International Development Association’s Twentieth Replenishment Mid-Term Review - Note on IDA’s Contribution to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Inclusion

Jul 19, 2026

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International Development Association’s Twentieth Replenishment Mid-Term Review presents a note outlining how IDA advances sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) inclusion in IDA countries. Grounded in a country-led engagement model, the note emphasizes tailoring support to country demand and circumstances, drawing on the World Bank’s 2021 report “Equality of Opportunity for Sexual and Gender Minorities” and informing future institutionalization efforts alongside the World Bank Gender Strategy (2024–2030).

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

Introduction

IDA’s contribution framework

Context

Discrimination, violence, and legal barriers

Economic costs and development rationale

World Bank’s approaches to SOGI inclusion

Policy foundations and project requirements

Knowledge work and evidence generation

Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized November 15, 2023 Official Use Only INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION’S TWENTIENTH REPLENISHMENT MID-TERM REVIEW: NOTE ON IDA’S CONTRIBUTION TO SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY INCLUSION I. INTRODUCTION 1. The IDA20 Replenishment Report ‘Building Back Better from the Crisis – Toward a Green, Resilient, and Inclusive Future’ notes that “IDA will learn from the publication of the ‘Equality of Opportunity for Sexual and Gender Minorities’ report to define and develop its contribution on this agenda, and report back at the IDA20 Mid-term Review.” This Note describes IDA’s contribution to inclusive development with respect to sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) and presents some of the work to date to advance opportunities for sexual and gender minorities in IDA countries. The Note defines IDA’s contribution fully within IDA’s country-led engagement model, which recognizes that countries face heterogenous challenges and have differences in policies and legal frameworks. To achieve sustainable development, IDA’s contribution to this agenda relies on the premise of IDA responding to country demand and on the importance of tailoring support to fit country circumstances and priorities. It builds on the‘Equality of Opportunity for Sexual and Gender Minorities’ report, published by the World Bank in 2021.1 It was developed in parallel with the forthcoming World Bank Gender Strategy (2024– 2030), which will support further institutionalization of SOGI inclusion across the World Bank. II. CONTEXT 2. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people face widespread discrimination and violence worldwide. The work to tackle exclusion of LGBTI people is constrained by stigma, social norms, and legal frameworks. Currently, 63 countries across the world criminalize same-sex consensual behavior or some forms of gender identity: 44 of them are IDA-eligible countries and seven are IDA donors. Among IDA’s donors and borrowers, six countries (from both the borrower and donor constituencies) impose the death penalty for samesex acts. It is worth noting that the application of laws that criminalize same-sex consensual behavior or some forms of gender identity varies considerably, with many countries choosing not to actively enforce them. 3. Research suggests that the effects of SOGI-based exclusion could be costing economies billions of dollars, amounting to up to 1.7 percent of countries’ GDP.2 Addressing SOGI inclusion provides an opportunity for IDA countries to ensure that more people can benefit from, and contribute to, development regardless of personal characteristics such as sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics. 1 Cortez, Clifton; Arzinos, John; De la Medina Soto, Christian. 2021. Equality of Opportunity for Sexual and Gender Minorities. © Washington, DC: World Bank. [http://hdl.handle.net/10986/36288](http://hdl.handle.net/10986/36288 License: CC BY 3.0)[ License:](http://hdl.handle.net/10986/36288 License: CC BY 3.0)[ CC BY 3.0](http://hdl.handle.net/10986/36288 License: CC BY 3.0)[ ](http://hdl.handle.net/10986/36288 License: CC BY 3.0)IGO.” 2 Badgett L, Park A, Flores A, Links Between Economic Development and New Measures of LGBT Inclusion, Williams Institute, 2018. 4. Despite this challenging environment, LGBTI people have made progress in claiming rights and promoting inclusive societies in recent decades. As of 2023, 13 countries provide constitutional protections for sexual and gender minorities. A further 55 countries provide broad protections and a total of 77 countries have laws protecting people from discrimination in the workplace based on sexual orientation.3 In the past five years, countries including Angola, Gabon, Botswana, Mozambique, the Seychelles, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, India, and Bhutan have decriminalized same-sex behavior. III. WORLD BANK’S APPROACHES TO SOGI I

FAQs

What is the purpose of this note within the IDA20 mid-term review?

It describes IDA’s contribution to inclusive development related to sexual orientation and gender identity, and summarizes work done to expand opportunities for sexual and gender minorities in IDA countries.

Why does IDA link SOGI inclusion to a country-led engagement model?

The note explains that countries face different challenges and have varied policies and legal frameworks, so IDA’s support depends on responding to country demand and tailoring assistance to priorities and circumstances.

What challenges and constraints affect efforts to address SOGI exclusion?

LGBTI people face widespread discrimination and violence driven by stigma, social norms, and legal frameworks; additionally, data collection is difficult because many people hesitate to self-identify due to risk of discrimination.

Jul 19, 2026

Upload by Himbo