Washington: The World Bank Group (WBG) will co-host the Global Parliamentary Forum (GPF) alongside the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank and IMF (PN) on April 13-14 during the 2026 Spring Meetings. The annual flagship parliamentary engagement of the Bretton Woods institutions will convene legislators from around the world with senior leadership from the WBG and IMF to dialogue on development and the global economy.
The Global Parliamentary Forum is a unique platform for dialogue on development and the global economy between parliamentarians and the leadership of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund.
Last year (2025), 130 participants, including around 100 lawmakers from 40 countries, alongside senior leadership from the World Bank Group (WBG) and IMF participated to exchange knowledge and best practices in development. The highlight of the Forum during Spring Meetings was a townhall with WBG President Ajay Banga and IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.
The highlights of the GPF 2026 are parliamentary townhalls with the WBG President and IMF Managing Director. Other sessions will include a conversation with the IFC Managing Director, and a wide range of thematic sessions that are critical for ending poverty on a livable planet. The forum helps foster development impact by encouraging country ownership, policy relevance and accountability. All sessions will provide concrete examples of actions parliamentarians can take to improve outcomes.
The second day of the Forum will feature the seventh edition of the Global Young MP Initiative for lawmakers aged 45 and under. The convening presents a unique occasion for young parliamentarians to discuss the development priorities at the heart of their work, sharing ideas and experiences from their own countries and regions. Participants will have the opportunity to complete a capacity building workshop, facilitated by McGill University, on parliamentary oversight and management.
The Spring Meetings of the IMF and WBG are annual gatherings that bring together finance ministers, central bank governors, development experts, private sector executives, civil society representatives, parliamentarians and academics to discuss global economic and development issues. In addition to the meetings of the Boards of Governors, the Development Committee (DC) and the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) meetings takes place. The DC and the IMFC advise the Boards of Governors of both institutions. These meetings play a crucial role in shaping global economic discussions and finding solutions to major development challenges.
Established in 2000, the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank & IMF (PN) serves as a neutral platform for parliamentarians from member countries to enhance both accountability and transparency within development cooperation. It empowers parliamentarians to:
- Share knowledge and experiences for collective understanding of global challenges and best practices in addressing them.
- Hold governments and international financial institutions accountable by fostering dialogue and scrutiny, ensuring development efforts deliver intended outcomes.
- Shape the international development agenda through active participation of parliamentarians in discussions and policy decisions.
Through its diverse membership and events, the PN fosters transparent engagement between parliamentarians, the WBG, and IMF. This exchange of information and feedback accelerates progress and ultimately contributes to achieving effective development goals.
