The International Monetary Fund and World Bank meet twice a year in Washington, D.C.

to convene global finance ministers and industry leaders to deliberate how to fund some

of the world's most pressing issues.

The two institutions have different missions, but they work hand in hand.

The IMF oversees the stability of the world's monetary system, while the World Bank's goal

is to reduce poverty by offering assistance to middle income and low-income countries.

The stakes for these meetings are always high. This year, there was increased tension. Global

public debt is expected to soon reach $100 trillion. That's the highest ever. And there's an

increased instability. A report by the UK-based risk analyst firm Verriss Maplecroft reveals that

the world's conflict zones increased by two-thirds in the past three years. And of course,

there have been changes in the political tides as well. Populist movements

brought on by global inflation after COVID, as well as increased migration due to political

instability, all have led to changes in power in places like France and Germany, and most

notably the United States, where Donald Trump has recaptured the White House.

American political waves are felt acutely at both the IMF and the World Bank, since the U.S.

government is their largest stakeholder. Soon after the election, World Bank President

Ajay Bunga shared with Bloomberg News his thoughts on the incoming administration.

My experience with President Donald Trump in his first term was that he listens to practical reason,

give him the facts and let him take his own judgment.

The private sector will only do something if it makes business sense for them.

If it makes business sense for them, what I'm doing is facilitating that

for them. That's a good thing to do. So the world is changing, and with it, a greater need to

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