Enhancing External Debt Statistics for Greater Transparency and Sustainability

How can countries strengthen debt transparency and support sustainable borrowing in an increasingly complex global landscape?

The Enhancing External Debt Statistics for Greater Transparency and Sustainability workshop, organized by the World Bank Group Data Academy with support from the Institute for Economic Development, helped equip officials from ministries of finance, debt management offices, central banks, and national statistical offices with the practical skills needed to compile, validate, and report high-quality external debt data. 

Through an intensive five-day program and hands-on approach, participants increased their capacity to meet World Bank Debtor Reporting System (DRS) requirements, improve debt transparency, and support more informed economic policymaking and debt sustainability assessments.

The workshop was a follow up to the event Beyond the Narratives: What the IDR 2025 Data Reveal About Debt in Low- and Middle-income Countries, where key insights from the International Debt Report 2025 were presented in Rome. Policymakers, researchers, and development practitioners came together in Rome to engage with the evidence and discuss its implications for future financing strategies.