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BRIEFSeptember 22, 2022

The World Bank and UNGA 77

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 77

The 77th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 77) convened on September 13, 2022 and ran through September 26, 2022. As the world faces broad crises driven by the global slowdown, the war in Ukraine, shortages of energy, fertilizer and food, rising interest rates and debt levels, and climate change, the World Bank Group was proud to join leaders from around the globe to discuss these pressing development issues and work with our global partners to find solutions to these challenges. 

During UNGA, World Bank Group President David Malpass, along with World Bank Managing Directors Mari Pangestu and Axel Van Trotesenburg, participated in several, high-level events - starting with the Transforming Education Summit on September 19 and continuing with events on digital transformation, climate, data, jobs and social protection and others.

Action needs to be taken now to maintain food production by making fertilizers more accessible and affordable
David Malpass
David Malpass
World Bank Group President

Throughout his engagement in and around UNGA, President Malpass held meetings with more than 20 heads of state and government, ministers, and partners from around the world,  participated in high-level events to discuss the crises facing development and climate, and gave remarks on education, access to grains and fertilizer in Africa, and the future of digital resilience. The President also joined the heads of FAO, IMF, World Food Program, and the World Trade Organization in producing a joint statement on the global food security and nutrition crisis.

In his remarks at the Transforming Education Summit, President Malpass identified four steps needed to recover from the education losses brought on during the COVID-19 pandemic, urging countries to keep schools open and increase hours of instruction, match student’s levels of learning to their instructional needs, focus on foundational learning, and secure funding to support educational recovery.

During the high-level event on access to grains and fertilizers in Africa, the President spoke on the toll the global food, energy, and fertilizer crises were taking on developing countries and looked at the interconnectedness of these sectors in exploring actions to respond to these challenges. He highlighted the challenge of meeting the immediate demand for fertilizers to support next seasons crops and outlined three priority actions countries could take to meet these demands: supporting efficient production and trade, addressing the financing needs of countries, manufacturers, traders, and importers, and increasing the efficiency of fertilizer use.

When addressing the Future of Digital Cooperation: Building Resilience through Safe Trusted, and Inclusive Digital Public Infrastructure, President Malpass emphasized the role digital public infrastructure can play in responding to the reversals in development we have seen in recent years. In his remarks, the President pointed to the need for trusted, quality, and inclusive public infrastructure - along with access to affordable intranet and the development of digital skills - to ensure a successful digital transformation can be achieved.

Strategic Engagement by the World Bank Group at UNGA 77

Education and UNGA 77

Remarks by World Bank Group President David Malpass

 

Bilateral Engagement

President David Malpass meets with Jonas Gahr Støre, Prime Minister of Norway; Andrzej Duda, President of Poland and; Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. 

 

President Malpass meeting with Mohamed Bazoum, President of Niger; Issoufou Mahamadou, former President of Niger; speaking at the Furtuer of Digital Cooperation event and; meeting with Paul-Henri Damiba, President of Burkina Faso.

 

Social Media Engagement

David Malpass - President, World Bank Group 

@DavidMalpassWBG

Good to see President @mohamedbazoum of Niger at #UNGA & highlight @WBG_IDA support for education, agriculture &  climate resilience. I commended Niger’s resilience & emphasized coordination to tackle drivers of insecurity in the Sahel.

At my #UNGA meeting with President Paul-Henri Damiba of Burkina Faso, I emphasized the importance of peace & stability for development. @WBG_IDA is helping in Burkina Faso with basic services, safety nets, jobs for youth, & food security.

The Sahel is facing major security & development challenges. During my #UNGA meeting with @IssoufouMhm, I emphasized the important role of @WBG_IDA in addressing key regional issues, including food security & education.

Excellent #UNGA meeting with President @LassoGuillermo of Ecuador on his country’s continuing economic recovery. His focus on job creation, macroeconomic stability, increased investment & strong social services is very encouraging.

My thanks to @UNDP & @DPGAlliance for co-organizing today’s discussion on digital cooperation at #UNGA. Trusted, quality & inclusive public infrastructure; accessible and affordable internet; & the development of digital skills are essential.

Great to sit down with @uaeclimateenvoy Dr. Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Jaber on the #UNGA sidelines to discuss the energy transition, reducing the carbon intensity of supply chains & impactful interventions to reduce methane emissions.

Enjoyed my first meeting with President @GabrielBoric of Chile today at #UNGA. We had good talks on macroeconomic stability, water scarcity, energy transition efforts & Chile’s encouraging potential for green energy.

Productive high-level #UNGA meeting on food security with Presidents @EmmanuelMacron & @Macky_Sall, @KGeorgieva & other attendees. Action needs to be taken now to maintain food production by making fertilizers more accessible & affordable.

