Events

CGD events highlight diverse perspectives and expertise, including stakeholders from multilateral institutions, low-, middle-, and high-income countries governments, civil society, media, and academia. From high-profile conversations to technical seminars and book talks, CGD events further our mission to reduce global poverty through innovative economic research that drives better policy and practice.

CGD Annual Meetings Graphic

Apr

14

2026

HYBRID
Washington, DC
1:30—3:00 PM ET | 5:30—7:00 PM BST

Shock Absorbers in Debt Contracts for Poor Countries

Join us for this in-person and live streamed event to hear a keynote address from Carmen Reinhart to discuss a new CGD proposal for temporary debt- service suspension clauses that focus on the magnitude, not the source, of the shock.
CGD Annual Meetings Graphic

Apr

14

2026

HYBRID
Washington, DC
4:00—5:15 PM ET | 9:00—10:15 PM BST

 Hard Questions: Expert Perspectives Ahead of the 2026 World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings

As world leaders in finance and development convene for the 2026 World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings, this timely event cuts through the noise to focus on what matters. In a conversation moderated by Devex, leading researchers from the Center for Global D...
CGD Annual Meetings Graphic

Apr

15

2026

HYBRID
Washington, DC
11:00—12:15 PM ET | 4:00—5:15 PM BST

Rewriting the Case for Aid: Purpose, Priorities and Political Realities

What should Official Development Assistance be used for? Where can it add the greatest value? And how must delivery evolve in an increasingly contested and multipolar world?
CGD Annual Meetings Graphic

Apr

15

2026

HYBRID
Washington, DC
1:00—2:15 PM ET | 6:00—7:15 PM BST

Sustainable Financing for Education

On the sidelines of the 2026 World Bank Spring Meetings, the Center for Global Development and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) will convene a high-level dialogue bringing together Government Ministers to examine how a sustainable financing...
CGD Annual Meetings Graphic

Apr

15

2026

HYBRID
Washington, DC
3:00—4:15 PM ET | 7:00—8:15 PM BST

Investments and Interventions to End Child Marriage

Join CGD, the Institute of Global Politics Women’s Initiative at Columbia University, and Girls Not Brides for a dynamic discussion featuring voices from across the international development community. This event will explore new research and concret...
CGD Annual Meetings Graphic

Apr

16

2026

HYBRID
Washington, DC
2:00—3:15 PM ET | 7:00—8:15 PM BST

How Can Africa Finance Its Own Transformation?

This discussion brings together leaders at the center of African finance and reform. They will examine what it takes to move from rhetoric about “mobilizing private capital” to building domestic financial systems capable of funding structural transfo...
CGD Annual Meetings Graphic

Apr

16

2026

HYBRID
Washington, DC
4:00—5:30 PM ET | 8:00—9:30 PM BST

Water as Health Policy

This event will bring together senior policymakers, researchers, and practitioners to examine a critical question: if the evidence on the links between water and health is so strong, why does progress still fall short? Sector debates continue to refl...

Apr

22

2026

IN PERSON
4:00—5:30 AM ET | 9:00—10:30 PM BST

Evaluating AI in the Social Sector

From math tutors to farmer advisory tools, generative AI is rapidly expanding in low- and middle-income countries. How do we know if these tools are working? This session introduces the AI Evaluation Playbook.

May

14

2026

IN PERSON
Washington, DC
12:00—5:30 PM ET | 5:00—10:30 PM BST

Financing Planned Relocation in the Context of Climate Change and Disasters 

This public event will bring together global experts and practitioners on planned relocation to assess financing sources and mechanisms, identify remaining policy and research gaps, and discuss challenges, good practices and the role of development f...

May

21

2026

HYBRID
Washington, DC
8:30—5:30 PM ET | 1:30—10:30 PM BST

1st Annual CGD Women in Leadership Conference

This conference will convene researchers, practitioners, and institutional leaders to examine why promotion systems that are nominally meritocratic fail to deliver equitable leadership outcomes—and why that failure matters for institutional performan...

Jun

3 - 4

2026

HYBRID
London, UK
4:00—12:00 PM ET | 09:00—5:00 PM GMT

Second Annual Research Conference on Global Lead Exposure

The Center for Global Development is hosting its second annual Research Conference on Global Lead Exposure in London. The conference will convene researchers, policymakers, and implementers, all working to stamp out global lead poisoning.
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