World Bank President Ajay Banga’s participation in U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace for Gaza reconstruction has raised concerns over governance and reputational risk at the multilateral lender.
While some insiders warn that the optics of Banga’s involvement could blur the bank’s long-standing separation from overtly political initiatives, others say his presence may help moderate the endeavor — provided the focus remains firmly on Gaza reconstruction and the bank carefully manages the risks.
The main board is expected to comprise political leaders, while the initiative’s operational work is guided by an executive board, on which Banga sits alongside U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Jared Kushner, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, among others.