The World Bank is in talks with 30 to 40 countries over aid to cushion the energy shock and the rise in prices linked to the conflict in the Middle East, its president Ajay Banga said in an interview with Reuters published on 11 October 2026.
The rising cost of diesel and fertilisers is adding to the needs of developing economies, according to the bank's head. These discussions concern potential loans, the amount and beneficiaries of which remain to be specified.
This move follows the package presented by the World Bank Group on 11 June. The institution said at the time that it could quickly mobilise between 50 and 60 billion dollars using its existing instruments, including 25 billion dollars in pre-arranged financing. It envisaged raising its support to a range of 80 to 100 billion dollars over fifteen months if the effects of the crisis persisted.
The planned interventions notably cover social protection safety nets, the budgetary needs of states, and the liquidity required by businesses and farms. For the latter, access to cash is one of the possible uses of the package when operating costs rise.
The issue is particularly acute in sub-Saharan Africa. In its regional report published on 6 October, the World Bank forecasts median inflation of 5.5% in 2026, after 3.7% in 2025, driven by the cost of fuel, fertilisers and food products. This is a regional forecast, which covers differing national situations.
The same publication notes that the burden of debt service continues to constrain spending on health, education and infrastructure, despite public debt stabilising at around 57% of gross domestic product.