From navigating an economic landscape now shaped by the rise of the United States (US) tariffs and China’s export-driven industrial overcapacity, to challenges of sovereign debt restructuring, financing needs in conflict-affected regions such as Ukraine, world economies are facing multifaceted and complex issues.
At the same time, global attention is focused on the prospects of an easing in the Israel-Gaza conflict and its consequential effect on the world’s economic landscape.
These issues will form part of the 2025 annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG), which begin today (Monday), giving governments a chance to recalibrate their policies in light of prevailing global economic headwinds.
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For one week, policymakers, international organisations, and the private sector — led by the Bretton Woods institutions — will take decisive and coordinated actions to build resilience amid rising inflation, food and energy crises, ongoing conflicts, and deepening poverty.
Nigeria’s delegation will also be participating in the event under the leadership of Olayemi Cardoso, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in the absence of Wale Edun, the minister of finance.
TheCable’s Bunmi Aduloju is in Washington DC to provide updates on the outcomes of the meetings and how the decisions of global leaders will influence Nigeria’s economy.
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MONDAY, OCTOBER 13 | CSOS TOWNHALL MEETING WITH IMF MD, WBG PRESIDENT
The event will begin with a closed-door meeting of the Group of 24 (G-24) deputies, followed by an IMF session moderated by Mary Louise Kelly, an American broadcaster.
Later, a one-hour civil society organisations (CSO) townhall will be held with Kristalina Georgieva, the managing director of the IMF, with a similar session scheduled later in the day with Ajay Banga, president of the World Bank Group (WBG).
These engagements provide platforms for civil society representatives to interact with officials of the IMF and World Bank, government delegations, and other stakeholders on a broad range of global development issues.
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Subsequent sessions will include the Commonwealth nations’ finance ministers meeting and a series of ‘analytical corner’ events designed to foster discussions on key topics such as global trade spillovers, revitalising Europe’s economic dynamism, the external financing landscape in sub-Saharan Africa, and strategies for strengthening supply chain diversification and resilience.
The day’s activities will conclude with a closed-door meeting of the G20 finance ministers and central bank deputies.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14 | WORLD ECONOMIC OUTLOOK
Although the day will begin with closed-door meetings, it will be packed with news conferences and public briefings.
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The first of the day will be a briefing on the World Economic Outlook, offering a comprehensive analysis of the global economic landscape, including trends in economic growth, inflation, and key macroeconomic indicators.
This will be followed by press briefings on the Global Financial Stability Report and, later in the day, a G-24 press conference.
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The schedule also includes the WBG’s flagship event, themed ‘AgriConnect: Farms, Firms, and Finance for Jobs’.
AgriConnect is the WBG’s new initiative to turn small-scale farming into an engine of lasting growth, jobs, and food security.
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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15 | FISCAL MONITOR REPORT
The day will begin with the financial stability board (FSB) steering committee meeting, followed by two additional closed-door sessions.
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Subsequently, the IMF will release its Fiscal Monitor Report — which provides country-level fiscal projections prepared by its desk economists — during a press briefing.
Around 50 public and closed-door events are scheduled before the day concludes.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16 | AFRICAN DEPARTMENT PRESS CONFERENCE
Preceded by three closed IMF/WBG meetings, Georgieva will hold a press conference on Thursday.
Two additional press briefings on the African department, Asia-Pacific department, and the G-20 are scheduled later in the day.
In addition, a publicly accessible session will focus on addressing financial crime, fraud, and corruption as barriers to growth and stability, alongside a civil society policy forum on ‘Debt Decisions that Deliver: Strengthening Domestic Institutions for Accountable Borrowing’.
Following several fora and closed-door meetings, the IMF managing director will host a dinner with select European ministers and high-level representatives from European institutions.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17| ANNUAL MEETINGS PLENARY
The day will prominently feature a closed-door World Bank and IMF annual meetings plenary. An ‘annual meetings plenary overflow’ session will also be accessible to all participants and stakeholders afterwards.
In addition, the IMF committee press briefings will be held, with the Middle East and Central Asia department, the European department, and the Western Hemisphere department engaging with the press.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18| STATE OF THE AFRICAN REGION
The final day of the meetings will focus on the ‘State of the African Region 2025: Powering Job Creation in Africa’.
Grounded in the Africa’s Pulse October 2025 Report, the discussion will explore strategies for creating jobs at scale, examining sectors of opportunity and the building blocks that underpin economic growth and employment, with a special focus on energy.
