West African countries are pushing ambitious plans for renewable energy and clean cooking initiatives, but insufficient financing threatens to derail these efforts. The ECOWAS Sustainable Energy Forum (ESEF 2025), held from September 18 to 19 in Banjul, Gambia, spotlighted the region’s commitment to an accelerated energy transition, with priorities including electric mobility, green hydrogen, and… [Read More]
World Bank
Ireland Pledges Over €35 Million to Support Ukraine’s Humanitarian and Peace Efforts
Ireland has announced a new funding package of €35.4 million to support humanitarian and peace initiatives in Ukraine, reinforcing its commitment to stand with the country as it continues to resist Russia’s invasion. The announcement was made by Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Harris TD and Minister of State for International… [Read More]
Nature-Based Tourism: A Billion-Dollar Pathway to Jobs, Growth, and Conservation
Well-planned, well-managed nature-based tourism is emerging as a powerful engine of economic growth and sustainable development. Tourist spending on activities, transportation, food, and accommodation creates ripple effects across local economies, generating jobs, strengthening value chains, and driving private sector growth. In destinations rich in natural assets but limited in economic opportunities, this form of tourism… [Read More]
Tajikistan Reduces Poverty but Job Creation and Inequality Remain Challenges
Tajikistan has made significant strides in reducing poverty over the past decade, with the national poverty rate falling from 56% in 2010 to about 20% in 2024, according to a new World Bank report, the Tajikistan Poverty and Equity Assessment. Over the same period, the share of the middle class has grown more than fourfold,… [Read More]
World Bank Group Closes Inaugural Securitization Transaction, Unlocking Private Investment for Emerging Markets
The World Bank Group, through its private sector arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), has successfully closed its first-ever securitization transaction, marking a major milestone in efforts to mobilize private capital for emerging markets. The transaction introduces a new model to attract institutional investment while allowing the World Bank Group to recycle its capital and… [Read More]
UNDP Unveils Landmark Study to Drive Just and Inclusive Clean Energy Transition in Mongolia
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Mongolia has launched its first national-level study, “Empowering Vulnerable Households to Access Affordable and Clean Energy,” under the UN Joint Programme Acceleration of Just Energy Transition (JET) funded by the Joint SDG Fund. Co-financed by UNDP and the World Bank, the report provides policy pathways to ensure Mongolia’s… [Read More]
From Innovation to Impact: How Congolese Entrepreneurship is Driving Jobs and Economic Growth
In the bustling neighborhoods of Kinshasa, Sivi Malukisa recalls the early days of her entrepreneurial journey when she had a vision but no production facility or funding. Today, her company, Manitech Congo, produces tons of peanut butter and chili sauces monthly, employs dozens, and supports local industries. Her success story is emblematic of the broader… [Read More]
From Hardship to Hope: Cash Transfers Helping Women Build Businesses in South Sudan
In June 2023, the Government of the Republic of South Sudan launched the South Sudan Productive Safety Net for Socioeconomic Opportunities Project (SNSOP), locally known as ‘Shabaka Meisha,’ a five-year, $199 million program funded by the World Bank. The initiative aims to provide cash transfers and income-generating opportunities to vulnerable communities while strengthening the National… [Read More]
Accelerator Program 2.0: Fast-Tracking Innovation and Growth
The Accelerator Program 2.0 is a World Bank initiative aimed at supporting governments in low- and middle-income countries to strengthen foundational learning and reduce learning poverty. The program focuses on improving interactions between teachers, students, and learning content—the instructional core—through technical assistance that enhances early-grade teaching and learning. Its overarching goal is to demonstrate that… [Read More]
Inat’s Journey from Lost Hope to Future Water Supply Engineer
Tanzanian student Inat Mzee Saleh faced a major setback in her academic journey when a fire destroyed her high school just weeks before her final exams. The tragedy left her without essential study materials, and her A-level results fell short of the requirements to pursue a medical degree. Heartbroken, she enrolled in a basic teaching… [Read More]
Stone by Stone: Strengthening Safety for Barbados’ Fishing Communities
In July 2024, Hurricane Beryl, a powerful Category 4 storm, caused over B$190 million in damages in Barbados, severely impacting coastal sectors, particularly the fishing industry. Approximately 90 percent of the island’s fishing fleet was destroyed or damaged, along with key infrastructure, including the Bridgetown Port and the Fisheries Marina. The storm’s surge displaced the… [Read More]
Afghanistan Faces ‘Perfect Storm’ of Crises, UN Issues Urgent Warning
