World Bank financing and capital mobilisation for developing economies surpassed $200 billion in FY2026, as private investment more than tripled and Africa’s share rose to $22 billion.
The World Bank Group says its financing and capital mobilisation for developing economies exceeded $200 billion in the 2026 financial year, following a sharp increase in private investment secured through the institution. Private capital mobilised by the World Bank rose from $35 billion in the 2022 financial year to $112 billion in FY2026, more than tripling within four years. When combined with the institution’s own financing, the total available to developing economies, including Nigeria, surpassed $200 billion.
The funding is intended to support employment and development across emerging markets, although the World Bank did not provide a country-by-country breakdown or specify how much of the total was allocated to Nigeria. The increase was recorded across several income groups. Private capital mobilisation for lower-middle-income countries rose from $14 billion in FY2022 to $37 billion in FY2026, representing an increase of almost threefold.
Upper-middle-income countries recorded a larger expansion, with the amount rising from $12 billion to $50 billion during the same period. In low-income economies, where attracting private investment remains particularly difficult, the figure stayed at approximately $3 billion. Africa’s share of mobilised private capital increased from about $9 billion in FY2022 to $22 billion in FY2026, amounting to growth of nearly 150 per cent.
The World Bank attributed the overall performance to changes introduced over the past three years to simplify its operations and improve cooperation with private investors. These reforms included bringing the institution’s public and private-sector activities closer together and establishing a single contact point for its operations in individual countries.
The Group also began developing integrated strategies based on the development needs and priorities of each participating country. Its Private Sector Investment Lab contributed to the initiative by identifying obstacles limiting investment in developing economies and proposing measures to address them.
Other steps taken by the institution included efforts to improve business and regulatory conditions, expand guarantees and local-currency financing, respond to foreign-exchange constraints and provide additional equity instruments. The World Bank also introduced measures intended to make it easier for institutional investors to finance projects in developing markets.
Guarantees issued by the Group exceeded $25 billion in FY2026. The figure surpassed its target of $20 billion in annual guarantee issuance by 2030, four years ahead of schedule. The growth was driven by the World Bank Group Guarantee Platform, which was established in 2024 to provide investors and clients with a single point of access to guarantee products offered across the institution.
World Bank Group President Ajay Banga said the changes followed calls from shareholders and clients for the institution to use its financing and expertise to attract more private investment. “The result is $112 billion mobilised this year, more than three times what we started,” Banga said.
He added that the impact of the funding would ultimately depend on whether it reached areas capable of generating employment and economic opportunities. Job creation remains a central priority for the World Bank as developing economies prepare for a substantial increase in their working-age populations.
According to the institution, about 1.2 billion young people will reach working age across developing countries over the next 10 to 15 years. However, only approximately 420 million jobs are projected to be created within that period. The Bank said the private sector currently accounts for nine out of every 10 jobs in developing economies, making increased private investment an important part of its employment strategy.
That strategy focuses on investing in physical and human infrastructure, establishing regulations that support business activities and helping private companies expand their operations. The institution has identified infrastructure and energy, agribusiness, healthcare, tourism and value-added manufacturing as five sectors with strong potential to attract investment and create employment.
In FY2026, 55 per cent of the World Bank Group’s total financing, including its own funds and capital mobilised from other sources, went to those five sectors. The institution said investment was also reaching lower-income countries, where regional and domestic investors were increasingly working alongside global financiers to support businesses and employment.
The World Bank is now seeking to broaden the number and categories of investors participating in development financing. Through its originate-to-distribute programme, the Group plans to package and distribute investments to institutional investors on a larger scale.
The initiative is designed to connect more pools of long-term capital with investment opportunities in developing economies, while sustaining the World Bank’s efforts to direct funding towards job creation and economic development.