World Bank Group

What Countries Want From Multilateral Development Banks - Talking Development

What do countries actually want from multilateral development banks (MDBs) and where are they still falling short? In this episode of Talking Development, World Bank Managing Director Anna Bjerde speaks with Sara Pantuliano, Chief Executive of ODI Global, about survey findings from 650 government and MDB officials across 125 countries. The discussion explores why MDBs remain relevant, why countries still value their financing, knowledge, and convening power, and what needs to change to deliver faster, more tailored, and more effective support. They explore why MDB relevance is still growing, where countries say MDBs need to improve, why speed and project preparation matter, how technical assistance can better reflect local realities, what stronger country presence and coordination could change. Learn more: https://odi.org/en/publications/reforming-multilateral-development-banks-perspectives-from-client-countries/ If you work on development finance, policy reform, public sector delivery or multilateral cooperation, find practical insight into how countries view MDB performance today. 00:00 Introduction 00:25 What client countries actually think about MDBs 01:13 Why MDB relevance is still growing 02:03 Where MDBs are still falling short 03:01 Why countries may turn to market borrowing instead 04:02 Biggest areas for improvement 04:30 Country presence and tailored technical assistance 06:20 Faster project preparation for better results ABOUT THE WORLD BANK GROUP 🌐 The World Bank Group 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 on a livable planet. http://www.worldbank.org