Norway Pledges Support to MIGA’s West Bank and Gaza Investment Guarantee Trust Fund

WASHINGTON, Oct 21, 2025 – The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), which houses the World Bank Group Guarantee Platform, signed an agreement with the Kingdom of Norway on the sidelines of the WBG-IMF 2025 Annual Meetings. Under this agreement, Norway has pledged approximately $5 million over the next five years to the West Bank and Gaza Investment Guarantee Trust Fund (WBGTF).  

This marks Norway as the first new donor to join the WBGTF since its establishment in 1997, and underscores its commitment to supporting recovery, economic resilience, and sustainable development in the West Bank and Gaza. Japan, a founding contributor and long-standing partner to the Fund, previously increased its contribution and remains actively engaged in advancing the initiative’s impact.

Since its inception, the WBGTF has served as MIGA’s primary vehicle for issuing political risk guarantees in the West Bank and Gaza territories, which is not a member of the World Bank Group. Supported by contributions from Japan’s Ministry of Finance, the Palestinian Authority, and now Norway, the fund has enabled guarantees worth more than twice its donor contributions. To date, it has mobilized over $75 million in private capital, and generated strong development outcomes, including job creation, and strengthened food and nutrition security for approximately 14,000 people, and in the creation of thousands of jobs, among other development results.  

"Norway’s decision to join the WBGTF is both significant and timely," said Hiroshi Matano, MIGA Executive Vice President. "Their commitment will help us scale up our support for private sector-led recovery and reconstruction, ensuring that critical investments continue to move forward and essential goods and services are delivered even in the most challenging environment."  

The situation in Gaza remains deeply challenging, with pressing humanitarian, infrastructure, and economic needs.  Recovery and reconstruction require sustained engagement, and private sector investment will play a pivotal role in supporting stability and long-term development.

“Revitalizing the private sector is vital for stabilizing the Palestinian economy and for the reconstruction of Gaza,” said Åsmund Aukrust, Norway’s Minister of International Development. “Political risk guarantees from the WBGTF can help enable urgently needed private investments in recovery and reconstruction. I urge other donors to join us in supporting the Trust Fund.”

Norway’s pledge will further reinforce the WBGTF’s capacity to expand coverage, facilitate trade, and mobilize private sector participation to deliver essential goods and services. This support will help restore jobs, livelihoods, and economic stability in the West Bank and Gaza.

MIGA remains committed to supporting private sector investment in fragile and conflict-affected settings. Through the WBGTF and other trust funds, MIGA provides political risk insurance to investors and lenders, enabling projects that drive development impact and support economic resilience. MIGA is adopting a phased approach — initially focusing on guarantees for private sector projects in the West Bank and exploring mechanisms to facilitate trade finance. As recovery advances, MIGA plans to expand its support to new investments aimed at rebuilding infrastructure and restoring essential services.

About the World Bank Group Guarantee Platform    

Initiated in 2024, the World Bank Group Guarantee Platform consolidates guarantee products and experts from across the World Bank Group at MIGA. It provides a simplified and comprehensive menu of guarantee solutions, enabling clients to select the instrument that best suits their needs. The platform streamlines processes, removes redundancies, and provides greater accessibility by de-risking investments in developing countries. Its goal is to boost the World Bank Group’s annual guarantee issuance to $20 billion by 2030.    

For more information about the guarantee platform, please visit: https://www.worldbank.org/wbgguarantees   

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Contact:    

In Washington: Chichi Osuagwu, cosuagwu@worldbankgroup.org