Washington, D.C. – The Ethiopian delegation, led by H.E. Mr. Ahmed Shide, Minister of Finance, held high-level talks with Anna Bjerde, Managing Director for Operations at the World Bank, on the sidelines of the 2026 Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund.

During the meeting, Minister Ahmed Shide underscored Ethiopia’s resilient economic performance and sustained reform momentum, while highlighting growing pressures from global economic headwinds. He stressed the urgency of scaling up World Bank support to safeguard reform gains and help the economy navigate external uncertainties.

The Minister called for expanded access to World Bank financing windows and a more agile, responsive support framework. Discussions focused on mobilizing a comprehensive and well-coordinated package of measures—bringing together the World Bank, the IMF, and the Government of Ethiopia—to reinforce macroeconomic stability and accelerate inclusive growth.

Ms. Bjerde reaffirmed the World Bank’s strong commitment to Ethiopia, emphasizing the institution’s readiness to deepen support in close coordination with development partners during this critical period.

The Ethiopian delegation further provided an update on the success of the debt restructuring process, noting constructive engagement with private creditors as part of ongoing efforts to restore debt sustainability.

Both sides also highlighted the importance and commitment to accelerating implementation of the “Mission 300” energy initiative, aimed at expanding electricity access to millions of Ethiopian households and advancing the country’s economic transformation.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to fast-track crisis response support while continuing to deliver tangible development results for the Ethiopian people