Washington, DC
Background
This year marks the 80th Anniversary of the Bretton Woods institutions and provides an apt time to take stock of the international financial architecture. Born in the aftermath of the Second World War, the Bretton Woods institutions have shepherded a period of historic global growth, financial stability, and poverty reduction. At the same time, they have consistently re-oriented themselves over the decades to tackle novel and emerging challenges when required.
During this 80th anniversary year, it is once again an inflection point for the Bretton Woods institutions to consider how to best evolve to confront current challenges – the climate crisis, widespread debt distress, conflict and fragility, among others cross-border challenges – all against a backdrop of increasing geopolitical tensions and receding multilateralism. Both the IMF and World Bank have made recent strides in tackling these crises, but their enormity and urgency requires continued institutional evolution and an assessment of their roles, mandates, operating models and governance structures to effectively address new challenges while staying true to their founding missions.
Theme
This year’s conference will bring together policymakers, private sector, and multilateral leaders to chart a path for continued evolution, so the IMF and World Bank remain as effective in the new era as they have proven over the last 80 years. Speakers will address a range of topics including reforming the sovereign debt architecture, confronting climate change and the energy transition, and assessing the multilateral system.
CONFERENCE AGENDA
4:00 – 4:30 PM ET In Conversation with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva
- Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund
- John Lipsky, Vice Chair, Bretton Woods Committee (Moderator)
4:30 – 5:00 PM ET In Conversation with World Bank President Ajay Banga
- Ajay Banga, President, World Bank Group
- William R. Rhodes, Vice Chair, Bretton Woods Committee (Moderator)
5:00 – 5:30 PM ET In Conversation with WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
- Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General, World Trade Organization
- John Lipsky, Vice Chair, Bretton Woods Committee (Moderator)
5:30 – 6:00 PM ET In Conversation with Under Secretary for International Affairs Jay Shambaugh
- Jay Shambaugh, Under Secretary for International Affairs, United States Department of the Treasury
- William C. Dudley, Chair, Bretton Woods Committee (Moderator)
6:00 PM – 6:40 PM ET Evolving the World Bank and IMF for Global Challenges
Panel:
- Afsaneh Beschloss, Founder and CEO, RockCreek
- John Lipsky, Vice Chair, Bretton Woods Committee; former FDMD, IMF
- Joaquim Levy, Director for Economic Strategy and Market Relations, Banco Safra S.A.
- Emily Slater, Executive Director, Bretton Woods Committee (Moderator)
For additional information, please contact Program Associate Blake Ledna at bledna@brettonwoods.org