The 2025 Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group (WBG) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) kick off in Washington, DC next week, running from Monday, April 21 to Saturday, April 26. Spread across the World Bank’s MC, J, and F buildings and the IMF’s HQ1 and HQ2, this year’s Spring Meetings arrive at a time of acute pressure and quiet reckoning for the Bretton Woods institutions.
The meetings come against the backdrop of heightened global economic anxiety. From persistent inflation and trade tensions to the evolving threat of sovereign debt distress and the complex integration of AI into economies, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Ministers of Finance, central bank governors, civil society groups, development experts, and media from around the world will converge in DC to shape the narrative — and possibly the policy — around today’s most pressing global challenges.
A Loaded Week: What’s on the Agenda?
The marquee events this year include the Development Committee Meeting and the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC), which will bring together finance ministers and central bank governors to discuss global economic trends, multilateral cooperation, and institutional reforms. Alongside these are G20 Finance Meetings, this year chaired by South Africa, putting the Global South’s priorities front and centre.
But the real energy may lie in the margins — in the civil society-led forums, restricted side meetings, knowledge cafés, and the countless informal discussions shaping outcomes before they hit the press.
Here’s a day-by-day snapshot of the week ahead:
Monday, April 21
- Quiet start: G-24 Deputies and Global Parliamentarian Forum (both restricted)
- Open access: IMF-IOSCO Conference on Market-Based Finance
- IMF’s Analytical Corner: Tackles debt risks and corporate vulnerabilities
- Side event: Expanding energy access in Africa
Tuesday, April 22
- Big press day: World Economic Outlook (WEO) briefing sets the tone
- Parallel tracks: CSO sessions on debt & development, IDA Forum, and African & Caribbean consultative meetings
- Flagship moment: WBG event on jobs and shared prosperity
- Civil society conversations: International taxation and public finance in the evening
Wednesday, April 23
- Restricted diplomacy: Climate Action Coalition, MENAP, ASEAN, and Caribbean ministerial meetings
- Civic voices: CSO forums on school meals, corruption, and climate finance
- High-level engagements: EDS and G20 Constituency Meetings, IMF Governor talks, and coordination dinners with European institutions
- Press focus: IMF MD briefing and regional outlooks (Asia Pacific, Middle East, G20)
Thursday–Friday, April 24–25
- Civil Society Policy Forum (CSO): Deep dives on hydropower vs green development, gender justice, digital labor, and access to loss & damage finance
- Knowledge Cafés: Infrastructure finance, domestic capital markets, energy jobs, and cross-border clean air
Seminars:
- Debate on the Global Economy
- AI in public finance and workforce strategy
- Transport and food security in Africa
- Launch of Data for Decisions Fund – Phase II
- Cultural note: Thai performances hosted at the IMF
Speakers
The 2025 Spring Meetings are bringing together an eclectic mix of global voices — from heads of state to grassroots changemakers. Some of the confirmed speakers include:
- Ajay Banga, President, World Bank – expected to outline his vision for inclusive growth and a more responsive WBG
- Tharman Shanmugaratnam, President of Singapore – likely weighing in on global financial governance and Asian leadership
- Michelle Bachelet, former President of Chile – bringing a rights-based lens to global development
- Rania Al-Mashat, Egypt’s Minister of Planning & International Cooperation – a key voice from the MENA region on sustainable development
- Anthony Tan, Co-Founder & Group CEO, Grab – on digital economies and inclusive innovation in Southeast Asia
- Dilhan Pillay Sandrasegara, CEO, Temasek Holdings – speaking to long-term capital and climate resilience
- Douglas Peterson, Special Advisor, S&P Global – sharing insights on market-based finance
- Nicola Galombik, Founder, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator – championing youth-centered employment models
- Nonkululeko Nyembezi, Chair, Standard Bank Group – lending deep experience in African finance and governance
- Christina Williams, Voice of Youth – grounding high-level talks in lived realities and generational urgency
Why This Year Matters
Despite the crowded calendar, the underlying tension is clear: can the Bretton Woods institutions deliver for all their members, or risk losing legitimacy in a multipolar financial world?
Developing countries are increasingly vocal about the failings of the status quo. The debt crisis quietly choking public investment, climate finance that remains more promise than practice, and a governance structure that still leans heavily toward Global North interests — all are on the table.
The IMF’s upcoming June 2025 deadline for quota reform proposals may finally catalyze long-stalled discussions around voting rights, access to financing, and Special Drawing Rights (SDRs). Similarly, the IMF’s Resilience and Sustainability Trust (RST), designed to support countries facing climate and pandemic challenges, is up for review — a moment to refine, recalibrate, and deliver more effectively.
There’s also a growing movement to reboot partnerships between multilateral and national development banks (MDBs and NDBs). With the right guardrails, this could unlock financing at the scale needed to drive meaningful change.
Final Thought
This year’s Spring Meetings may not deliver headline-grabbing deals, but their symbolic weight is massive. In a world where multilateralism is under fire and developing countries are exploring alternatives, these meetings are a litmus test for the IMF and World Bank: adapt meaningfully, or risk irrelevance.
