Date Time World Bank Steps up Support to Small States in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic WASHINGTON, April 21, 2021- IDA has been the leading multilateral provider of concessional resources to small economies, which have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Robust IDA support for recovery is needed now more than ever, agreed a group of country representatives convened recently for the Small States Forum. The Bank is in discussions with the international community on committing to a strong IDA20 replenishment to ensure appropriate levels of support to countries for immediate crisis response as well as getting back on track to their long-term development trajectories.