Social Development

Today’s development landscape is marked by converging crises.

Conflict and violence are rising, and by 2030 up to two-thirds of the world’s extreme poor may live in FCV-affected settings.

Climate change is accelerating poverty and instability, with as many as 132 million people projected to be pushed into extreme poverty by 2030.

Persistent gender gaps further undermine progress: globally, women still have only 64 percent of the legal protections afforded to men.

These challenges reinforce one another: conflict magnifies vulnerability to climate shocks, while exclusion drives instability, and gender inequality erodes resilience. Evidence shows that social cohesion—trust, shared purpose, and collective action—and inclusive institutions are central to navigating these pressures and achieving sustainable development.

Social development is about ensuring people from all groups feel included and see lasting economic and social opportunities while contributing to their country’s growth.

Social development reflects the World Bank’s commitment to addressing longstanding barriers to development, strengthening the focus on people who have been excluded from economic and social opportunities, and increasing investment in inclusive growth. We support our client countries to build socially sustainable communities and societies that are able to work together to overcome challenges, deliver public goods, and allocate scarce resources in a manner perceived as legitimate and fair by all, so that all people may thrive over time.

The World Bank offers a range of solutions to help countries build systems, institutions, and policies that ensure all people—regardless of gender, disability, age, sexual orientation or gender identity, ethnicity, race, or migration status—can participate fully in their societies and economies.

Over $6 Billion in Social Development financing for developing countries, as of February 2026.

Our projects reach 280 million people in low- and middle-income countries.

Current Social Development investments in 46 countries.

To meet this ambition, Social Development focuses on three interconnected priorities: Inclusive Societies, Resilient Communities, and Empowered People. We advance inclusive societies through data, analytics, and financing that enhance access to services, spaces, and economic opportunities for marginalized groups. We strengthen community resilience by supporting locally led climate action, conflict prevention and recovery, violence prevention, and responses to forced displacement. Finally, we empower people by expanding civic space, strengthening institutions for citizen engagement, and advancing voice, accountability, and human rights. Together, these priorities guide countries in building socially sustainable societies where all people can thrive over time.

World Bank Advances Community-Led Solutions to Build Resilience and Inclusive Growth

The World Bank helps build resilient communities through community and local development (CLD) projects that empower local actors to lead planning, resource management, and decision-making. Through participatory processes, investments in local infrastructure and services, and support for inclusive community institutions, these projects build social cohesion and enhance communities’ capacity to withstand climate shocks, conflict, and other crises. By advancing locally led climate action and fostering trust between citizens and government, these approaches help countries create responsive, adaptive, and inclusive systems that enable communities to thrive in the face of growing global challenges.

World Bank Drives Inclusive Societies by Expanding Opportunities for Marginalized Groups

The World Bank’s work on Inclusive Societies ensures that all people—regardless of gender, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity, age, or ethnicity—can fully participate in and benefit from development outcomes. The World Bank supports clients in expanding opportunities for youth, advancing women’s economic empowerment, preventing gender-based violence, promoting LGBTQI+ and disability inclusion, and strengthening the inclusion for Indigenous Peoples in decisions that affect them.

World Bank Strengthens Civic Participation to Build More Accountable and Inclusive Governance

The World Bank’s work on Empowered People focuses on expanding meaningful civic and citizen participation and ensuring that communities have a voice in the decisions that shape their lives through support for stronger institutions for citizen engagement, social accountability mechanisms, and platforms that protect and expand civic space. These approaches promote dignity, fairness, and equitable treatment in development processes to build societies where people can influence policies, hold institutions accountable, and drive positive, lasting change.

Social Development Contact

Marcela Sanchez-Bender

msanchezbender@worldbankgroup.org