Ajay Banga – President World Bank Group at 3rd Townhall with Civil Society, 13-18 October 2025 emphasized that job is a real opportunity for people to earn a living, to support their families, importantly to shape their futures. The clarity of job is on the opportunities open to all: entrepreneurs and employees. It is the ultimate outcome of development done in right.
By 2050, more than 80% of world’s population will live in developing countries. The prediction says 1.2 billion young people will come across labor market with projected market to offer only 400 million jobs. This phenomenon leaves a shortfall of 800 million. If we fail to act, the vigor and the optimism of this generation will turn to despair and most probably will fuel the instability, unrest and mass migration at the worst scenario. Jobs are the surest path to dignity, stability and are truly best way to kill poverty as shown by example in the last 3 to 4 decades which is about working for a paid job.
Skilling a young woman is not enough if there isn’t reliable electricity to power the factory that might hire her. A road reduces poverty only if it connects a farmer to a market and does not wash away his harvest in a flood. A clinic matters because it keeps people healthy enough to learn, to work and to contribute. These are samples of what a real job context is in development: healthcare, infrastructure, digital access, energy, and education.
Townhall – an established and valued tradition within the WBG–IMF Annual Meetings—offers civil society leaders a unique platform to exchange views with the President and senior Bank leadership. Held both in person and virtually, it embodies the Bank’s commitment to transparency, dialogue, and meaningful collaboration with civil society in pursuit of shared development goals.
Full interactive with Civil Society and Journalists: The World Bank Group’s Annual Meetings Townhall with Civil Society #wbgmeetings | World Bank
