The Institute for Economic Development organized in Rome a special event to discuss what the International Debt Report 2025 truly reveals about debt dynamics in low‑ and middle‑income countries. The latest data reveal a complex picture: while debt stocks have stabilized at high levels and market access is gradually returning, many countries are still facing unprecedented net debt outflows and rising servicing pressures that constrain development spending. Beneath aggregate figures, the composition of creditors, borrowing costs, and restructuring trends signal both emerging risks and pockets of resilience. This session offered a timely opportunity for policymakers, researchers, and development practitioners to engage with the evidence and consider its implications for future financing strategies.

An integrated capacity building course on External Debt Statistics (EDS) and the World Bank Debtor Reporting System (DRS) was delivered in January 2026. The course brought together mid to senior level officials from finance ministries and central banks across Europe and Central Asia. The program was delivered in a blended format, combining short online learning modules with a two week, in person segment. This approach enabled participants to establish a shared conceptual foundation in advance, allowing the in-person phase to focus on practical application, discussion of country experiences, and peer exchange.

The Enhancing External Debt Statistics for Greater Transparency and Sustainability workshop in Chiba, Japan, was oganized by the DEC Institute, with support from the Government of Japan and the United Nations Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific, the workshop featured a keynote speech by Indermit Gill, Chief Economist of the World Bank Group and Sr VP for Development Economics, and a presentation by Takahiro Tsuda, Director in the Multilateral Development Banks Division at Japan’s Ministry of Finance.

The Development Data Group of the Development Economics Vice Presidency of the World Bank is pleased to present “Making Debt Data Transparent and Sustainable Amidst Debt Distress”. The course was offered under the new World Bank Group Academy’s Development Data track, with the generous support of the Government of Japan.

This course, presented by the IMF Statistics Department, focuses on the conceptual framework of government finance statistics (GFS) as presented in the Government Finance Statistics Manual 2014, with an emphasis on new concepts introduced in GFSM 2014.

This course, presented by the IMF Statistics Department, focuses on the conceptual framework of public sector debt statistics as presented in the Government Finance Statistics Manual 2014 (GFSM 2014) and the Public Sector Debt Statistics: Guide for Compilers and Users (PSDSG).

Course organized by the IMF-Singapore Training Institute (STI) on external debt statistics. 

This course, conducted by the IMF & South Asia Regional Training and Technical Assistance Center (SARTTAC) deals with the conceptual framework of public sector debt statistics as presented in the Public Sector Debt Statistics Guide and on the practical aspects of compiling public sector debt data. 

The objective of this workshop was to strengthen capacity of African member States in debt statistics compilation through an in-depth debt statistics compilation methodology session.

The Central Bank of The Gambia on Monday hosted the first IMF / West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM) Regional Course on Government Finance Statistics (GFS), and Public Sector Debt Statistics (PSDS) training. 

This Caucasus, Central Asia, and Mongolia Regional Capacity Development Center (CCAMTAC) workshop focused on the conceptual framework of GFS and PSDS as presented in the Government Finance Statistics Manual 2014 (GFSM 2014) and Public Sector Debt Statistics Guide for Compilers and Users (PSDSG 2011)

This Technical Assistance mission was a collaborative partnership between several teams at the World Bank, including the Development Data Group of the Development Economics Vice Presidency, the Macroeconomics, Trade, and Investment Global Practice (MTI), and the Development Finance Vice Presidency.