Statement by H.E. Liesje Schreinemacher - 106th Meeting of the Development Committee - addressing crises and development priorities

Jul 19, 2026

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Statement delivered by H.E. Liesje Schreinemacher, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, representing a constituency of multiple countries. The address reviews the development committee’s context amid overlapping crises: the human cost of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, rising poverty, food and energy insecurity, and learning poverty. It emphasizes the World Bank Group’s role in mobilizing resources and convening partners to support recovery, gender equality, climate and development goals, and financing commitments, including winterisation, reconstruction and reforms.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

Key context and development priorities

Ukraine recovery and coordination of support

Food crisis and agricultural transformation

Energy transition and reducing fossil fuel dependence

Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE (Joint Ministerial Committee of the Boards of Governors ofthe Bank and the Fund on the Transfer of Real Resources to Developing Countries) ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH MEETING WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 14, 2022 DC/S/2022-0053 October 14, 2022 Statement by H.E. Liesje Schreinemacher Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Kingdom of the Netherlands Representing the Constituency of Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Georgia, Israel, Moldova, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Romania and Ukraine Statement by H.E. Liesje Schreinemacher Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Kingdom of the Netherlands Representing the constituency of Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Georgia, Israel, Moldova, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Romania and Ukraine 106th Meeting of the Development Committee October 14, 2022 Washington, DC As we meet in Washington the world faces multiple crises, having driven more people into extreme poverty. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused grave human suffering and substantial damage, with serious spill-over effects around the world. As the world’s largest development actor, the World Bank Group (WBG) plays a central role in dealing with these crises, by addressing poverty, inequality and climate adaptation and mitigation through pursuing green, inclusive and resilient development. Our constituency recognises the WBG as a vital partner in providing resources, analyses and technical advice, especially in view of the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The WBG should continue to mobilise funds and convene actors to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals, the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Glasgow Climate Pact, and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development. The themes ofthis year’s Annual Meeting – the food and energy crises (‘Weathering the Storm’), achieving climate and development goals (‘The Financing Question’) and addressing learning poverty – are of great relevance. The agendas are intertwined and call for a coherent programme of action, combining crisis response measures with structural reforms. To effectively tackle these challenges, adequate financing will be needed. The WBG should explore opportunities to make more efficient use of available resources, such as through the recommendations of the G20’s Independent Review of MDBs’ Capital Adequacy Frameworks. On the path to recovery from these crises, we welcome the Bank’s persistent focus on addressing gender equality gaps. We look forward to an ambitious next-phase gender action plan, to be approved in 2023. We see the WBG as uniquely positioned and well-equipped to use its convening power to ensure synergies in international efforts, together with the UN and other MDBs. Ukraine Our constituency appreciates the sobering Ukraine Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment prepared by the World Bank, the Government of Ukraine and the European Commission, outlining the needs for the country’s swift recovery and long-term reconstruction in the wake of the unjustified Russian invasion of the country. The funds required for winterisation, early recovery and reconstruction are significant. These need to be met. At the same time, developing countries’ needs have increased significantly too. We are further away from achieving the SDGs than we should be, and the outlook is bleak. We must ensure that we do not let one crisis crowd out another. This will be a challenge for us all. It is now up to the international community to work with the Ukrainian authorities to decide on the coordination of support and implementation modalities. Our common goals are to help the country and its people through the winter and to build back a better Ukraine. The unjustified Russian invasion of Ukraine

FAQs

What crises shape the statement’s overall message?

The statement highlights extreme poverty driven by multiple crises, the grave human suffering from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and its spill-over impacts. It also focuses on food and energy crises and learning poverty as closely linked challenges.

What does the statement ask the World Bank Group to do regarding Ukraine?

It welcomes the Ukraine Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment and stresses the need to meet funding requirements for winterisation, early recovery, and reconstruction. It urges coordination with Ukrainian authorities to manage support and implementation modalities.

How does the statement propose addressing the food crisis?

It notes the sharp increase in food insecurity and calls attention to worsening acute insecurity in multiple countries. It urges continued support for agricultural projects with high development impact, including a transformative agenda for rainfed agriculture and coordination via multilateral platforms.

Jul 19, 2026

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