TOKYO, December 21, 2021 – The World Bank (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, IBRD, Aaa/AAA) has issued a total of US$250 million equivalent in Sustainable Development Bonds to Japanese investors while highlighting the importance of good nutrition to build human capital. This engagement with investors began with an investment from Nippon Life Insurance Company in October 2020 to raise awareness about the World Bank’s activities to address malnutrition.
The initiative has attracted both institutional and retail investors. This includes investments most recently from Meiji Yasuda and Taiju life insurance companies ahead of the Tokyo Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit on December 7-8, 2021 to promote global efforts to solve the nutrition crisis.
“We are very pleased to see continued interest from Japanese investors in support of the mission of the World Bank,” said Jingdong Hua, Vice President and Treasurer, World Bank. “Raising our collective consciousness on how we can contribute to solutions through investment for critical development challenges like nutrition crisis is instrumental in building a better and more sustainable future.
“The enormous human and economic costs of malnutrition fall hardest on poor people, women, and children,” said Mamta Murthi, World Bank’s Vice President for Human Development. “We welcome the strong collaboration among stakeholders, including innovative financing from the private sector and investors that support healthier foods – and improving nutrition where the needs are greatest.”
World Bank bonds support the financing of sustainable development projects and programs in member countries across a range of sectors in line with its mission to end extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity. This includes US$6 billion in projects, of which US$1.5 billion are in IBRD countries, helping to improve nutrition and addressing obesity and undernutrition. Good nutrition is critical to improving human capital -- a central driver of sustainable growth and poverty reduction. However, COVID-19 and other shocks are expected to have pushed 155 million people into acute food insecurity, with 28 million at risk of famine. Millions of children will also fall into malnutrition due to pandemic related service disruptions and not achieve their full growth potential, which leads to an estimated US$44 billion economic productivity loss a year. There is an urgent need to ensure that the world’s poor have access to the knowledge, resources, and services needed to achieve optimal nutrition.
About the World Bank
The World Bank (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, IBRD), rated Aaa/AAA (Moody’s/S&P), is an international organization. Created in 1944, it is the original member of the World Bank Group and operates as a global development cooperative owned by 189 nations. The World Bank provides loans, guarantees, risk management products, and advisory services to middle-income and other creditworthy countries to support the Sustainable Development Goals and to end extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity. It also provides leadership to coordinate regional and global responses to development challenges. The World Bank has been issuing sustainable development bonds in the international capital markets for over 70 years to fund programs and activities that achieve a positive impact. More information on World Bank bonds is available at www.worldbank.org/debtsecurities.
World Bank bonds support the financing of programs that further the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). World Bank bonds are aligned with the Sustainability Bond Guidelines published by the International Capital Market Association and as such support the financing of a combination of green and social, i.e., “sustainable development” projects, programs and activities in IBRD member countries as described in the World Bank Sustainable Development Bond Framework. The World Bank is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Green Bond, Social Bond, and Sustainability Bond Principles. A key priority for the World Bank’s capital markets’ engagement is building strategic partnerships with investors to promote the importance of private sector financing in sustainable development. The World Bank’s Sustainable Development Bond Impact Report describes how the World Bank engages with investors on the SDGs and raises awareness for specific development challenges.
Disclaimers
Net proceeds of the bonds described herein are not committed or earmarked for lending to, or financing of, any particular projects or programs, and returns on the bonds described herein are not linked to the performance of any particular project or program.
This press release is not an offer for sale of securities of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development ("IBRD"), also known in the capital markets as "World Bank". Any offering of World Bank securities will take place solely on the basis of the relevant offering documentation including, but not limited to, the prospectus, term sheet and/or final terms, as applicable, prepared by the World Bank or on behalf of the World Bank, and is subject to restrictions under the laws of several countries. World Bank securities may not be offered or sold except in compliance with all such laws. The World Bank Sustainable Development Bond Framework and the information set forth therein are not a part of, or incorporated by reference into, the offering documentation.
Contact
Heike Reichelt
Head of Investor Relations and Sustainable Finance, World Bank Treasurydebtsecurities@worldbank.org
