The Role of Multilateral Development Banks in Financing the Sustainable Development Goals: Policy Paper

Abstract

This briefing paper discusses multilateral development banks (MDBs), a leading group of development finance institutions. The goal is to inform ongoing discussions on whether Switzerland and other MDB shareholder countries should continue to support MDBs, particularly in the context of the capital increases recently agreed for the World Bank and African Development Bank. First, the brief outlines the MDB basic model, which is a powerful mechanism to channel resources to development goals. Second, the brief reviews a few of the debates about how MDBs operate and why countries support them.