Convenings

Events & Forums

Curated gatherings that bring together heads of state, ministers, institutional leaders, and global experts to shape development agendas and forge actionable partnerships.

Beyond Conferences

WDC events are not talk-shops. Every convening is designed with execution in mind—producing commitments, partnerships, and action plans that translate into measurable outcomes.

We bring together the right people, at the right time, around the right questions. Our events feature no passive audiences—every participant is expected to contribute.

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Action-Oriented

Every session designed to produce commitments

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Invitation-Only

Curated participants, no open registration

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Off-the-Record

Candid dialogue under Chatham House rules

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Follow-Through

Post-event tracking of commitments made

Convening Formats

From intimate leadership salons to large-scale national conclaves, we design formats calibrated to the challenge at hand.

National Conclaves

2-3 Days 200-500 Participants

Flagship events bringing together a nation's development ecosystem—government leaders, private sector executives, civil society, and international partners—around priority national challenges.

  • Ministerial participation and policy announcements
  • Multi-stakeholder working sessions
  • Partnership signing ceremonies
  • Exhibition of solutions and innovations
  • Media engagement and public communications
Example: India Health Systems Conclave, bringing together Union Health Ministry, State Health Secretaries, hospital networks, and global health institutions.

Regional Conclaves

1-2 Days 100-200 Participants

Multi-country gatherings addressing shared regional challenges—cross-border infrastructure, regional trade, common resource management, and harmonized policy frameworks.

  • Cross-border challenge focus
  • Regional institution engagement
  • Policy harmonization discussions
  • Bilateral meeting facilitation

Global Summits

3-4 Days 500+ Participants

Premier annual gatherings bringing together WDC's global community—Distinguished Council Members, Strategic Partners, government delegations, and international institutions.

  • Head-of-state participation
  • Annual strategic agenda setting
  • Major partnership announcements
  • Member Assembly sessions

Problem-Solving Labs

1-2 Days 30-50 Experts

Intensive working sessions assembling diverse expertise around a specific implementation challenge. Designed to produce actionable solutions, not just recommendations.

  • Specific problem focus
  • Multi-disciplinary teams
  • Rapid prototyping sessions
  • Commitment to implement outcomes

Thematic Forums

1 Day 75-150 Participants

Sector-specific gatherings deep-diving into technical challenges and opportunities within WDC's ten verticals. Feature expert presentations, panel discussions, and breakout sessions.

  • Sector-specific deep dives
  • Technical expert presentations
  • Best practice sharing
  • Networking and matchmaking

Upcoming Events

Major WDC convenings scheduled for the coming year.

5 April 2026
Leadership Salon

Future of Development Finance

Closed-door dialogue among DFI heads, sovereign wealth fund leaders, and multilateral executives on reimagining development finance architecture.

Location: London, UK
Format: Invitation-only, Chatham House rules
By Invitation Only
20-21 May 2026
Regional Conclave

South Asia Blue Economy Forum

Multi-country forum on sustainable ocean economies, coastal zone management, and maritime cooperation across South Asian nations.

Location: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Participating Countries: India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives
Learn More
10-12 June 2026
Problem-Solving Lab

Urban Mobility Decarbonization Lab

Intensive working session on accelerating electric mobility adoption in emerging market cities, bringing together transport authorities, EV manufacturers, and infrastructure providers.

Location: New Delhi, India
Output: Implementation roadmap for 5 pilot cities
Apply to Participate

Past Events

Health Systems Conclave
November 2025

National Health Systems Conclave

New Delhi, India

280 participants from 12 countries
Climate Finance Forum
October 2025

Climate Finance Innovation Forum

London, UK

150 participants, $2B+ in commitments discussed
Digital Infrastructure Lab
September 2025

Digital Public Infrastructure Lab

Bengaluru, India

45 experts, 3 pilot frameworks developed
SEZ Leadership Salon
August 2025

SEZ Leadership Salon

Dubai, UAE

22 zone leaders from 15 countries

Partner With Us

WDC events offer unique platforms for visibility, thought leadership, and relationship building with senior decision-makers across government, business, and international institutions.

Event Sponsorship

Brand visibility, speaking opportunities, and curated networking at WDC convenings.

Knowledge Partnership

Co-develop research, case studies, and thought leadership presented at events.

Co-Hosting

Partner with WDC to design and deliver events in your region or sector.

Discuss Partnership
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Attend or Partner with WDC Events

Interested in attending an upcoming event, exploring sponsorship opportunities, or discussing a co-hosted convening? Reach out to our events team.