Sounds Strategic

The World Bank’s new strategy for fragility, conflict and violence

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Episode notes

This week, Antonio and Meia are joined by Franck Bousquet, Senior Director of the World Bank's Fragility, Conflict and Violence Group, to discuss a new strategy that aims to enhance the organisation’s ability to support fragile states.


By 2030 up to two-thirds of the world’s extreme poor will live in fragile or conflict-afflicted states. The World Bank Group Strategy for Fragility, Conflict and Violence marks an evolution in how the World Bank aims to address the root causes of state fragility and violence. Franck explains how this strategy empowers the World Bank to work across the ‘fragility spectrum’, including a renewed focus on conflict prevention.


Meia, Antonio and Franck also discuss the important role public, private and civil-society partnerships play within World Bank projects, the benefits of technology in monitoring and capacity-building in fragile states, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the world’s most vulnerable populations.


Date of recording: Tuesday 29 April 2020


Sounds Strategic is recorded and produced at the IISS in London.


Theme music: ‘Safety in Numbers’ by We Were Promised Jetpacks



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