From Norway to Türkiye, I Saw the Power of Partnerships

And here I am, back on the move. Last week, my first trip of the year took me to Norway and Türkiye.?As we strive to become a better and bigger World Bank, it was important to start off the year by engaging with our partners to discuss how we can support countries carry out reforms, build a cleaner and more resilient future, and provide needed financing and support to help when crises hit.

These are all key parts of my day-to-day job, but visiting projects and interacting with those we serve is the best reminder of why we do what we do.?

So here are three takeaways I wanted to share with you.??

The need to address the (growing) gap between needs and available financing?

This month marks two years since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and one year since the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria. These events came on top of an existential climate crisis, record levels of food insecurity, and many more challenges, including conflicts, fragility and natural disasters around the world as well as high levels of debt in many low- and middle-income countries that jeopardize development gains.?

Yet the gap between development needs and ambitions on the one hand, and the scarcity of financing, on the other, is widening.?

My fundamental belief is that our collective response to these challenges must be anchored in partnership and solidarity and that multilateral efforts are the answer.?

?Norway has been a steadfast champion in this regard, not only in advocating for issues I deeply care about – such as gender equality, climate action, and inclusion (the world needs more of these!)– but also in demonstrating financial generosity, including in its support for the people of Ukraine.

The power of partnerships is something we need to build on as needs around the world continue to grow. Indeed, as we look towards the end of the year and the replenishment of our fund for the poorest, the International Development Association (IDA), we need everyone – donors, shareholders, and philanthropies – to step up to secure the largest IDA ever.

?Placing the green transition high on the agenda?

Speaking about development ambition, my next stop in Ankara, Türkiye, was an opportunity to discuss the country’s commitment to the green transition with the country scaling up its investment in renewables and energy efficiency at an impressive pace.

The bold plan announced at COP28 of doubling renewable energy generation capacity by 2035, including solar and wind energy innovations, is being put into motion. A promising development.?

Together with government officials, we explored how 世界银行 Group can help Türkiye double down on its efforts to green its energy matrix, boost efficiency and attract private sector investment and job creation, all helping to support inclusive growth.

The critical importance of strengthening crisis response and resilience??

The tragedy of the 2023 earthquakes has turned into a year of rebuilding and reconstruction. My visit to Antakya, the capital of Hatay Province, almost a year after the disaster moved me deeply and will stay with me.

There, I saw levels of destruction we wish we never had to see, and how resilience continues to be tested, every day. But I also saw the efforts of the authorities to recover and rebuild and how people are doing all they can to regain a sense of normality.?

As I write these lines, I think of the people I met, all affected in one way or another – by the loss of a loved one, the physical destruction of their home or business, or the inability to provide for their families. It was inspiring to hear about the progress in recovery and reconstruction and the hope that has kept people going over the past twelve months. Kids with huge smiles and genuinely happy to see us. Elderly people who, despite the language barrier, welcomed us with warmth and open arms. Women leaders like Ms. Gülay determined to get their businesses back up and running.

I am proud of the role that the World Bank played in supporting the government’s recovery efforts, along with other partners. When countries go into crisis response mode, as Türkiye did a year ago, being able to reallocate and deploy money quickly and save lives is essential.?

The hospital in Defne, which was built from scratch in record time (around 55 days), is a good example of this. Continuing to provide healthcare services was a priority, and through rapid deployment of financing, the World Bank helped the authorities respond.?

This flexibility and rapid response are what we want to give to our clients when they need us most. And that’s also why I was so glad to announce, last week, the launch of new measures that will help governments better prepare for and respond to crises. Because no country should face trade-offs between its development priorities and emergency financing needs.?

I’m leaving the region with a renewed conviction that partnerships are key to equipping countries with the resources they need to build a more resilient future.