The World Bank Group mobilised a record $112 billion in private capital during its 2026 fiscal year. The lender says more of that money now reaches lower-income economies and job-rich sectors.
The World Bank Group announced the figure on 17 September. It is more than three times the $35 billion recorded in fiscal year 2022. According to Reuters, the equivalent figure a year earlier was $69 billion. The bank’s own resources added a further $123 billion, bringing the combined total to $235 billion.
The Group also issued more than $25 billion in guarantees. That beats its target of $20 billion a year by 2030, four years early.
Where Is the Private Capital Going?
Growth came across all income groups. Mobilisation in lower-middle-income countries rose from $14 billion to $37 billion over four years. Upper-middle-income countries saw a bigger jump, from $12 billion to $50 billion.
In low-income countries, mobilisation held steady at about $3 billion. The bank describes these as among the most difficult markets for private investors.
Africa recorded one of the largest increases. Private capital mobilised across the continent rose from about $9 billion to $22 billion, a rise of nearly 150%.
The bank said 55% of its total FY26 financing went to five job-rich sectors. These are infrastructure and energy, agribusiness, healthcare, tourism and value-added manufacturing.
What Changed Inside the World Bank?
The bank links the results to three years of internal reform. Each country now has a single point of contact for the Group’s public and private sector work. Countries previously dealt with separate managers from the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and other units. Banga told Reuters that average project approval times have fallen from a year or more to nine months.
The Private Sector Investment Lab also shaped the agenda. Banga set up the lab after becoming president in June 2023. It identified practical barriers to investment in developing economies. The Group has since worked to improve regulation, expand guarantees and local-currency lending, and tackle foreign-exchange risk. It has also added new equity tools.
The World Bank Group Guarantee Platform drove most of the growth in guarantees. Launched in 2024, the platform gives clients and investors one point of access to guarantee products across the Group.
“Three years ago, our shareholders and clients were clear: utilize World Bank Group financing and knowledge to mobilize more private capital and become a better partner to the private sector. We changed how we work to do that—faster, simpler, and as one World Bank Group,” said Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group.
“The result is $112 billion mobilized this year, more than three times where we started. But the number only matters if the capital goes where it can create opportunity and jobs. That is the work ahead: keep removing barriers, keep expanding the pool of investors, and keep driving more capital into developing economies.”
Why Are Jobs the Focus?
The bank calls job creation its central priority. It says 1.2 billion young people in developing economies will reach working age over the next 10 to 15 years. Current projections show only around 420 million new jobs in that period. The private sector creates nine in 10 jobs in these economies.
What Comes Next?
The Group now wants to widen its pool of investors. Its originate-to-distribute model packages investments for institutional investors such as pension funds and insurers. IFC closed its first securitisation, a $510 million collateralised loan obligation, in September 2025. Banga told Reuters the aim is to more than double private capital mobilised to over $200 billion within two to three years.
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