W’Bank mobilises $112bn private capital for developing economies

The World Bank mobilized a record $112bn in private capital for developing economies in its 2026 fiscal year, a significant increase from $35bn in 2022. This surge represents a threefold rise in private capital mobilization over the past four years. Total financing and mobilization by the World Bank Group in developing economies exceeded $200bn during the fiscal year.

The increase was observed across various income groups, with lower-middle-income countries seeing a rise from $14bn to $37bn, upper-middle-income countries increasing from $12bn to $50bn, and low-income countries maintaining about $3bn. Notably, Africa recorded a substantial increase, with private capital mobilization rising to approximately $22bn in 2026 from $9bn in 2022, an increase of nearly 150%.

World Bank Group President Ajay Banga attributed this growth to changes implemented over the past three years, making operations faster and simpler, enhancing coordination between public and private sectors, and expanding financial instruments for investors. The lender also issued over $25bn in guarantees during the fiscal year, surpassing its target of $20bn in annual issuance by 2030.

These efforts reflect the broader World Bank Group's strategy to leverage its financing and risk-sharing tools to attract private investment in developing economies, particularly where perceived investment risks might deter capital flow.