Global Infrastructure Hub to join the World Bank

Collaboration hub that advocates for sustainable, resilient and inclusive infrastructure has joined the World Bank.

The World Bank and the Global Infrastructure Hub (GI Hub) have announced that the GI Hub is joining the World Bank’s infrastructure practice group as an associated global knowledge trust fund of the public-private infrastructure advisory facility (PPIAF) with a funding contribution from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The GI Hub was formed by the G20 in 2014 as a collaboration platform with a mandate to accelerate knowledge sharing and spur partnerships between governments, the private sector, development banks, and other international organisations to implement the G20’s infrastructure agenda. Since its establishment, the GI Hub has grown into a respected G20 advisor and a central source of data and practical guidance.

The GI Hub will transition to a new global knowledge trust fund of the public-private infrastructure advisory facility (PPIAF), a World Bank-supported multi-donor fund that helps developing countries strengthen policies, regulations and institutions that enable sustainable infrastructure with private sector participation.

The new global knowledge trust fund has been established with a contribution from the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The incorporation of GI Hub’s data, research, programmes and deliverables is well aligned with PPIAF’s mandate and will help strengthen the World Bank’s efforts to scale up sustainable, low-carbon, resilient and inclusive quality infrastructure investment.

The announcement follows a review by the G20 and the GI Hub board of directors that affirmed the GI Hub’s value and recommended it be embedded in the international system to facilitate its delivery of multilateral, multi-year initiatives without a need to periodically renew its G20 mandate.

Chris Legg, GI Hub board chair, said: “With this evolution, the GI Hub’s expertise will reach further through the World Bank’s network of government and infrastructure decision-makers who can leverage our work to reach a wider scale. We’re grateful to the World Bank for opening its doors to us and look forward to bringing GI Hub resources and networks to continue strengthening the delivery of infrastructure that transforms societies and empowers future generations.”

Guangzhe Chen, infrastructure vice president at the World Bank, said: “We welcome the integration of the GI Hub’s expertise and resources into PPIAF. This shift will support our clients’ access to knowledge and data and inform how we deliver sustainable, inclusive and resilient infrastructure.

“This is an exciting opportunity, especially as we mark PPIAF’s 25th year supporting countries around the world as they improve the enabling environment for private participation in infrastructure. PPIAF’s work has led to billions of dollars of investment in sustainable infrastructure and the GI Hub’s expertise, knowledge, and partnership will help strengthen our impact even further. I welcome the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the PPIAF partnership council.”

The GI Hub’s transition to the World Bank is currently underway and further information about the shift will be available in the coming months on both the PPIAF and GI Hub websites. The GI Hub will continue its key workstreams and support of the G20 through the transitional period.