Multilateral Development Banks: Delivering as a system

People walking MDB ©Getty Images Klaus Vedfel

Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) are committed to strengthening their collaboration and improving how they work together as a system to deliver greater impact and accelerate progress on sustainable development. The 10 major MDBs gather, on a regular basis, in the Heads of MDBs Group, a forum for dialogue and coordination, which is presided annually by one of the institutions.

Together for impact and scale

While each MDB has its own mandate and experience to bring to the table, enhanced coordination on systemic issues reduces duplication of efforts and adds value and impact through collective action. Amid rising global uncertainty, this work is becoming more important by the day.

In a Viewpoint Note, published in April 2024, the Heads of MDBs outlined key deliverables for joint and coordinated action, building on the progress since their Marrakech statement in 2023.

The note reflected an unprecedented level of collaboration among MDBs and led to several milestones in 2024 and further progress in 2025.

G20 roadmap towards better, bigger and more effective MDBs

In October 2024, the Heads of MDBs welcomed the endorsement by G20 Leaders of the G20 Roadmap towards Better, Bigger, and More Effective MDBs.

The Roadmap outlines a comprehensive vision for continuing to reform MDBs to better address regional and global challenges, create more jobs and opportunities, and support countries to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Open the roadmap

2025: CEB chaired the Heads of MDBs Group

In 2025, the CEB held the rotating Cchair of the Group. Under the CEB’s leadership, MDBs made tangible progress in key reform areas, including:

Scaling up lending capacity
Mobilising private capital
Strengthening operational collaboration through mutual reliance agreements
Supporting country-led platforms aligned with national development priorities

The year also saw important joint publications such as the first Comparison Report that enhances transparency and comparability of their financial positions and Social Infrastructure in Focus: The Role of Multilateral Development Banks. This report, coordinated by the CEB, brought social investment to the forefront of the system-wide MDB agenda, highlighting how investment in health, education and housing is critical for jobs, growth and inclusive societies.

Bringing the CEB’s tenure as Chair to a close, in December 2025, Governor Monticelli presented the inaugural Implementation Report of the G20 Roadmap for Better, Bigger and More Effective MDBs at the G20 South Africa Leaders’ Summit.