Singapore, October 12, 2026 — Temasek Trust and the World Bank Group have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish a strategic partnership aimed at advancing shared development priorities through collaboration between philanthropy and development finance.
The MoU was signed on the sidelines of the inaugural World Bank Group Philanthropy Forum, held as part of the organisation’s Annual Meetings in Bangkok. The partnership will bring together the Temasek Trust Collective’s capital capabilities, convening platforms and innovation networks with the World Bank Group’s global development expertise and country-level insights. The two organisations plan to strengthen cross-sector collaboration, share knowledge and explore ways to help development solutions move beyond pilot projects towards wider adoption.
Paschal Donohoe, Managing Director and Chief Knowledge Officer at the World Bank Group said, “As development needs grow and resources come under pressure, partnership matters more than ever. Philanthropic organizations bring deep expertise and innovative solutions that align closely with our core missions and jobs agenda. The Philanthropy Hub will connect ideas, resources, and partners to take those solutions to scale, and to deliver for people and communities around the world.”
Desmond Kuek, Executive Director and CEO of Temasek Trust said, “Today’s development challenges do not fit neatly into silos and neither can our response. Philanthropy can move early, take risks, and unlock the partnerships and capital needed to turn bold ideas into lasting impact. Working in concert with the World Bank Group and its Philanthropy Hub, we can bridge systemic gaps, scale what works, and forge new pathways for collective action.”
Three Areas of Collaboration
Under the MoU, the partnership will focus on three areas: convening and knowledge exchange, sharing knowledge and insights, and coordinating partners and capital towards common development priorities. The first area will involve bringing together governments, development institutions, businesses, philanthropic organisations and other stakeholders to strengthen collaboration and exchange knowledge. Planned activities include participation in platforms such as the World Bank Group Philanthropy Forum and the Philanthropy Asia Summit, alongside high-level dialogues involving senior leaders.
The organisations also plan to facilitate dedicated exchanges on World Bank Group initiatives, including Mission 300 and Water Forward. Discussions will cover approaches to co-funding, coalition-building and the development of country compacts. The second area centres on connecting philanthropic partners with the World Bank Group’s platforms, expertise, programme support and institutional knowledge. The collaboration may also facilitate engagement at country level by providing insights into local development challenges, innovations and opportunities, as well as connections to relevant stakeholders and partnerships.
Through shared knowledge and a repository of effective solutions, the parties aim to help translate promising pilot projects into models that can be replicated and scaled. The approach is intended to support the wider application of development solutions across different contexts. The third area involves exploring ways to mobilise capital for larger, more coordinated partnerships aligned with shared development priorities. Temasek Trust and the World Bank Group will assess how their respective philanthropic networks and partners can be better aligned around common interests, while exchanging knowledge on models for deploying and aggregating capital to support development initiatives.
Any specific financing arrangements or projects will be considered separately and remain subject to each organisation’s mandates, policies, procedures, resources and approvals. Initial areas of focus include water, agriculture, health, climate and energy, with potential collaboration linked to relevant World Bank Group initiatives.
Knowledge Node Planned for Singapore in 2027
As part of the strategic partnership and the Philanthropy Hub, Temasek Trust plans to establish a Knowledge Node at Temasek Shophouse in Singapore in 2027. The Knowledge Node will connect philanthropic partners with a range of World Bank Group datasets, expertise and relevant networks. It is intended to support evidence-building and collaboration, while helping promising solutions progress towards wider adoption.
