Spain

Spain is a shareholder of all the World Bank Group institutions, and partners with the World Bank Group to advance economic growth, create jobs, mobilize private capital, strengthen climate resilience, scale sustainable finance, and support countries in addressing complex development challenges. The partnership combines financing, knowledge, policy dialogue, and private sector engagement to deliver development impact across emerging markets and developing economies. Spain joined the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)—the World Bank—in 1960 as a borrower and switched to donor status in 1977.  It holds 1.84% of the voting power in the IBRD and is currently represented by a government-appointed Executive Director, who also represents Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua.

Spanish investors are playing a crucial role in driving private investment to developing countries, particularly in Latin America and increasingly in West Africa. Spain joined the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in 1956 and its private sector has a mature and fast-growing portfolio of investments with IFC in emerging markets. As of June 2025, IFC had a long-term committed investment portfolio of close to $5 billion with Spanish companies across several sectors and regions in emerging markets. Spain is one of IFC’s largest and fastest growing portfolios in Europe. Building on this momentum, IFC is working with Spanish companies, financial institutions, and investors to expand investment across strategic sectors including in water, infrastructure, tourism, value-added manufacturing, and non-banking finance.  These efforts support IFC’s broader objective of mobilizing private capital and creating jobs in developing economies.

Spain is one of the key supporters of International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank’s fund for the low-income countries. Spain significantly supported IDA21 by making an early financial commitment representing a 37% increase in Spain's contribution compared to the previous funding cycle, setting a precedent for other donor nations during the 2024 replenishment process. The government’s support for IDA directly helps hundreds of millions of vulnerable people, including those in fragile and conflict-affected areas, access services for clean water, a secure food supply, health, education, and jobs.

Spain has been a strong supporter of the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) since joining in 1988 and is currently MIGA’s third-largest investor country in terms of gross exposure. MIGA works closely with Spanish corporates and financial institutions to support their investments in developing countries by providing guarantees against non-commercial risks and credit enhancement solutions. MIGA currently supports more than 20 projects involving Spanish sponsors or lenders, representing over $5B in guarantees. These projects span key sectors such as infrastructure, energy—including renewables—and financial services, contributing to sustainable development and private capital mobilization in emerging markets across the globe, with a portfolio primarily concentrated in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The opening of the World Bank Group’s office in Madrid in 2026 marks a new chapter in the partnership with Spain. The office serves as a platform for deeper engagement with Spanish institutions, the private sector, academia, and civil society, while supporting the World Bank Group’s development agenda.

Contact

Raphaelle Aubert,

IFC Representative for Spain

Abigail Conway,

World Bank External Affairs Officer for Spain

World Bank Madrid Office

Plaza de la Lealtad, 2

28014 Madrid, Spain

WBGSpain@worldbank.org