Viet Nam’s Mekong Delta, one of the world’s most engineered deltas, serves as a crucial food basket for both the country and global markets. Decades of intensive development, combined with rising seas and erratic weather patterns, have placed enormous strain on its ecology, water systems, and agriculture. In response, the Vietnamese government and local communities… [Read More]
World Bank
Comoros Launches $54M Program to Boost Nature-Based Climate Action
The Government of Comoros has launched a five-year, US $54 million climate resilience initiative to protect coastal communities and strengthen natural defenses against climate change. The project is funded through a US $10 million grant from the Global Environment Facility and US $44 million in co-financing from partners including the World Bank and the French… [Read More]
FAO Uses Renewable Energy to Revolutionize Guinea’s Agri-Food Systems
In Guinea, sustainable energy is being leveraged to modernize agricultural production, reduce post-harvest losses, and enhance the resilience of rural communities against climate change. FAO has supported the installation of photovoltaic systems at seed centers in Kilissi (Kindia) and Koba (Boffa), strengthening the energy autonomy of these strategic agricultural facilities. By integrating renewable energy sources… [Read More]
Unlocking Uganda’s Potential: How Agro-Industrialization Boosts Jobs and Economy
Uganda’s economy continues to show strong performance, with real GDP growth reaching 6.3% in FY2024/2025, up from 6.1% the previous year. The World Bank attributes this growth to a recovery in household consumption, increased government spending, and sustained investment growth. Broad-based expansion across agriculture, industry, and services has contributed to a projected decline in poverty,… [Read More]
Cameroon WFP Country Strategic Plan 2022-2026: Full Evaluation Report
The Terms of Reference (ToR) for the evaluation of the Cameroon WFP Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2022–2026 have been prepared by the WFP Office of Evaluation, drawing on an initial document review and consultations with the Cameroon Country Office. The document provides essential guidance for stakeholders, outlining the purpose, selection criteria, and expected activities of… [Read More]
Sri Lanka Flood Crisis: More Than a Million Affected by Cyclone Ditwah Await Relief
Cyclone Ditwah made landfall on Sri Lanka’s eastern coast on 28 November, causing widespread flooding and deadly landslides across all 25 districts. While some displaced families have returned home, recent heavy rains have triggered fresh flooding, landslides, and road closures, particularly in the central districts of Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, and Polonnaruwa. UN assessments indicate that… [Read More]
From Crisis to Recovery: Advancing Stability and Peace in Syria
During a visit to seven of Syria’s fourteen governorates last October, Syrians expressed that their greatest needs were access to health services, education, housing, and employment. After over a decade of conflict, approximately 7.4 million people remain internally displaced, and 1.2 million refugees who have returned lack the means to sustain livelihoods. Support from the… [Read More]
IFC and Central Puerto Accelerate Strategic Energy Investments in Argentina
Buenos Aires, December 23, 2025 — The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, announced a strategic investment in Central Puerto S.A., one of Argentina’s leading electricity generation companies. The investment aims to enhance the reliability and flexibility of the national power system, support greater integration of renewable energy, and boost… [Read More]
PKR 33.6 Billion Agri Financing: IFC, Standard Chartered Pakistan, and Engro Fertilizers Strengthen Pakistan’s Farming Sector
In December 2025, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) announced its first local currency investment in Pakistan, providing an unfunded Partial Credit Guarantee of up to PKR 33.6 billion (around US$120 million) to support Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan’s long-term financing to Engro Fertilizers. This landmark financing is designed to strengthen Pakistan’s agri-value chain by mobilizing domestic… [Read More]
Supporting Small Businesses: IFC, BRED Bank Vanuatu, and BRED Bank Solomon Drive SME Growth
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group focused on the private sector, has announced a partnership with BRED Bank Vanuatu and BRED Bank Solomon to enhance financing access for institutional commercial customers. The initiative aims to support business growth and job creation in Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, where SMEs… [Read More]
World Bank Supports Armenia to Expand Affordable Housing for Refugees and Boost Mortgage Market
The World Bank has approved $250 million in financing for the Armenia Housing Response and Mortgage Market Enhancement Project, aimed at improving access to affordable housing for refugee households while strengthening Armenia’s housing and mortgage systems. The financing includes a $24.4 million grant from the Global Concessional Financing Facility and a $10 million grant from… [Read More]
Lessons for Applying Beyond GDP Metrics at the National Level
The High-Level Expert Group on Beyond GDP has released an interim progress report proposing a framework to complement GDP by incorporating sustainability across economic, environmental, and social pillars, alongside resilience, institutional quality, and international cooperation. The report outlines illustrative indicators covering material well-being, health, education, environmental quality, subjective well-being, social capital, and governance, while also… [Read More]
