TOKYO, December 6, 2021 – The World Bank (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, IBRD, Aaa/AAA) issued an AUD 130 million 10-year Sustainable Development Bond while highlighting the importance of good nutrition to build human capital. Meiji Yasuda Life, the sole investor in this transaction, invested in the bond ahead of the Tokyo Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit hosted by the Government of Japan on December 7-8, 2021 to promote global efforts to solve the nutrition crisis. Morgan Stanley & Co International plc is the sole underwriter and distributor of the bond.
World Bank bonds support the financing of sustainable development projects and programs in member countries across a range of sectors in line with its mission to end extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity. This includes US$6 billion in projects, of which US$1.5 billion are in IBRD countries, helping to improve nutrition and addressing obesity and undernutrition. Good nutrition is critical to improving human capital -- a central driver of sustainable growth and poverty reduction. However, COVID-19 and other shocks are expected to have pushed 155 million people into acute food insecurity, with 28 million at risk of famine. Millions of children will also fall into malnutrition due to pandemic related service disruptions and not achieve their full growth potential, which leads to an estimated US$44 billion economic productivity loss a year. There is an urgent need to ensure that the world’s poor have access to the knowledge, resources, and services needed to achieve optimal nutrition.
“Malnutrition is one of the most pressing and persistent development challenges and its human and economic costs hit the poor, women, and children the hardest,” said Jingdong Hua, Vice President and Treasurer, World Bank. “We are thankful to investors for their continued support of the World Bank’s sustainable development mission and interest in tackling malnutrition.”
“We can tackle the global nutrition crisis through stronger collaboration between governments, communities, bilateral and international partners and the private sector,” said Mamta Murthi, Vice President for Human Development, World Bank. “Innovative financing driven by the private sector and investors can shape food markets towards healthier foods and is a key component of the solution.”
“Meiji Yasuda Life is working to extend people’s healthy life expectancy through its business activities focused on social issues related to the SDGs,” said Yoshimasa Osaki, Operating Officer, General Manager, Investment Planning & Research Dept., Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company. “This is a priority issue for us, and with this investment, we show support for the sustainable development activities, including those which address nutrition challenges in developing countries, that World Bank Sustainable Development Bonds support. Based on our philosophy of "peace of mind forever," we will promote ESG investment from the perspective of contributing to the achievement of the SDGs, while ensuring profitability to return to our stakeholders as a responsible institutional investor.”
“Leading up to the Tokyo Nutrition for Growth Summit 2021, I am confident that investment by Japanese institutional investors in World Bank Sustainable Development Bonds will help raise awareness of the Summit, and highlight ongoing global efforts to solve nutrition problems and eradicate extreme poverty,” said Ryo Iwabuchi, Managing Director, Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities. “Morgan Stanley is honored to help with this investment as the sole arranger. We will continue to partner with important stakeholders such as the World Bank and Japanese institutional investors to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society.”
The World Bank is committed to supporting client countries in improving nutrition by building the knowledge base, providing technical assistance for policy and program design and prioritization, and financing the scale up for evidence-based nutrition interventions. In Indonesia, for example, the World Bank is supporting the Social Assistance Reform Program to improve the nutritional status of children 0-6 years of age through the expansion in coverage of the conditional cash transfer program and strengthen its delivery system with US$200 million loan. In Guatemala, the World Bank is supporting the Crecer Sano: Guatemala Nutrition and Health Project, to reduce stunting among indigenous people, with an emphasis on those in the first 1,000 days of their lives through a US$100 million loan.
These examples are for illustrative purposes only and no assurance can be provided that disbursements for projects with these specific characteristics will be made by the World Bank during the term of the bonds described herein.
About the World Bank
The World Bank (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, IBRD), rated Aaa/AAA (Moody’s/S&P), is an international organization. Created in 1944, it is the original member of the World Bank Group and operates as a global development cooperative owned by 189 nations. The World Bank provides loans, guarantees, risk management products, and advisory services to middle-income and other creditworthy countries to support the Sustainable Development Goals and to end extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity. It also provides leadership to coordinate regional and global responses to development challenges. The World Bank has been issuing sustainable development bonds in the international capital markets for over 70 years to fund programs and activities that achieve a positive impact. More information on World Bank bonds is available at www.worldbank.org/debtsecurities.
World Bank bonds support the financing of programs that further the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). World Bank bonds are aligned with the Sustainability Bond Guidelines published by the International Capital Market Association and as such support the financing of a combination of green and social, i.e., “sustainable development” projects, programs and activities in IBRD member countries as described in the World Bank Sustainable Development Bond Framework. The World Bank is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Green Bond, Social Bond, and Sustainability Bond Principles. A key priority for the World Bank’s capital markets’ engagement is building strategic partnerships with investors to promote the importance of private sector financing in sustainable development. The World Bank’s Sustainable Development Bond Impact Report describes how the World Bank engages with investors on the SDGs and raises awareness for specific development challenges.
Disclaimers
Net proceeds of the bonds described herein are not committed or earmarked for lending to, or financing of, any particular projects or programs, and returns on the bonds described herein are not linked to the performance of any particular project or program.
This press release is not an offer for sale of securities of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development ("IBRD"), also known in the capital markets as "World Bank". Any offering of World Bank securities will take place solely on the basis of the relevant offering documentation including, but not limited to, the prospectus, term sheet and/or final terms, as applicable, prepared by the World Bank or on behalf of the World Bank, and is subject to restrictions under the laws of several countries. World Bank securities may not be offered or sold except in compliance with all such laws. The World Bank Sustainable Development Bond Framework and the information set forth therein are not a part of, or incorporated by reference into, the offering documentation.
Contact
Heike Reichelt, Head of Investor Relations and Sustainable Finance, World Bank Treasury
debtsecurities@worldbank.org
