From April 28 to 29, 2025, following the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group (WBG), the Executive Director for Africa Group II (EDS13), Mr. Harold Tavares, traveled to New York with his Board colleagues to participate in the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Forum on Financing for Development Follow-up, in preparation for the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), to be held in Seville, Spain, from June 30 to July 3, 2025.
A key highlight of the mission was the meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Mr. António Guterres. Discussions focused on strengthening collaboration between the WBG and the UN, the initiatives marking the UN’s 80th anniversary, and advancing the FfD4 agenda toward sustainable financing.
Mr. Tavares reaffirmed Africa Group II’s commitment to supporting multilateral dialogue and promoting coordinated solutions to global challenges. The Secretary-General commended the WBG’s central role in the multilateral system, emphasizing the importance of enhancing its capacity to address today’s pressing issues.
This meeting, led by the Dean of the Board, Mr. Matteo Bugamelli, reflected a shared commitment to strengthening strategic partnerships between international financial institutions and the UN in support of sustainable development.
