Institute of Global Innovation and World Bank working together on cutting-edge development solutions

Experts at the University of Birmingham’s Institute for Global Innovation (IGI) and the World Bank are working together to find innovative solutions to end extreme poverty and promote prosperity.

The two institutions have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that aims to foster co-operation in tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

Sandie Okoro, World Bank Senior Vice President and Group General Counsel, and Professor Hisham Mehanna, IGI Director signed the MoU during a visit coinciding with the World Bank Legal Vice Presidency Law, Justice and Development Week.

This is an annual knowledge sharing event that explores how law and justice contribute to better development outcomes to help achieve the World Bank Group Twin Goals of ending poverty and boosting shared prosperity.

“As a leader in development, the World Bank is constantly searching for innovative solutions to end extreme poverty and promote prosperity that benefits all. Our partnership with the Institute for Global Innovation is a significant step forward in finding those cutting-edge solutions”, said Sandie Okoro, an alumna of the University of Birmingham.

Following the signing ceremony, representatives from the four main IGI thematic research groups held meetings with research teams from across the World Bank focused on Resilient Cities, Water, and Gender Equality.

“This marks a landmark agreement for the Institute of Global Innovation and the University of Birmingham. Our commitment to finding solutions that enhance global development is one that is shared by the World Bank, and this pledge to combine our expertise to advance each other’s work is tremendously exciting”, said Professor Hisham Mehanna.

The World Bank and IGI have agreed to continue discussions on areas of joint interest and explore possible research initiatives over the coming months.

For more information on the Institute of Global Innovation, please contact David Evans d.evans.4@bham.ac.uk
For more information on the World Bank, please contact Yasmine Djellal at djellal@worldbank.org

• For more information, please contact Tony Moran, International Communications Manager, University of Birmingham on +44 (0) 121 414 8254 or +44 (0)782 783 2312. For out-of-hours enquiries, please call +44 (0) 7789 921 165. 
• The World Bank is an international development institution established by Articles of Agreement adopted by its member countries. The World Bank’s overarching mission is to reduce poverty, improve living conditions, and promote sustainable and comprehensive development in its developing member countries. It has established two ambitious goals to anchor its mission: end extreme poverty within a generation and boost shared prosperity. The World Bank will achieve these goals by providing loans, concessional financing, technical assistance, and knowledge sharing services to its developing member countries and through partnerships with other organizations.
• The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions, its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers and teachers and more than 6,500 international students from over 150 countries. It hosts the Institute for Global Innovation (IGI), a research institute focused on world-leading, multi- and inter-disciplinary research that seeks to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges. The IGI’s research themes revolve around understanding and finding solutions to factors that challenge, and sometimes threaten, the sustainability and resilience of individuals, communities, societies, and the world as a whole. IGI’s main themes include resilient cities, water challenges in a changing world, gender inequality, and 21st century transnational crime. IGI’s emerging themes include clean cooling, air pollution, antimicrobial resistance, and ageing and frailty.