World Bank to Focus on Global Jobs, Gender Equality, and Food Security at Key Summit

The World Bank is set to announce a major initiative at the upcoming Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group to tackle some of the world’s most pressing issues—job creation, gender disparities, and food security. In an interview ahead of the event, World Bank President Ajay Banga highlighted the urgency of these challenges, particularly in developing countries.

Banga, who took over the leadership of the institution 16 months ago, underscored the alarming gap between job demand and availability, with 1.2 billion young people in emerging markets becoming eligible for work over the next 12 to 15 years, while these nations are projected to generate just over 400 million jobs.

In response, the World Bank has formed an advisory council on jobs led by prominent global figures, including Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, to develop actionable strategies.

The bank also plans to target global gender inequality and support agribusiness initiatives to improve food security. The new focus aligns with the institution’s broader goal of increasing private sector involvement in international development, especially as developing nations face unprecedented financial needs to combat climate change and social instability.