The 2023 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group will take place from Monday, April 10 to Sunday, April 16 in Washington DC. The theme for the program of events is Reshaping Development for a New Era. At the heart of the meetings is discussion around the progress of the institutions which will be complemented by regional briefings, press conferences, and fora focused on issues of climate change, food insecurity, economic recovery and increasing fragility.
Responding To Crisis: Strengthening Food Systems for Improving Lives
Acute food insecurity has worsened amidst rising prices for food and fertilizer. The Russian invasion of Ukraine, soaring global inflation, sharp spikes in energy prices, and economic disruptions caused by the pandemic have worsened the global food crises, alongside the impact of climate change and increasingly severe weather events that damage or destroy crops. Speakers in this event will discuss what can be done to boost the resilience of food systems and lower the risk of future crises.
Accelerating Development in an Age of Global Crisis
The existential threat of climate change, impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, persistent high inflation and increased fragility have injected volatility and uncertainty into the global economy – a reality that may continue for a while. Join a prestigious panel of speakers to explore central questions around what it will take to address some of the most critical issues of our time including climate change, food insecurity, pandemics, and increasing fragility and poverty. Together, we will look at how development actors are mobilizing public and private financing – especially for middle-income countries (MICs); using knowledge, identifying the right policy interventions; working effectively with partners; and scaling up successful development interventions.
Empowering Women as Entrepreneurs and Leaders
Women are powerful agents of innovation and drivers of growth and job creation in emerging markets. Research shows a link between women in leadership roles and better financial outcomes, more family-friendly policies, robust disclosures on ESG, and gender-equitable hiring and promotion practices. Despite the clear business case and the vast opportunities for investment, the economic potential of female entrepreneurs and industry leaders remains unrealized. One reason for this is that women have less access to finance than men. In emerging markets, women-owned SMEs have a financing gap of about $1.5 trillion. This event will bring together an impressive list of high-level speakers to discuss how to advance the business case for gender inclusion and equality. Speakers will discuss the role of the public and private sectors in creating an enabling environment that helps advance opportunities for women’s full economic empowerment and participation. Real-world experiences will highlight some of the universal challenges that many women face in advancing their careers and how they were able to overcome them along the way.
The Power of Private Capital in Sustainable Development
The event aims to explore what the World Bank has been doing in the space of private capital facilitation, and in particular, how innovative financial instruments can help address global challenges in sustainable development. Following the fireside chat, a high-level panel of speakers will share their views on the role of private capital in sustainable finance for development, including success stories benefiting countries and demands for sustainable finance from around the world. The speakers will also discuss the Bank's latest financial innovations in the context of private capital facilitation and the related advisory work that can help the public sector maximize access to financing and mitigate risks against the backdrop of rising global debt levels.
Financing the Future: Incentivizing Inclusive and Sustainable Supply Chains
Meeting urgent climate and sustainability goals may be the biggest challenge of our generation. How can we transform global supply chains to help meet these goals, and to better protect the environment, workers, and communities? This flagship event will bring together voices from some of the world’s best-known apparel brands, experts in sustainability-linked finance, and other stakeholders to discuss creating inclusive, sustainable, and climate-friendly supply chains.
Investing in Human Capital to Accelerate the Green Transition
Climate change is eroding human capital—the knowledge, skills, and health that people accumulate over their lives—with long-lasting implications for well-being and productivity. Climate shocks threaten to increase poverty levels, reduce pathways to prosperity, and deepen inequalities within and between countries. But investing in human capital can help protect people from the worst effects of climate change and unlock their potential to drive the transition to a green economy. This event will explore how governments, the private sector, and partners can build shock-resilient systems that improve people’s ability to adapt and prepare people to work in the green jobs that will help mitigate climate change.