Statement by H.E. Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa - on behalf of Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Maldives, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Yemen - 106th Meeting of the Development Committee - October 14, 2022

Jul 19, 2026

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Statement by H.E. Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa at the 106th Development Committee meeting on October 14, 2022 addresses how weak global growth and consecutive shocks risk recession, with the poorest and most vulnerable countries facing the most severe impacts. It urges the World Bank Group to prioritize resilience, inclusive growth, jobs, and poverty reduction by integrating solutions across food and energy crises, strengthening human capital, improving policy and debt sustainability, protecting social safety nets, and supporting trade flows. It also calls for evidence-based, gender-responsive investments in resilient food and nutrition systems, outcomes-focused education support, and a balanced energy transition aligned with climate and development needs.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

106th Meeting of the Development Committee

Context: global shocks and recession risks

Food and energy crisis: agriculture-energy nexus and affordability

Priority actions: resilience, inclusive growth, poverty reduction

Fragility and conflict: food security as a crosscutting focus

Gender-responsive investments and One-WBG approach

Learning and skills crisis: COVID-19 impacts and education outcomes

Energy transition: climate challenges and development priorities

Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE (Joint Ministerial Committeeof the Boards of Governors of the Bank and the Fundon theTransfer of Real Resources to Developing Countries) ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH MEETINGWASHINGTON,DC-OCTOBER 14,2022 DC/S/2022-0043 October 14,2022 Statement by H.E.Salman bin Khalifa AI KhalifaMinister of Finance and National Economy Kingdom of Bahrain on behalf of Bahrain,Egypt,Iraq,Jordan,Kuwait,Lebanon,Libya,Maldives,Oman,Qatar,United Arab Emirates,and Yemen Statement by H.E.Salman bin Khalifa AI KhalifaMinister of Finance and National Economy Kingdom of Bahrain on behalf of Bahrain,Egypt,Iraq,Jordan,Kuwait,Lebanon,Libya,Maldives,Oman,Qatar,United Arab Emirates,and Yemen # 106ᵗhMeeting of the Development Committee October 14,2022 Washington,DC We are meeting at a critical juncture in which weak global growth may culminate into a recession withconsecutive shocks hindering the global economy and resulting in the poorest and most vulnerable countriesbeing hit the hardest,with massive immediate and long-term implications.The paper dedicated to the foodand energy crisis illustrates the multifaceted nature of the agriculture-energy nexus as well as the stronglinkages between rising food and energy prices.In this context,many developing countries,particularly,Low-Income Countries(LICs),Middle-Income Countries (MICs),Fragile and Conflict-affected Situations(FCS)and Small Island Developing States (SIDs),are ill-equipped to address compounding shocks due toescalating debt levels,rising borrowing costs and depleted fiscal space.We,therefore,urge the World BankGroup(WBG)to prioritize resilience,inclusive growth,job creation,and poverty reduction,while tailoringsolutions to each country's level of development,context,and constraints.Supporting fundamental driversof productivity and growth,including strengthening human capital will be crucial going forward.In thisvein,we encourage the WBG to work on identifying both short-and long-term consequences of the foodand energy crisis,including immediate supply needs and affordability and providing support forstrengthening sustainability of social safety nets to target the most vulnerable and invest in stimulatinggrowth. Accordingly,we welcome and support the WBG's response to the crises through its three core objectivesof protecting vulnerable households,tackling inefficiencies and maintaining trade flows while diversifyingproduction.Nevertheless,we believe the Bank needs to emphasize integrated solutions and look formutually reinforcing synergies while reflecting the evolving needs of our client countries.The impact offood insecurity,learning losses and trade deficits in both energy and food trade are having negativeimplications for growth prospects,poverty rates and stability in many developing economies,particularlyin the Middle East and North Africa(MENA)region,which have severely constrained resources to cushionthe impacts of multiple shocks and are facing difficult policy trade-offs.This will necessitate enhancedsupport including the Bank Group's fulltoolkit to help our countries develop the proper policies to maintainmacroeconomic and debt sustainability,boost resilience and accelerate the recovery while protecting themost vulnerable. As fragility and conflict have devastating repercussions on agricultural production,it is pivotal for the Bankto view food security as both a source and result of fragility towards ensuring that food systems are a crosscutting area of focus that will promote long term development and break the vicious cycle of hunger andconflict.Bridging knowledge gaps is vital to designing evidence-based policy decisions that will repurposesupport to the food security agenda in a manner that contributes to food security and is aligned with otherdevelopment priorities. Additionally,given that gender gaps in food security are growing,an effective response will encompassgender

FAQs

Why does the statement emphasize resilience and inclusive growth for developing countries?

It links weak global growth and multiple shocks to recession risks and severe hardship in low- and middle-income, fragile, and small island states. It argues that resilience, job creation, and poverty reduction must be prioritized with solutions tailored to each country’s constraints.

What does the statement recommend regarding the food and energy crisis?

It calls for integrated approaches that protect vulnerable households, tackle inefficiencies, maintain trade flows, and diversify production. It also urges identifying short- and long-term consequences, including immediate supply needs, affordability, and support for social safety nets.

How does the statement address learning losses and the energy transition?

It highlights that school closures have caused major learning losses, worsening productivity and widening inequality, and it requests an outcomes-oriented agenda led by the World Bank Group. For energy, it calls for balancing tomorrow’s climate challenges with today’s energy needs, considering accessibility, security, sustainability, and country-specific circumstances.

Jul 19, 2026

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