Inside the World Bank Spring Meetings

Inside the World Bank Spring Meetings

From This Week in Global Development by Devex | Global Development

April 17, 2026 · 27 min · Episode 141

About this episode

Devex reporters discuss key issues from the World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings, including a drop in development assistance and new initiatives for clean water access.

Against the backdrop of the World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings , Devex reporters Adva Saldinger, Michael Igoe, and Ayenat Mersie dissect the stories they’ve been hearing on the ground this week. That includes the latest OECD figures showing a staggering 25% drop in official development assistance, the ripple effects of the conflict in the Middle East, and a newfound focus on rebuilding public consensus. The discussion also looks at the World Bank ’s bold new “sector-first” strategy, highlighted by the launch of Water Forward — an ambitious initiative aiming to provide one billion people with access to clean water through country-led compacts. The return of African trade corridors enters the discussion as well, along with the International Monetary Fund ’s scramble for concessional funding. To dig into these stories, listen to this episode of This Week in Global Development.

People in this episode

Hosts: Adva Saldinger, Michael Igoe, Ayenat Mersie

Topics covered

  • World Bank Spring Meetings
  • official development assistance
  • Middle East conflict
  • public consensus
  • clean water access
  • African trade corridors
  • concessional funding

Keywords

  • World Bank
  • IMF
  • OECD
  • development assistance
  • clean water
  • Middle East
  • African trade
  • concessional funding

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: World Bank, IMF, OECD, Water Forward, International Monetary Fund

Places: Middle East, Africa

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