Glad to join with @IMFNews’ @KGeorgieva, @wto’s @NOIweala, @WFP’s @WFPChief & @FAO’s @FAODG for our second joint statement on food security. Building resilience for the future will require a continued comprehensive & coordinated effort.

During my #UNGA meeting with Prime Minister @CMShehbaz of Pakistan, I expressed my condolences for the loss of life in the country due to extreme flooding. The @WorldBank Group is working to support Pakistan with immediate financing.

Very glad to meet in-person with President @HHichilema of Zambia today at #UNGA & reaffirm the @WorldBank Group’s support for the Zambian people. We held extensive talks on Zambia’s good progress on highly positive structural & social reforms.

Great to meet again with President @KlausIohannis of Romania at #UNGA. We exchanged views on Ukraine, food security, energy, fertilizers & discussed @WorldBank Group support to strengthening education in Romania, among other topics.

Glad to meet with @KingAbdullahII of Jordan on the #UNGA sidelines to discuss Jordan’s reform efforts. We also spoke on energy, food security & regional integration.

Good talks during my #UNGA meeting with Prime Minister @jonasgahrstore of Norway on urgent issues, including Ukraine’s reconstruction needs, climate & the energy crisis. I thanked him for Norway’s strong support for the @WorldBank Group.

Enjoyed speaking with @prezydentpl @AndrzejDuda of Poland on the #UNGA sidelines. Poland is a valued partner in the @WorldBank Group’s efforts to help address the impacts of the war in Ukraine. The support of the Polish people for Ukrainian refugees is commendable.

In New York this week for bilateral meetings with developing country leaders at #UNGA77 to discuss urgent development issues — a key risk is that recessions broaden & persist. Looking forward to meetings on education, energy, food, fertilizer, infrastructure & climate.

 

Mari Pangestu - Managing Director of Development Policy and Patnerships, World Bank Group

@Mari_Pangestu

Takeaway from #UNGA data roundtable: #Data gaps are getting worse. 2/3 of Africa & 1/2 of Latin America Caribbean countries postponed a planned population census as of 2021. Result? People most in need are at risk of being left behind in national planning. @worldbankdata

We need #data now more than ever to put the right policies & targeted programs in place, to deliver help to people most in need – fast.  @WorldBank & @UN are collaborating & convening partners to put data to work for green, resilient & inclusive development. #UNGA @worldbankdata

Second Joint Statement by the Heads of FAO, IMF, WBG, WFP, and WTO on the Global Food Security and Nutrition Crisis @WorldBank

Honored to join partners to drive a global renewable energy agenda forward that creates opportunities for people in developing countries. #UNGA. @WBG_Energy

Glad to join the Climate & Dev Ministerial in #NYC w @AlokSharma_RDG, #Rwanda Minister of Env @MujaJeanne & partners. I emphasized that adaptation needs to take center stage to help the vulnerable. Half of @WorldBank #climatefinance supports investments in adaptation. #UNGA77

So inspired to meet soccer star @Evra at #UNGA @TransformingEdu. His personal story—being abused by a teacher as a child, vulnerable because of poverty—reinforces the importance of ending violence & making sure schools are safe. He is not a statistic. He is a true edu champion.

Congratulations to @UN @antonioguterres @AminaJMohammed & partners on a successful @TransformingEdu Summit. Education is a powerful driver of development & one of the strongest instruments for reducing poverty and improving health, gender equality, peace, and stability. 1/4

As the biggest financier of education in the developing world, @WorldBank is deeply committed to ensure adequate financing for education given the economic & moral imperative to solve the global learning crisis and secure the future for millions of children and young people.  2/4

Urgent, bold action is needed to tackle the global learning crisis, dramatically deepened by the pandemic. The challenges are immense but they can be overcome. Despite the multiple crises countries are facing, it is imperative that they invest adequate resources in education. 3/4

1)Keep a strong focus on outcomes achieved. 2)Recognize that there's a limit to how much learning outcomes can be improved when spending levels are just too low. 3) Step up its support for education with financing, timely policy advice & technical assistance. 4/4

Honored to speak at the ##TransformingEducation Summit (Leaders Day) - Spotlight Session 6: Financing Education

Delighted to meet @Malala in person at #UNGA @TransformingEdu. Investment in girls' edu may offer the greatest return available in the developing world. The cost is high in lost lifetime productivity when girls don't finish 12 yrs of education. We must accelerate gains for girls.

Honored to join leaders at the #UNGA @TransformingEdu Summit -  Spotlight Session 5: Advancing gender equality and girls' and women's empowerment in and through education

Axel Von Trotsenburg - Managing Director of Operations, World Bank Group 

@AxelVT_WB

Great to be at #UNGA 🇺🇳 to engage with the UN family! Solidarity and multilateralism have never been more essential to support developing countries for peace & development.