A just and sustainable economic recovery from the Covid-19 crisis will require different resources, instruments and approaches to match the needs and preferences of different countries. Multilateral development banks (MDBs) can play a critical role by providing long term investment in the recovery – but only if demands for reform are taken seriously.

The rationale and the effectiveness of the multilateral development system have long been challenged by member states, and the pandemic has provided an unprecedented opportunity to reshape the role of MDBs. Through a research and seminar series, ODI will address some of the ongoing questions about MDB reform to inform this process.

Starting with a discussion on how a more effective multilateral development finance system can support the Covid recovery, our series of public events will explore a range of reforms including governance, strategy, and financing.

• Seminar 1: Multilateral development banks: optimising the balance sheet (6 October 2021)
• Seminar 2: China's role in the multilateral development banks (30 November 2021)
• Seminar 3: What borrowing countries value about MDBs (early 2022)
• Seminar 4: MDB governance: options for reform of the Board of Executive Directors (early 2022)