On the eve of the COVID-19 outbreak, public debt burdens were already substantial in many emerging and developing economies. Now, the pandemic has only aggravated the situation, raising concerns about debt sustainability in many lower-income countries and creating the need for a coordinated effort to strengthen debt restructuring processes.

This event will bring together a diverse group of experts—representing the perspectives of governments, private creditors, and debt-restructuring experts—to address three key questions: 1) How can private creditors contribute effectively to debt restructurings? 2) What are the new challenges that have made sovereign debt workouts more cumbersome and difficult to achieve? 3) What are the key elements of a comprehensive solution to these problems?