GENEVA — A joint webinar organized by the ILO’s Cooperative, Social and Solidarity Economy (COOP/SSE) Unit, the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), and the International Cooperative Entrepreneurship Think Tank (ICETT) highlighted how large and multinational cooperatives advance decent work across global supply chains. The event brought together cooperative leaders, experts, and practitioners to share operational tools,… [Read More]
Business
ADB Supports Armenia’s Power Grid Modernization to Boost Energy Security
In the early 1990s, Armenia faced a severe energy crisis following the collapse of the Soviet Union and political tensions that disrupted energy supplies. The country’s only nuclear power plant, Metsamor, had been halted after the 1988 Spitak earthquake, leaving Armenia almost entirely dependent on hydropower. Widespread blackouts paralyzed industries and households, with electricity available… [Read More]
World Bank: Creating Jobs Essential for Faster Poverty Reduction and Social Equality in Bangladesh
Bangladesh achieved significant progress in poverty reduction between 2010 and 2022, lifting 25 million people out of poverty and 9 million out of extreme poverty, while improving access to electricity, education, and sanitation. However, since 2016, the pace of poverty reduction has slowed, and economic growth has become less inclusive, according to the Bangladesh Poverty… [Read More]
Boosting Economic Stability and Employment in The Gambia
The World Bank Group has approved $45 million in grant financing from the International Development Association (IDA) to support The Gambia in enhancing domestic revenue mobilization, developing key infrastructure, strengthening the regulatory and skills environment for private sector growth, and improving climate resilience. The funding aims to help the government implement transformational reforms to sustain… [Read More]
ADF Commits $14 Million to Scale Up Climate Resilience Efforts Across the Sahel
The African Development Fund’s Board of Directors has approved a $14.64 million grant to finance Project 2 of the Programme to Strengthen Resilience to Food and Nutrition Insecurity in the Sahel. The decision, announced in Abidjan on 21 November 2025, provides additional support to help Sahelian communities confront growing climate challenges. The financing comes through… [Read More]
Canada Launches Digital Export Certification to Streamline Grain Trade with Mexico
As of November 3, 2025, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) began issuing electronic phytosanitary export certificates for grains and grain products destined for Mexico. These certificates serve as official documents certifying that the products have been inspected according to required procedures, are free from regulated pests, and meet the current phytosanitary requirements of the… [Read More]
Tripartite Dialogue in Mongolia Adopts Recommendations to Promote Responsible Business and Workers’ Rights
Representatives from the Government of Mongolia, employers’ organizations, and workers’ groups developed an action plan containing key policy recommendations following a national tripartite dialogue on promoting sustainable and responsible business practices for decent work and inclusive growth, held on 14–15 October 2025. Alimaa Baasansuren, Director General of the Labour Policy Department, reaffirmed Mongolia’s commitment to… [Read More]
New ILO Digital Agri-Business Hub Opens in Hawassa, Sidama Region, Ethiopia
The Sidama Region of Ethiopia has taken a significant step toward modernizing agriculture and expanding job opportunities with the launch of the AgriConnect Digital Agri-Business Hub and the Sidama Agricultural Innovation Exhibition 2025 in Hawassa. The initiative brings together government leaders, the ILO, development partners, private-sector actors, youth and women entrepreneurs, and research institutions to… [Read More]
How Job Creation Can Power Egypt’s Economic Growth and Prosperity
Every year, approximately 1.3 million young Egyptians enter the labor market, yet only about half a million jobs are created, leaving a significant gap in employment opportunities. Addressing this imbalance could have a transformative impact on Egypt’s economy, with full youth employment potentially increasing GDP by 36 percent and closing the gender employment gap raising… [Read More]
How Productivity Growth Drives GDP and Job Creation in Europe and Central Asia
Countries in Europe and Central Asia (ECA) need to make more efficient use of existing economic assets and invest in the capabilities of firms and workers to accelerate growth, according to the World Bank report TIDES of Change: Igniting Productivity Growth in Europe and Central Asia. The report emphasizes that simply adding more capital and… [Read More]
How Procompetitive Reforms Can Drive Job Creation and Productivity in Kenya
Procompetitive reforms in key sectors could significantly boost Kenya’s economic growth and job creation, with the potential to raise the country’s GDP by 1.35 percentage points annually and generate up to 400,000 jobs per year at the average wage. These reforms focus on creating a level playing field between state-owned and private enterprises, reducing trade… [Read More]
How a New Global Coalition Aims to Strengthen Financial Health and Resilience
A growing global focus on financial inclusion has expanded access to bank accounts and digital tools, but many people still struggle with true financial resilience. While 79% of adults worldwide now have a bank account — up from just over half in 2011 — more than two billion people remain unbanked or underbanked. Even among… [Read More]
