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

World Bank building. Photo: World Bank

The World Bank attracted a record $112bn in private capital for developing economies in its 2026 fiscal year, more than tripling the amount recorded four years earlier.

The lender disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, saying private capital mobilisation had risen from $35bn in fiscal 2022 to $112bn in fiscal 2026, while total financing and mobilisation by the World Bank Group in developing economies exceeded $200bn during the year.

The increase was recorded across income groups, with private capital mobilisation in lower-middle-income countries rising to $37bn from $14bn in fiscal 2022. Mobilisation in upper-middle-income countries increased to $50bn from $12bn over the same period.

In low-income countries, where attracting private investment remains more difficult, mobilisation was maintained at about $3bn.

Africa also recorded a substantial increase, with private capital mobilisation rising to approximately $22bn in fiscal 2026 from $9bn four years earlier, representing an increase of nearly 150 per cent.

“Three years ago, our shareholders and clients were clear: utilise World Bank Group financing and knowledge to mobilize more private capital and become a better partner to the private sector. We changed how we work to do that, faster, simpler, and as one World Bank Group,” World Bank Group President Ajay Banga said.

“The result is $112bn mobilised this year, more than three times what we started. But the number only matters if the capital goes where it can create opportunity and jobs. That is the work ahead: keep removing barriers, keep expanding the pool of investors, and keep driving more capital into developing economies,” the executive stated.

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The World Bank attributed the growth to changes introduced over the past three years to make its operations faster and simpler, strengthen coordination between its public and private-sector arms and expand the financial instruments available to investors.

The institution said it had also introduced a single point of contact for its public and private-sector activities in individual countries and was developing integrated country strategies based on local development priorities.

The changes included expanding guarantees and local-currency financing, addressing foreign-exchange risks, increasing the use of equity instruments and developing new mechanisms for institutional investors to participate in developing-market investments at scale.

The lender also issued more than $25bn in guarantees during the fiscal year, exceeding its target of $20bn in annual issuance by 2030, four years ahead of schedule.

The growth in guarantees was led by the World Bank Group Guarantee Platform, established in 2024 to provide clients and investors with a single access point to guarantee products across the institution.

The increased mobilisation reflects the World Bank Group’s broader effort to use its financing and risk-sharing tools to attract private investment alongside public development funding, particularly in economies where perceived investment risks can constrain access to capital.