Across the development landscape, the World Bank Group is shifting from a traditional lending model to a global Knowledge Bank, recognizing that expanding access to finance, energy, and markets is only the first step—the real challenge is transforming that access into impact. This pivot brings together the institution’s vast research, country data, and technical expertise into a unified, AI-enabled ecosystem—delivered through digital platforms and guided by a more centralized knowledge function—to provide faster, data-driven policy advice and practical, field-level insights. In this model, knowledge is not an add-on to financing; it is the force multiplier that determines whether investments translate into outcomes. This is particularly critical for SMEs: while access to resources has improved, the key constraint remains how effectively firms can leverage actionable knowledge—on markets, risk, technology, and business models—to use those resources productively. In this context, knowledge becomes the bridge between access and impact, enabling SMEs not just to participate, but to scale, innovate, and create jobs. Aligned with the theme “Transforming Access into Impact,” the Global SME Finance Forum serves as a platform to operationalize this vision—connecting data, evidence, and practitioner experience to ensure that SMEs can translate opportunity into measurable growth and development outcomes while strengthening trust and investment in private-sector–led solutions.
