The World Bank Group raised $112 billion of private capital in fiscal year 2026, its highest ever. In FY22 the figure was $35 billion, increasing its resources by more than three times. Including the Group's own lending, the amount of financing mobilized in developing countries exceeded $200 billion. Guarantees also hit a record above $25 billion, surpassing a target for 2030 of $20 billion by four years.
Where the Money Went
Growth was broad, with private capital rising in lower-middle-income countries from $14 billion to $37 billion, compared with $12 billion to $50 billion in upper-middle-income countries. In Africa, the increase was from about $9 billion to $22 billion, compared with roughly $3 billion in low-income countries, a sign of persistent challenges for investors in these markets. The bank credits streamlined procedures, a single point of contact in each country, and expanded use of guarantees and local-currency financing.
Jobs Are the Goal
In a critical situation nearly 1.2 billion young people will reach working age, but only 420 million of them will be able to find a job in this period. Private enterprises create a majority of the employment opportunities in these economies, with 9 out of every 10 jobs being provided by them. In FY26, 55 percent of total financing was directed towards job-intensive sectors such as energy, agribusiness, healthcare, tourism, and manufacturing. The group is now looking to aggregate investments to attract institutional investors and generate more significant long-term capital.
