Overview
- The WSBI held its 34th General Assembly and 4th Social and Philanthropic Council in Washington alongside IMF meetings, drawing representatives from 82 banks across 59 countries as chair Isidro Fainé urged cooperation in a volatile global economy.
- Members agreed to increase annual funding for social initiatives to about $4 billion focused on poverty reduction, youth empowerment, women’s entrepreneurship, elder care, and environmental sustainability.
- The Council prioritized empowering young people, especially young women, through financial education and efforts to expand job opportunities for disadvantaged groups.
- WSBI presented a one‑year pilot launched in July in Nigeria to improve conditions for small women farmers in partnership with the Visa Foundation and Fundación 'la Caixa' under the World Bank’s WE‑Fi‑Code, described as a pilot that could extend to more countries.
- New agreements included a collaboration with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and a strategic alliance with Aflatoun, while the inaugural WSBI Awards drew nearly 100 entries across six categories and highlighted programs such as Banco Montepio’s Junior Achievement Portugal bootcamp.