World Bank due to renew Fragility, Conflict and Violence Strategy in 2025
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Article summary
As the World Bank’s current Fragility, Conflict and Violence (FCV) Strategy (2020-2025) expires this year, a consultation on the new strategy is expected to take place soon.
The World Bank’s new current Fragility, Conflict and Violence (FCV) Strategy is expected to be developed as the current strategy expires in 2025. The topic was discussed at the Spring Meetings, but no release date is publicly available yet. While some thematic focuses, such as climate change and gender, have become contentious in recent months (see Observer Spring 2025), FCV appears to be a point of consistent and even increasing focus for the Bank.
Amidst far-reaching and severe humanitarian consequences of numerous fragile and conflict situations happening around the world, the institution noted that by 2030, up to two-thirds of the world’s extreme poor will live in FCV-affected countries. The Bank recently announced in its 21st replenishment of the International Development Association (IDA21), the Bank’s low-income country arm, that FCV – a special theme – would see a 27 per cent increase in financing (see Observer Summer 2025). The current FCV strategy, which the Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) recently analysed, was the Bank’s first strategy on this topic and was consulted on publicly.
It is crucial for CSOs to engage in the new strategy’s development, particularly on integrating the impact of Bank policies on the political economy of conflict and fragility (see Observer Autumn 2018) and adhering to human rights norms as advised by the UN. Thus far, the Bank has released thematic research, including a recent paper on the intersection of advancing gender equality and addressing FCV. Monica Erwér of Swedish civil society organisation Kvinna till Kvinna, who defend the rights of women in conflict-affected areas, noted “the current strategy does recognise the importance of gendering FCV and mentions the UN Women Peace and Security agenda. However, there is a lack of a transformative perspective on peace, and it is still too focused on protection, not prevention.”
