World Bank mobilises US$112bn

in private capital By BUUMBA CHIMBULU THE World Bank Group mobilised a record US$112 billion in private capital during the 2026 financial year, more than three times the US$35 billion raised in 2022, underscoring a growing shift towards using private investment to accelerate development and create jobs. Speaking at the World Bank-International Monetary Fund (IMF) annual meetings in Bangkok, Thailand, World Bank Group president Ajay Banga said the institution’s own financing, combined with mobilised private capital, lifted total financing to more than US$230 billion last year. Mr Banga said the World Bank’s strategy is centred on bringing together public finance, private investment, philanthropy and technology to help countries tackle development challenges while creating employment opportunities. “Mobilised private capital nearly tripled in lower-middle-income countries, quadrupled in upper-middle-income economies and more than doubled across Africa, reflecting rising investor confidence in development projects,” he said. However, Mr Banga said attracting commercial investment to low-income and fragile countries remains a challenge, with private capital mobilisation holding at about US$3 billion. To address this, the World Bank has introduced a new strategy to strengthen micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) by improving access to finance, digital tools and markets. Mr Banga warned that the world faces a major employment challenge, with 1.2 billion young people expected to enter the labour market over the next 10 to 15 years while only 400 million jobs are projected to be created. “The jobs gap is a projection. It does not have to be our future,” he said. He said about 55 percent of the bank’s financing and mobilised private capital was directed towards infrastructure and energy, agribusiness, healthcare, tourism and value-added manufacturing, sectors regarded as critical for boosting productivity and generating jobs. Mr Banga added that the World Bank has strengthened its ability to support countries by reducing project preparation time from 19 months to nine months and creating more than US$100 billion in additional lending capacity over the next decade.

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World Bank mobilises US$112bn