the heels of the hottest year in human history. Our newest episode of The Development Podcast delves into the impact of the climate crisis and urgent solutions to address it. This episode marks the launch of our new limited series on how to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. Over the next 5 episodes, we’ll explore critical issues affecting planet, people and prosperity.
Today, we turn our attention to the planet as we speak with three high-profile guests about climate change. We'll also hear from a climate advocate in Samoa and other youth activists. Join us as we speak to Her Excellency, Hon. Fiamē Naomi Mata'Afa, Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Samoa on how the fallout of climate change impacts Small Island Developing States; Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) on emissions reduction and climate solutions; the World Bank’s Anna Bjerde, Managing Director of Operations, on the Bank’s role in climate action; and Brianna Fruean, a young climate advocate from Samoa who shares her own experiences.
Tell us what you think of our podcast here >>>. We would love to hear from you!
Timestamps[00:00] Welcome: Introducing the topic and speakers
[02:37] Climate activism: Voices from Samoa
[08:41] Samoa: Climate crisis, infrastructure challenges, role of women, challenges ahead, COP28
[16:49] Climate activism: Voices from Ghana
[18:06] UNEP: Scaling the challenge, greenhouse gas emissions, urgent actions and investments, climate game changers
[25:59] Climate activism: Voices from Egypt
[26:56] World Bank: Climate game changers, financing climate action, Country Climate Development Reports, hope on the horizon
[33:06] Climate activism: Voices from Chile and Samoa
[34:43] Closure and thanks for tuning in!
Featured VoicesHer Excellency, Hon. Fiamē Naomi Mata'Afa, Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of SamoaInger Andersen, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive DirectorAnna Bjerde, Managing Director of Operations, World BankBrianna Fruean, Climate Change Advocate, Samoa
ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT PODCASTThis international development podcast brings together the data, research—and solutions—that can pave the way to a sustainable future. Through conversations focused on revealing the latest data, the best research, and cutting-edge solutions, let us introduce you to the folks working to make the world a better place. Listen and subscribe for free on your favorite platform. And rate our show! ;)
Tell us what you think of our podcast here >>>. We would love to hear from you! 
ABOUT THE WORLD BANKThe World Bank is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for...

The 2023 World Bank Group-IMF Annual Meetings took place from October 9-15 in Marrakech, Morocco, and unveiled the Bank’s bold new vision: creating a world free of poverty on a livable planet. Events and discussions highlighted this new mission, highlighting an expansion in financial capacity, stronger partnerships, deeper engagement with the private sector, and finding more efficient processes. 
In this special edition episode of The Development Podcast, we draw on some of the highlights from that week and share more about the institution’s new mission and vision. Listen on to hear from: World Bank Group President Ajay Banga, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, Senior World Bank Managing Director Axel van Trotsenburg, World Bank Managing Director of Operations Anna Bjerde, Zanzibar’s Minister of State for Finance and Planning Saada Salum, UNICEF’s Executive Director Catherine Russell, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank Bill Winters, and Ethiopian entrepreneur Kidus Asfaw. 
Timestamps[00:00] Welcome and introduction of the topic
[02:01] A new playbook to tackle the intertwined global challenges
[08:33] What it will take to achieve ending poverty on a livable planet
[10:24] Tanzania: Education for all, empowering its female population, investment in the blue economy
[13:18] The importance of partnerships and the impact of COVID-19 and climate change on children
[18:29] Private sector: How can finance be sustainable?
[21:12] How businesses are piloting exciting climate solutions
[23:04] Closure and thanks for tuning in! 
ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT PODCASTThis international development podcast brings together the data, research—and solutions—that can pave the way to a sustainable future. Through conversations focused on revealing the latest data, the best research, and cutting-edge solutions, let us introduce you to the folks working to make the world a better place. Listen and subscribe for free on your favorite platform. And rate our show! ;)
Tell us what you think of our podcast here >>>. We would love to hear from you! 
ABOUT THE WORLD BANKThe World Bank is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for low-income countries. Its five institutions share a commitment to reducing poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development.