Heads of Multilateral Development Banks Review Progress and Chart Future Directions

Strategic Insights -

Heads of the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) Group met under the chairmanship of the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) in 2025 to review progress on joint actions and prioritize future work. Their collaborative engagement has deepened, building on the momentum generated by the MDBs' Viewpoint Note of 2024. The group welcomed progress in several areas, including the presentation of a joint report to the G20 on the implementation of the G20 Roadmap towards Better, Bigger, and More Effective MDBs.

Key Takeaways:

  • The MDBs Group has made significant progress in areas such as increasing lending capacity, leveraging private capital for development, strengthening operational collaboration, and measuring results.
  • The Global Risk and Finance Forum (GRaFF) has prepared a comprehensive joint report on MDBs' implementation of the G20 Roadmap, highlighting progress across institutions and at the system level.
  • The MDBs have enhanced transparency and comparability of financial positions through the publication of the first MDB Comparison Report.
  • Engagement with Credit Rating Agencies has enhanced understanding of MDBs' distinctive financial models, risk frameworks, and exceptional asset quality.
  • The MDBs have published several reports, including a joint annual water security financing report and a report on social infrastructure in focus, highlighting their contributions to investment in critical sectors.
  • Ongoing work includes mobilizing private capital for development, coordinating on originate-to-share/distribute models, boosting financial innovations, and scaling up flagship regional initiatives.

Statistics:

  • The MDBs have increased lending capacity and mobilized private capital for development.
  • The first MDB Comparison Report has improved transparency and comparability of financial positions.
  • The joint report on social infrastructure in focus has highlighted the MDBs' support for investment in health, education, housing, and water.
  • The MDBs have achieved progress in a wide range of areas, including increasing lending capacity, leveraging private capital, and strengthening operational collaboration.

Sources:

  • MDBs' Viewpoint Note (https://apo-opa.co/4qieJXu), 2024
  • G20 Roadmap towards Better, Bigger, and More Effective MDBs (https://apo-opa.co/4om6acd)
  • First MDB Comparison Report (https://apo-opa.co/4qez0x2)
  • Joint Annual MDB Water Security Financing Report (https://apo-opa.co/4ooPoJB)
  • Joint report on social infrastructure in focus (https://apo-opa.co/3Wc1GZS)
  • Global Emerging Markets Risk Database (GEMs) (https://apo-opa.co/4oqcuzu)