World Bank and Caixa Partner to Promote Electric Bus Transition in Brazil
The World Bank has approved the first phase of the Brazil Electromobility Multiphase Programmatic Approach to support cities in modernizing public transport, improving service quality, and reducing emissions through the adoption of electric buses and related infrastructure. Implemented by Caixa Econômica Federal, Phase 1 represents a US$500 million investment aimed at accelerating cleaner and more… [Read More]
Sri Lanka Faces $4.1 Billion Losses from Cyclone Ditwah
Cyclone Ditwah, which struck Sri Lanka in late November 2025, caused an estimated US$4.1 billion in direct physical damage to buildings, agriculture, and critical infrastructure, equivalent to around 4 percent of the country’s GDP. The cyclone affected nearly 2 million people, including 500,000 families across all 25 districts, disrupting livelihoods, essential services, and the broader… [Read More]
Thailand to Enhance Job Creation and Biodiversity with World Bank Support
The World Bank’s Board approved the US$140.76 million Thailand Resilient Transport and Irrawaddy Dolphin Conservation Project (TRIP) to enhance flood- and storm-resilient transport links while supporting biodiversity conservation. The project aims to create job opportunities and improve economic access for 350,000 people, while safeguarding a critically endangered Irrawaddy dolphin sub-population in Songkhla Lake. Co-financed with… [Read More]
Early Childhood Development in Congo-Brazzaville: Insights and Lessons Learned
Congo Brazzaville is strengthening its efforts to provide vulnerable households with access to quality childcare through the Social Protection and Productive Inclusion of Youth Project (PSIPJ), financed by the World Bank in partnership with the Ministry of Social Affairs (MASSAH). The project aims to create safe and affordable childcare environments while exploring opportunities for vulnerable… [Read More]
Why Central Bank Independence Is Key: Insights from the Past Five Decades
Recent political pressures in several countries to influence central banks to lower policy rates regardless of economic conditions have reignited discussions about the importance of central bank independence. The fundamental idea is that central banks insulated from government interference can focus on their primary mandate—typically price stability—without political pressures distorting their decisions. In contrast, politically… [Read More]
WSBI’s Scale2Save Initiative Supports Women Farmers in Nigeria Through New Pilot
The World Savings and Retail Banking Institute (WSBI) has launched a flagship initiative in Nigeria aimed at enhancing financial inclusion and promoting climate-smart agriculture, supported by grants from the Visa Foundation and ”la Caixa” Foundation. The pilot program specifically targets women smallholder farmers and women-led businesses in rural areas, expanding access to finance and supporting… [Read More]
Building Earthquake Resilience: Key Lessons from Türkiye–Italy Knowledge Exchange
Italy and Türkiye share a long history of living with seismic risk, shaped by their locations along active fault lines and by devastating earthquakes that have affected communities, infrastructure, and governance systems. Recent disasters, particularly the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes in Türkiye, have underscored the urgent need to strengthen resilience, address weaknesses in construction practices, and… [Read More]
IFC and Tonga Development Bank Partner to Drive MSME Growth and Job Creation in Tonga
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group, has partnered with Tonga Development Bank (TDB) to support the growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and create jobs in Tonga. The partnership comes as Tonga continues to recover from major economic shocks, including the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption and the… [Read More]
PAHO’s Year in Review: 10 Health Highlights from 2025
In 2025, PAHO strengthened health security across the Americas through extensive epidemiological intelligence, analyzing over 1.8 million signals and detecting 128 new public health events. Early alerts helped countries respond to threats such as avian influenza A(H5N1), yellow fever, pertussis, dengue, chikungunya, oropouche, influenza, and other respiratory viruses. In Colombia, a PAHO-led training in epizootic… [Read More]
Pakistan Receives World Bank Support to Strengthen Fiscal Systems and Improve Service Delivery
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved US$700 million in financing for the Pakistan Public Resources for Inclusive Development – Multiphase Programmatic Approach, a multi-year initiative designed to support macroeconomic stability and strengthen public service delivery across the country. The program supports coordinated federal and provincial reforms aimed at mobilizing domestic revenue, improving… [Read More]
World Bank Expands Support for Sustainable Energy Sector Development in Argentina
The World Bank Board of Directors has approved an additional US$300 million in financing to support Argentina’s efforts to strengthen institutional capacity in the energy sector, with a focus on improving the targeting of gas subsidies, protecting vulnerable households, and promoting fiscal and environmental sustainability. The operation aims to ensure that energy subsidies are more… [Read More]