Afghanistan is facing a “perfect storm” of overlapping crises, according to the UN’s outgoing envoy, Roza Otunbayeva, who addressed the Security Council on Wednesday. While armed conflict has declined since the Taliban takeover in 2021, the humanitarian, economic, and human rights situations have deteriorated sharply. Otunbayeva warned that decisions driven by ideology rather than pragmatism… [Read More]
Central African Republic to Launch National Guarantee Fund Supporting SMEs
The Central African Republic (CAR) has announced plans to establish a new national guarantee fund to improve small and medium-sized enterprises’ (SMEs) access to financing. The initiative was revealed by Minister of Economy Richard Filakota during a roundtable on the National Development Plan (PND-RCA 2024–2028) in Casablanca, Morocco, on September 15, 2025. The fund is… [Read More]
World Bank Approves Financing to Boost Public Expenditure Efficiency and Transparency in Guatemala
The World Bank’s Executive Board has approved the project Smart Public Finance: Data-Driven Public Expenditure Management for Greater Efficiency to support Guatemala’s financial modernization. The initiative is designed to strengthen transparency, improve the efficiency of public spending, modernize financial systems, and ultimately enhance access and quality of services for Guatemalan citizens. The project represents a… [Read More]
Bangladesh Faces Mounting Health and Economic Risks from Rising Temperatures: World Bank Report
Bangladesh is facing growing health and economic risks due to rising temperatures, according to a new World Bank report. The study, titled “An Unsustainable Life: The Impact of Heat on Health and the Economy of Bangladesh,” analyzed national temperature and humidity trends from 1976 to 2023 and drew on a large 2024 household survey of… [Read More]
African Development Bank to Host Africa Natural Capital Accounting Community of Practice Secretariat
The African Development Bank Group has announced that it will host the Secretariat of the Africa Natural Capital Accounting Community of Practice (Africa NCA-CoP). This move strengthens the Bank’s leadership in integrating natural capital into climate-resilient development strategies across Africa. The Secretariat will be based at the Bank’s headquarters in Abidjan, where it will oversee… [Read More]
Kessner Capital Launches Africa’s First Private Credit Fund to Support SME Financing
Kessner Capital Management has launched its first private credit fund focused on Africa, aiming to provide growth capital to small and mid-sized businesses across the continent. This fund is positioned not just as a lending vehicle but as a long-term partner for businesses, emphasizing governance, transparency, and sustainable impact. The co-founders, Bruno-Maurice Monny and Benny… [Read More]
Scaling Water Reuse: Unlocking Municipal and Industrial Efficiency
The World Bank Group has released its flagship report, “Scaling Water Reuse: A Tipping Point for Municipal and Industrial Use,” emphasizing the urgent need to invest in water treatment and reuse. The report highlights how treated water can provide fit-for-purpose supply for both municipal and industrial applications, unlocking a sustainable and valuable resource that remains… [Read More]
Guatemala Secures World Bank Funding to Boost Public Spending Efficiency and Transparency
The World Bank’s Executive Board has approved a US$50 million project, Smart Public Finance: Data-Driven Public Expenditure Management for Greater Efficiency, to modernize Guatemala’s public financial systems. The initiative aims to improve transparency, strengthen decision-making, and enhance the efficiency of public spending, ultimately improving access to and quality of services for Guatemalan citizens. The project… [Read More]
India Leads Global Decline in Child Poverty, Millions Still at Risk
Over the past decade, South Asia has achieved significant progress in reducing extreme child poverty, yet broader economic vulnerability remains widespread. According to a joint World Bank and UNICEF report titled “Ten Years of Progress and Challenges: Insights into Global Child Poverty,” while extreme child poverty in the region fell from around 25 percent in… [Read More]
Global Child Poverty: Ten Years of Progress and Persistent Challenges
Over the past decade, there has been slow but steady progress in reducing extreme child poverty worldwide. Despite this, children remain disproportionately affected, representing over half of the global population living on less than $3.00 per day, even though they account for only 30 percent of the total population. A new joint analysis by the… [Read More]
IFC Anchors $75M Investment in CFE Fibra E to Boost Mexico’s Electric Infrastructure
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group, has announced a US$75 million investment in the inaugural bond issuance of CFE Fibra E, a financial trust supported by Mexico’s Federal Electricity Commission (CFE). This initiative aims to mobilize private capital to strengthen and expand the country’s electricity transmission infrastructure. Structured under the… [Read More]
IFC and Sicredi Boost Financing for Women Entrepreneurs in Brazil’s Legal Amazon
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group, is investing up to $250 million in Sicredi, a nationwide cooperative financial institution in Brazil, to expand access to finance for micro and small enterprises (MSEs), with a particular focus on women-led businesses and underserved communities in the Legal Amazon. This financing package includes… [Read More]