16 Days of Activism: Tackling Gender-Based Violence Worldwide
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual global campaign observed from November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to December 10, International Human Rights Day. During this period, individuals and organizations worldwide, including the World Bank Group (WBG), unite to raise awareness and advocate for the… [Read More]
Equatorial Guinea’s Path to Inclusive Growth: Reducing Poverty and Expanding the Middle Class
A new World Bank Group report highlights that Equatorial Guinea is at a critical juncture. Despite its oil wealth, which has positioned the country as an upper-middle-income economy and one of the richest in Sub-Saharan Africa, nearly half of the population still lives in poverty according to the national poverty line. As oil revenues decline… [Read More]
$50 Million ADB Funding to Enhance Cambodia’s Financial Sector and Digital Systems
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $50 million policy-based loan to strengthen Cambodia’s financial sector. The investment, implemented through a programmatic approach, will support banking and nonbanking institutions, digital finance infrastructure, and sustainable finance capabilities. The Inclusive and Sustainable Finance Development Program aims to enhance the sector’s capacity, stability, and performance, positioning Cambodia… [Read More]
$400 Million ADB Loan to Boost Road Connectivity Across Maharashtra
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $400 million results-based lending program to support the state of Maharashtra in developing climate-resilient, low-carbon, safe, and inclusive road networks, with a focus on enhancing connectivity for rural communities. The Maharashtra Roads Connectivity for Inclusive Growth Program aims to improve all-weather road access across 34 districts, particularly… [Read More]
$15 Million Investment by African Development Bank in Adenia Fund 1 to Fuel Small and Mid-Cap Enterprises
The African Development Bank Group’s Board of Directors has approved a $15 million equity investment in Adenia Entrepreneurial Fund 1 (AEF 1). The decision, made in Abidjan on 19 November 2025, aims to provide growth capital to small- and mid-cap companies across multiple African countries. These companies operate in sectors that strengthen economic resilience, including… [Read More]
EIB and Commerzbank Partner to Fund Germany’s €1.2 Billion Renewable Energy Projects
The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Commerzbank have launched a new partnership to support €1.2 billion in energy investment across Germany, aiming to accelerate the country’s energy transition and modernise local energy infrastructure. The cooperation, formalised at Commerzbank’s headquarters in Frankfurt, combines the EIB’s financial strength with Commerzbank’s local expertise to fund hundreds of municipal… [Read More]
From Smartphones to Fridges: UK Tackles Critical Mineral Import Reliance
The UK government has unveiled a new Critical Minerals Strategy aimed at reducing the country’s dependence on imported minerals essential for everyday technologies such as smartphones, electric vehicles, and household appliances. The strategy sets ambitious targets, including producing 10% of the UK’s critical mineral needs domestically and meeting an additional 20% through recycling by 2035…. [Read More]
Canada Unveils $6 Billion Plan to Strengthen Trade and Transportation Infrastructure
The Government of Canada has announced a $6 billion investment over seven years to strengthen the country’s trade and transportation infrastructure, aiming to boost export opportunities and support a resilient, diversified economy. The announcement, made by Minister of Transport Steven MacKinnon and Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu, highlights Canada’s commitment to building efficient, reliable,… [Read More]
$1 Billion Investment Announced to Strengthen Canada’s Northern Transport and Trade Networks
On November 21, 2025, the Government of Canada announced a $1 billion investment through the Arctic Infrastructure Fund to improve trade and transportation infrastructure in Northern and Indigenous communities. The fund targets dual-use projects that serve both civilian and defence purposes, aiming to strengthen Canada’s sovereignty, foster regional economic growth, and enhance connectivity across the… [Read More]
Call for Applications: Strengthen Market Access and Boost Technical Capacity for Ghanaian Pharmaceutical Manufacturers
The “Strengthening the Ghanaian Pharmaceutical Sector with a Focus on Vaccine Production” (PharmaVax Ghana) programme is inviting qualified Ghanaian private pharmaceutical manufacturing companies to participate in a Call for Applications aimed at enhancing market access and technical capacity. Co-financed by the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)… [Read More]
The Trillion-Dollar Opportunity: How the Energy Transition Is Redefining Smart Economics
The world is on track for far more than 1.5°C of warming, placing increasing pressure on businesses and financial institutions to respond to climate risk. UNEP FI’s Eric Usher highlights that while geopolitical shifts have caused some firms to tone down public climate commitments, many are quietly strengthening their sustainability strategies. This shift reflects the… [Read More]
