Financing and operations of multilateral development banks: a clients' perspective

Multilateral development banks’ (MDBs) offer for low- and middle-income countries is unique among development agencies. MDBs disburse grants and loans at conditions that are often far more convenient than what financial markets could offer to many governments. Financing is often supported by research, policy advice and technical assistance to accompany project and programme implementation. Many MDBs also have strong convening power. However, in recent years shareholders of global and regional MDBs have increasingly scrutinized the purpose, reach, effectiveness and the demand for the offer of these institutions.

The future of  MDB financing and operations is ultimately reliant on the sustained demand from client countries for grants and loans in priority sectors, technical support and policy advice. However, the reality is that we know little about the preferences and views of client countries about the relevance and effectiveness of MDBs.

Speakers:
Kevin Watkins - Visiting Professor of Development Practice, London School of Economics (Chair)
Annalisa Prizzon - Senior Research Fellow, ODI (Presenter)
Samantha Custer - Director of Policy Analysis, AidData
Edward Brown - Senior. Director, Research & Policy Engagements, African Centre for Economic Transformation (ACET)
Anita Prakash - Senior Policy Advisor Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA)
Paulo Esteves - Director, BRICS Policy Center