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; Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General at the World Health Organization; Svenja Schulze, Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany; Situmbeko Musokotwane, Minister of Finance for Zambia; Hassanein Hiridjee, CEO of Axian Group; Reverend Eugene Cho, President and CEO of Bread for the World; 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!

• Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group
• Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General at the World Health Organization
• Svenja Schulze, Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany
• Situmbeko Musokotwane, Minister of Finance for Zambia
• Hassanein Hiridjee, CEO of Axian Group
• Reverend Eugene Cho, President and CEO of Bread for the World
• Raj Kumar, President & Editor-in-Chief at Devex

[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

This 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!

The 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!

• Gita 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 

[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

This 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!

The 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!

• 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
• Nidhi Pant, a 2023 winner of the UK’s Earthshot Prize and Co-Founder of S4S Technologies

[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

This 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!

The 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.