WASHINGTON — A pledging conference to support Venezuelan refugees and migrants, originally scheduled alongside the World Bank’s Spring Meetings in Washington this week, is postponed as organizers work out a way to host it virtually.
The World Bank gathering, an April event that brings together bank employees, formal country delegations, and a who’s who of worldwide development officials — over 10,000 people in total — was moved to a virtual format this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As its meetings proceed online this week, the pledging conference that was intended to raise much-needed funds for the countries hosting Venezuelans remains on hold.
William Spindler, senior external engagement coordinator at UNHCR’s Regional Bureau for the Americas, said there is no precedent for hosting a major pledging event online.