logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2023
24m 59s

How Do We Support the World’s Poorest Co...

World Bank
About this episode

Meet the International Development Association (IDA)the arm of the World Bank that helps the world’s poorest countries—75 to be exact. It’s the largest single source of donor funds for basic services in these countries and aims to eliminate extreme poverty. IDA’s most recent replenishment, IDA20, resulted in a historic $93 billion financing package for IDA countries for fiscal years 2022-2025.

On this episode of The Development Podcast, we explore how IDA works across the world on a range of key development issues and priorities, with the help of some key partners. Join us as we speak with Dirk Reinermann, the World Bank’s Director of Development Finance who oversees IDA, Gregory Chen, Managing Director for the Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative, within BRAC International, and Maaria Henry, a Fisheries Protection Officer from the Republic of Kiribati in Micronesia, which sits at the forefront of the climate challenge. 

Tell us what you think of our podcast here >>>. We would love to hear from you! 

Featured Voices

  • Dirk Reinermann, Director, IDA Mobilization & IBRD Corporate Finance, World Bank
  • Gregory Chen, Managing Director, Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative, BRAC International
  • Maaria Henry, Fisheries Protection Officer from Kiribati.

Timestamps

[00:00] Welcome and introduction of the topic

[02:25] Story from the ground: Climate resilience and job prospects in Kiribati

[06:46] IDA: How it was created, how it works, where it gets its cash from?

[09:51] Partnerships: BRAC International, Bangladesh and IDA

[15:21] IDA's priorities and replenishments

[19:16] Partnerships: Maximizing financing for development

[22:15] IDA's greatest success stories

[24:17] Closure and thanks for tuning in!

ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT PODCAST

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! 

ABOUT THE WORLD BANK

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.

Up next
Jul 3
De-Risking Development: All You Need To Know About Guarantees | The Development Podcast
Risk is all around us, an inherent part of life. And in the world of development, there are also risks, including war, civil disturbance and expropriation. In this episode of The Development Podcast, we take a deep dive into the work of MIGA, the Multilateral Investment Guarantee ... Show More
24m 48s
Jun 5
Why Digital Transformation Matters | The Development Podcast
The digital world is developing at a phenomenal pace. From AI tools at our fingertips, to advancements in energy, consumer technology, and connectivity: change is here. Harnessing these changes can unlock prosperity, create jobs, allow access to public services, and accelerate de ... Show More
25m 44s
May 8
Jobs: The Path to Prosperity | The Development Podcast
With 1.2 billion young people in emerging economies reaching working age over the next decade—and only about 420 million jobs expected to be generated—the urgency of finding scalable and sustainable solutions has never been greater.In this episode of The Development Podcast, we h ... Show More
27m 8s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2023
Energised: Rethinking the Grid
Expanding our global electricity networks is the key to unlocking a renewable future. In the US alone, the electric grid will need to expand by at least 60% by 2030 to ensure renewable energy can make its way into our homes and businesses, and the UK’s networks are also in dire n ... Show More
1 h
May 2024
This bank is turning Africa into a climate investment opportunity
Africa currently loses between $7 billion and $15 billion a year because of climate change. If that trend continues, the sum could reach $50 billion by 2030. But African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina sees a way forward. He describes the financial instruments the ban ... Show More
35m 51s
May 12
Bill Gates: how international development can survive the Trump presidency
Over the past 25 years, the Gates foundation has given away more than $100bn. Much of that money has gone to healthcare and education projects outside the US – and the organisation plans to give $200bn more to various programmes in the next twenty years. But as Elon Musk and Doge ... Show More
27m 42s
Jul 2024
Greening the Sahel
Imagine a thin green line of hope stretching 8,000 km across northern Africa, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea. This is the Great Green Wall: an African-led land restoration project that aims to hold back encroaching desertification in the Sahel.In this episode, we take a c ... Show More
32m 46s
Jan 2024
Africa is NOT Poor Because of Colonialism: Here’s Why. - Magatte Wade
Magatte Wade is an entrepreneur, author and business leader focussed on economic development in Africa, and on correcting the various misconceptions about the state of the continent, its history, and its future potential. She is the Director of the Center for African Prosperity a ... Show More
56m 56s
Nov 2024
Are African Startups the Next Growth Engines of the World? - with Mika & Hisham at P1 Ventures | The Perfect Pitch Podcast Ep10
In this episode of The Perfect Pitch Podcast, we sit down with Mikael Hajjar and Hisham Halbouny, Managing Partners at P1 Ventures, to uncover the secrets of scaling startups in Africa. Mika and Hisham share their unique insights into why they think Africa is the most interesting ... Show More
1h 1m
Oct 2024
Why climate tech startups get this one thing wrong
This might be our wonkiest topic yet: Techno-economic analysis, or TEA. Before a startup proves its technology is commercially viable, it models how a technology would work. These TEAs include things like assumptions about inputs, prices, and market landscape. They help investors ... Show More
49m 38s
Feb 2025
What future for aid and development? With Minouche Shafik
US President Donald Trump has frozen all foreign aid payments, while Elon Musk is putting America’s biggest development agency, USAID, “through the woodchipper”. Meanwhile, the UK government has just announced it will slash its aid budget from 0.5% to 0.3% of GDP. So are the days ... Show More
32m 31s
Oct 2024
Introducing: The Green Blueprint
We’ve already invented many of the solutions needed to decarbonize the global economy. But a big chunk of emission reductions will come from technologies that are not yet commercial.We don’t have decades to get these commercialized – we have years.So what can we learn from the pe ... Show More
2m 44s
Jan 2025
Ep93. Africa in the Age of Disorder
In 2024, the Disorder podcast looked a lot at Ukraine, Syria, Israel-Palestine, India, Bangledesh, and even north Africa… but we didn’t devote sufficient time to sub-saharan Africa. So what does Africa look like in the Age of Disorder?  To find out, Jason is joined this week by P ... Show More
52m 2s