The World Bank Group has approved US$150 million in financing for Paraguay to enhance the business environment, boost private investment, and promote job creation. The Development Policy Loan will focus on implementing reforms to reduce barriers for business entry and growth while promoting public-private partnerships to support long-term development. The initiative aims to help micro,… [Read More]
World Bank
Erasure or Empowerment? Women Face a Stark Choice in Africa’s Sahel
In Africa’s Sahel region, escalating violence and poverty driven by displacement, hunger, and terrorism are severely impacting women and girls, stripping them of their right to safety, education, and a hopeful future. The convergence of political instability, environmental collapse, and diminishing international support has intensified the systemic risks faced by women and girls across the… [Read More]
Global Cholera Response Saves Lives Through Coordinated Action
Since January 2025, Angola has been grappling with one of its most severe cholera outbreaks in decades, with over 27,000 reported cases and more than 760 deaths. These figures represent real human suffering—families and communities struggling for survival. Stories like that of Maria, a mother from Cuanza Sul who carried her twin children in search… [Read More]
Lebanon’s Agriculture Sector Gets First ILO Occupational Safety and Health Guide
The International Labour Organization (ILO) and Lebanon’s Ministry of Agriculture have jointly launched the country’s first Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Guide in Agriculture, a significant step toward improving labor conditions in a sector vital to Lebanon’s economy. This initiative represents a foundational shift in how safety and health are integrated into agricultural practices across… [Read More]
How Emerging Technologies Are Transforming Jobs in East Asia and the Pacific
Technology is rapidly transforming jobs and wages across East Asia and the Pacific, creating both new opportunities and fresh challenges. While technological advancements are boosting employment and incomes in some sectors, their benefits are not being equally shared. The impact depends largely on which tasks can be automated and how profitable that automation is. Moreover,… [Read More]
World Bank, AfDB, and Mastercard Unite to Expand Digital Access in Africa
The World Bank Group has officially joined the Mobilizing Access to the Digital Economy (MADE) Alliance: Africa as a co-chair, partnering with the African Development Bank Group and Mastercard. The initiative aims to expand digital access to essential services for 100 million individuals and businesses across Africa by 2034. With its entry into the alliance,… [Read More]
Africa Endorses Ubuntu Legacy Initiative to Fast-Track Cross-Border Infrastructure
The National Treasury of South Africa and the African Development Bank Group jointly hosted the first consultative meeting on “South Africa’s Legacy Initiative to Accelerate Cross-Border Infrastructure in Africa: The Ubuntu Approach.” This initiative aligns with South Africa’s contribution to the G20 Infrastructure Working Group and introduces a Toolkit designed to help African countries and… [Read More]
World Bank Group Strengthens Job Creation and Economic Resilience in the Pacific Region
Anna Bjerde, the World Bank’s Managing Director of Operations, recently completed a week-long visit to Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Australia, where she emphasized the need for innovative approaches to job creation and economic resilience in the Pacific. Her visit focused on accelerating development outcomes and ensuring that World Bank-supported initiatives deliver tangible benefits to… [Read More]
Madagascar Partners with World Bank and CRS to Boost National Resilience to Climate Risks
In Madagascar’s southern Androy and Anosy regions, communities face extreme socio-economic and environmental hardship. Limited employment opportunities, coupled with chronic drought and windstorms like the locally known Tiomena, have left residents vulnerable. Agriculture, livestock, and livelihoods have suffered severe losses, placing ongoing pressure on food security and community resilience. To address these issues, the Government… [Read More]
World Bank Backs El Salvador with New Funding for Economic Stability and Climate Resilience
The World Bank has approved a new loan to support El Salvador in strengthening its fiscal sustainability and improving its ability to respond to natural disasters and climate change. The financing package, totaling US$350 million, includes a US$100 million Catastrophe Deferred Drawdown Option (Cat DDO), which can be accessed following an official emergency declaration caused… [Read More]
Indonesia Unveils Global Accelerator Roadmap to Boost Self-Sufficiency and Human Capital
Indonesia, as one of the pathfinder countries of the Global Accelerator, formally endorsed its national roadmap for the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions on 10 June 2025. This endorsement reflects Indonesia’s commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in addressing poverty, reducing social disparities, and enhancing labour productivity… [Read More]
UN Fund Transforms $1 into $19: A Game-Changer for Global Development
The UN Joint SDG Fund is emerging as a powerful yet underrecognized force in global development, transforming each $1 into $19 of impact. Supported by governments around the world, the Fund has already improved the lives of over 200 million people. At a recent gathering at the UN headquarters, development leaders emphasized the Fund’s pivotal… [Read More]
