Getting Development Done: 2025 in Review and Look Ahead

About this episode

The episode reviews the challenges faced in 2025 and discusses the future of development organizations and their adaptability.

This year countries grappled with a cascade of shocks and economic turbulence, from ongoing conflicts and economic uncertainty to catastrophic weather that tested communities. Yet in the face of these challenges, nations proved far more resilient and adaptive than predicted. In this episode of The Development Podcast , we look back at what shaped 2025 and look ahead to 2026 and beyond. As the global landscape rapidly shifts, we explore how Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) are adapting and how different parts of the World Bank Group, including the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), are working as one to maximize our development impact. Join us for insights on these issues and more from Anna Bjerde, the World Bank's Managing Director of Operations and Raj Kumar, the founding President and Editor-in-Chief of Devex. Timestamps [00:00] Challenges and takeaways from 2025 [06:11] How development organizations are evolving and adapting [12:27] What can we expect from 2026? [16:26] Wish for the next year [17:30] 2025 through the eyes of a Kenyan farmer To learn more about the World Bank Group’s work check out: How to Drive…

People in this episode

Guests: Anna Bjerde, Raj Kumar

Topics covered

• development challenges
• economic resilience
• Multilateral Development Banks
• World Bank Group
• future outlook
• climate impact
• global economic landscape

Keywords

• development
• economic uncertainty
• climate change
• resilience
• Multilateral Development Banks
• World Bank
• 2025 review
• 2026 outlook

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: World Bank, International Finance Corporation, Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency

Places: Kenya

More episodes of World Bank | The Development Podcast

• Knowledge in the Age of Disinformation and AI · March 12, 2026 · 23 min
• Working together: Partnerships for Impact · February 6, 2026 · 23 min
• Everything Connected: Building Systems to Create Jobs · November 6, 2025 · 25 min
• What Do Shifting Demographics Mean For Future Development? · October 2, 2025 · 28 min
• Powering More With Less: All You Need To Know About Energy Efficiency | The Development Podcast · September 4, 2025 · 22 min
• De-Risking Development: All You Need To Know About Guarantees | The Development Podcast · July 3, 2025 · 25 min