World Bank Signals Expanded Support for Ethiopia’s Reforms Amid Global Pressures

Addis Ababa, April 19, 2026 (FMC) — The World Bank has reaffirmed its commitment to scale up support for Ethiopia as the country advances economic reforms and navigates evolving global challenges.

The assurance was made during high-level talks held on the sidelines of the 2026 Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund in Washington, D.C., between Ethiopia’s delegation led by Finance Minister Ahmed Shide and World Bank Managing Director for Operations Anna Bjerde.

During the discussions, the Ethiopian side highlighted the country’s economic performance and ongoing reform efforts, while noting mounting pressures from global economic headwinds. The delegation stressed the need to scale up support to sustain reform gains and help the economy manage external uncertainties.

The talks also focused on expanding access to World Bank financing and enhancing the responsiveness of support mechanisms. Both sides explored coordinated measures involving the World Bank, the IMF, and the Government of Ethiopia to strengthen macroeconomic stability and promote inclusive growth.

The World Bank reaffirmed its readiness to deepen engagement with Ethiopia in coordination with development partners.

The Ethiopian delegation also provided an update on the country’s debt restructuring process, citing ongoing engagement with private creditors as part of efforts to restore debt sustainability.

In addition, both sides underscored the importance of accelerating the “Mission 300” energy initiative, which aims to expand electricity access to millions of households and support Ethiopia’s broader economic transformation.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to expedite crisis response support while advancing development outcomes.