The 2025 Spring Meetings of the IMF and World Bank took place as the global political and economic context continued to evolve at a rapid pace. They confirmed that the world was entering a period of prolonged uncertainty and volatility, marked by profound changes to international cooperation on multiple policy fronts – including security, trade, development, climate, and health.
- The IMF’s April 2025 World Economic Outlook aptly reflected the significant increase in downside risks to global growth, price stability, and financial conditions.
- Meanwhile, G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors urged the need to reaffirm G20 countries’ commitment to a rules-based multilateral system, particularly regarding trade (G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors gathered in D.C. that same week for their second meeting under South Africa’s 2025 G20 presidency).
- US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent delivered a much-anticipated speech, reaffirming the “enduring value” of the IMF and World Bank and the United States’ support of these institutions, while urging them to “step back from sprawling and unfocused agenda” and focus on their “core missions.”
As is always the case during Spring Meetings, large number of events took place on the sidelines of the official agenda, enabling progress and cooperation with partners on key issues such as debt sustainability analyses and frameworks, country platforms or the mobilization of private capital to EMDEs. A key moment of the week was the launch of the Final Report of the Expert Review on Debt, Nature and Climate, which FDL was proud to support as a member of the Review’s Secretariat.