Bangkok, Thailand, October 12, 2026: Temasek Trust and the World Bank Group have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration between philanthropy and development finance and advance shared development priorities. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the inaugural World Bank Group Philanthropy Forum, held during the organisation’s Annual Meetings in Bangkok.

The partnership will combine Temasek Trust Collective’s catalytic capital capabilities, convening platforms and innovation networks with the World Bank Group’s global development expertise, reach and country-level insights. The collaboration aims to support cross-sector partnerships and help promising solutions move from pilot projects to wider implementation.

The two organisations will initially focus on water, agriculture, health, climate and energy. They will also explore co-financing and innovative financing approaches to mobilise additional resources for development initiatives.

Paschal Donohoe, Managing Director and Chief Knowledge Officer, 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.”

Under the MoU, the organisations plan to collaborate across three areas: convening and knowledge exchange, sharing knowledge and insights, and coordinating partners and capital towards common priorities.

The collaboration will bring together governments, development institutions, businesses, philanthropic organisations and other stakeholders through forums, leadership dialogues and dedicated exchanges. It may also support engagement around World Bank Group initiatives such as Mission 300 and Water Forward, while facilitating the exchange of knowledge on co-funding, coalition-building and country-level development priorities.

The partnership will also seek to connect philanthropic organisations with the World Bank Group’s expertise, datasets, programmes and networks. By sharing evidence and identifying effective approaches, the organisations aim to help promising pilot projects develop into replicable and scalable models. Potential financing arrangements and individual projects will be considered separately and remain subject to each organisation’s mandates, policies, resources and approvals.

Knowledge Node planned for Singapore in 2027

As part of the partnership and the Philanthropy Hub, Temasek Trust plans to establish a Knowledge Node at Temasek Shophouse in Singapore in 2027. The facility will connect philanthropic partners with World Bank Group datasets, expertise and relevant networks to support evidence-building, collaboration and the wider adoption of development solutions.

The partnership is intended to strengthen coordination between philanthropic capital and development institutions, with an emphasis on mobilising resources and supporting solutions that can be implemented at scale.