Eswatini Accelerates Digital Transformation to Boost Economy and Create Jobs
The latest edition of the Eswatini Economic Update launched by the World Bank Group emphasizes the urgent need for Eswatini to embrace digitalization, improve public finance management, and address structural economic weaknesses to sustain long-term growth. The report, titled Harnessing the Potential of Digital Technologies for Eswatini’s Growth and Job Creation, analyzes the country’s recent… [Read More]
World Bank Launches Initiatives to Boost Jobs and Economic Resilience in the Pacific
World Bank Managing Director of Operations, Anna Bjerde, recently concluded a week-long visit to Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Australia, where she focused on advancing new strategies for job creation, economic resilience, and delivering faster, more effective development outcomes in the Pacific region. The visit aimed to strengthen partnerships and bring global expertise closer to… [Read More]
Philippines: World Bank Supports Resilience Building for 18 Million Vulnerable Households
Around 18 million households in the Philippines are expected to see a reduction in their vulnerability to natural disasters through a new World Bank-supported initiative known as the Philippines Community Resilience Project, or “Pagkilos.” The project focuses on strengthening community-led planning and infrastructure investment to tackle climate and disaster risks. Local communities will be directly… [Read More]
Serbia Partners with World Bank to Enhance Primary Education and Modernize Curriculum
The World Bank’s Board of Directors has approved a €66.3 million (approximately $75 million) loan to support Serbia’s ongoing educational reforms through the Inclusive Primary Education Improvement Project. This initiative aims to enhance learning environments for primary school children across the country. The project is expected to benefit around 250,000 primary-level students, including those from… [Read More]
Ethiopia: IFAD to Support 5 Million Rural Residents in Strengthening Climate Resilience
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Government of Ethiopia have signed a financing agreement to launch Phase II of the Lowlands Livelihood Resilience Project (LLRP II). With total funding of US$424 million, this phase aims to support three million livestock herders in Ethiopia’s drought-prone lowlands to adapt to climate change, while indirectly… [Read More]
Montenegro to Boost Digital Financial Access with World Bank Support
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a EUR 8 million loan to Montenegro to modernize its digital payments infrastructure. The initiative aims to expand access to digital financial services for both businesses and consumers while reducing the cost of domestic and international transactions. The project, titled Montenegro Financial Infrastructure Modernization and its… [Read More]
World Bank Supports Belize’s Efforts to Boost Climate and Disaster Resilience
The World Bank Group’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a US$20 million Development Policy Credit with a Catastrophe Deferred Drawdown Option (Cat-DDO) for Belize. This funding mechanism offers immediate access to emergency financing in the event of a natural disaster and supports critical policy reforms aimed at enhancing the country’s climate and disaster resilience…. [Read More]
Beyond Aid: The World Bank Framework that Seeks to Empower Millions of Filipinos
The World Bank Group’s Country Partnership Framework for the Philippines covering 2025 to 2031 arrives at a pivotal moment in the country’s economic and social trajectory. With the Philippine economy nearing upper‑middle‑income status and development indicators showing considerable progress, the new framework is designed to build on this momentum while addressing persistent gaps in access… [Read More]
World Bank Pledges $50 Million to Empower African Think Tanks
African think tanks play a vital role in providing localized analysis and policy recommendations that have practical impacts on the ground. To support and enhance their influence, the World Bank has committed $50 million to strengthen these institutions, aiming to promote evidence-based policymaking across the continent. The funding is channeled through a new initiative under… [Read More]
AfDB Grants $30 Million to Help Benin Farmers Tackle Climate Change and Hunger
The African Development Bank Group has approved $30.25 million to support a groundbreaking initiative aimed at enhancing climate resilience and securing agricultural livelihoods in Benin. The project will assist 150,000 smallholder farmers, a vital workforce in a country where agriculture employs the majority but remains vulnerable to erratic climate patterns. The Alibori and Atakora regions… [Read More]
Saving Lives and Livelihoods: Financial Inclusion Efforts in Eastern and Southern Africa
The World Bank has approved a $400 million financing package for the second phase of the Regional Emergency Preparedness and Access to Inclusive Recovery (REPAIR) Program. This phase will benefit over 12 million people in Angola, Burundi, Malawi, Seychelles, and Zambia by enhancing financial readiness against climate-related and other disasters. The initiative aims to leverage… [Read More]
