The World Bank Group (WBG) and the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the official opening of the WBG’s new office in Doha, marking a major step in strengthening strategic cooperation to deliver sustainable development solutions worldwide. The ceremony was attended by senior officials from both institutions, including WBG President Ajay Banga and QFFD Chairperson Sheikh Thani bin Hamad Al-Thani.
The newly inaugurated office, hosted at QFFD headquarters and established in collaboration with Qatar’s Ministry of Finance, will support the realization of Qatar National Vision 2030. It will enhance the WBG’s engagement with Qatar’s public and private sectors and serve as a platform to promote outbound investment into emerging markets across the region and globally.
The partnership reflects a shared commitment to advancing innovative financing for development, supporting reconstruction, recovery, and job creation across the Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, and fragile or conflict-affected contexts. By leveraging both public and private sector instruments, the collaboration will focus on priority sectors that drive long-term resilience, stability, and inclusive growth, including human capital, energy and mining, agribusiness, and digital development.
Under the MoU, WBG and QFFD will explore collaboration on initiatives aligned with global development priorities. These include the M-300 initiative, which aims to expand electricity access to 300 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa, and the AgriConnect platform, which seeks to improve livelihoods for up to 250 million smallholder farmers globally.
During the event, QFFD Director General Fahad Hamad Al-Sulaiti highlighted that the partnership reflects Qatar’s long-standing commitment to working with international financial institutions and accelerating sustainable development programs in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.
WBG President Ajay Banga emphasized that the partnership aligns the strategic priorities and complementary capabilities of both institutions to drive job creation and economic opportunities in regions where employment is critical for long-term stability. The collaboration also reinforces Qatar’s role as a global hub for economic and financial cooperation and underscores QFFD’s importance in fostering impactful international partnerships for equitable and sustainable development.
