IDA: Why Does the International Development Association Work? And How? | The Development Podcast

The International Development Association (IDA) is the part of the World Bank that helps the world’s low-income countries. IDA's grants and low-interest loans help countries invest in their futures, improve lives, and create safer, more prosperous communities around the world. Replenished every three years, IDA’s current round of negotiations is scheduled to conclude in December 2024 in a final pledging meeting in Seoul, Korea.

As IDA completes its 21st replenishment, we journey to Korea to hear how the country, which has recently pledged a 45% in its contribution, has gone from recipient to donor. And we’ll learn about some of the development priorities of another donor country, Switzerland.

Featured voices

1. Aki Nishio, Vice President of Development Finance at the World Bank
2. Juyoung Yang, Associate Fellow in the Department of Macroeconomics and Financial Policy of the Korea Development Institute
3. Chantal Felder, Head of the Climate, Disaster Risk Reduction and Environment Section, Swiss Agency for Development and cooperation (SDC)

Timestamps

[00:00] Introducing the International Development Association (IDA)

[03:26] Korea's developmental transformation

[06:25] Visions from the ground on Korea's economic growth

[11:10] How IDA is helping countries to tackle climate change

[17:04] International cooperation: Switzerland's commitment to IDA

[20:14] Hope on the horizon in a context of polycrisis

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ABOUT THE WORLD BANK

The World Bank is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for low-income countries. Its five institutions share a commitment to reducing poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development.