With New London Hub, World Bank Group Strengthens Commitment to Mobilizing Private Capital for Emerging Markets

We were pleased to mark the launch of the World Bank Group’s London Financial Solutions Hub at the London Stock Exchange today. The initiative is part of our efforts to mobilize private capital for developing and emerging markets at scale.

The World Bank Group is expanding its footprint in London, one of the world’s foremost financial centers, because proximity to partners matters. We will be increasing the number of staff in the UK capital at our private sector arm, IFC and our guarantee agency, MIGA, as well as World Bank Group Knowledge Bank teams.

The goal is to tap more of the capital held by pension funds, asset managers and the insurance sector for investments that boost growth and create jobs in emerging markets and enhance local capital markets in these economies.

“The public sector alone cannot meet the scale of investment needed across emerging economies. Greater private sector participation is essential to close the financing gap and to support growth and create jobs,” said World Bank Group Managing Director and Chief Knowledge Officer, Paschal Donohue.

“UK investors are already important partners, leveraging billions of pounds worth of our guarantees to derisk investments in low- and middle-income countries and often investing alongside us on commercial terms. Launching the financial solutions hub in London reflects the strength of the City’s capital markets and its internationally recognised legal and regulatory framework.” 

Minister of State for International Development and Africa, Baroness Chapman added “Today marks a huge step forward in the UK's partnership with the World Bank Group.

“Our partnership with the World Bank is essential to our modern approach to development, as we move from being a donor to an investor. By expanding their London office, we're making it easier to connect the investment that emerging economies urgently need with the private finance in the City of London and beyond that can deliver it.

“The world is facing difficult times, from climate change to conflict spreading. Public money and ODA alone was never enough to meet those demands, but that's especially true today.

“That’s why London is the ideal home for the World Bank’s new Financial Solutions Hub. As one of the world's great financial centres, we have the expertise, the institutions and the connections to make things happen. The UK is committed to using our position - not just as one of the World Bank's largest shareholders, but as a genuine partner - to help investment get to where it’s needed, improving lives around the world and boosting opportunities for the UK financial sector too."

The World Bank Group has been stepping up efforts to mobilize more private capital for development. In our last financial year, the World Bank Group mobilized $69 billion from private investors for projects. IFC and MIGA can attract more than one dollar from private investors for every dollar they invest

This initiative is strongly supported by the UK Government, which has been intensifying its own efforts to mobilize private capital for development. The World Bank Group’s inaugural securitization transaction comprising of IFC loans to businesses in emerging markets listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2025 and was supported by MOBILIST, which invested $25 million in the equity tranche.

Paschal Donohue, John Gandolfo, IFC Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Capital Mobilization and Ed Mountfield, MIGA Vice President and Chief Financial Officer attended the market open.

The UK Government was represented by Minister of State for International Development and Africa, Baroness Chapman. MP, Anna Gelderd, board member of the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank and IMF also attended the event.