World Bank steps up drive to uncover countries’ hidden debt

Development Committee meeting at the IMF/World Bank 2026 Spring Meetings in Washington, DC, on April 16, 2026.

Photo credit: Reuters

The World Bank has launched a large-scale creditor-debtor data reconciliation exercise to tighten scrutiny of sovereign debt and improve transparency in distressed economies.

The initiative, unveiled at the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable during the 2026 Spring Meetings in Washington DC, will align records between borrowing countries and their creditors to expose discrepancies and hidden liabilities.