A recent Human Rights Watch report highlights that Cambodian microfinance institutions (MFIs), backed by international investors, have been aggressively lending to Indigenous communities, using the value of their land as collateral. These predatory lending practices have resulted in coerced land sales, over-indebtedness, debt-driven suicides, and severe violations of the economic, cultural, and social rights of… [Read More]
World Bank
Nigeria Hosts FAO Hand-in-Hand Forum to Boost Agricultural Transformation in West Africa and the Sahel
The Government of Nigeria hosted a high-level National and Subregional investment forum from 16 to 18 September 2025 in Abuja, focusing on unlocking investment opportunities in irrigation and agricultural value chains across West Africa and the Sahel. Convened under the Hand-in-Hand (HiH) Initiative and organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations… [Read More]
Riyadh Hosts New World Bank Regional Hub for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan
The World Bank has inaugurated a new regional hub in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to serve the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan (MENAAP) region. This hub is co-located with the World Bank Group’s Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) regional office, bringing the Bank’s leadership closer to country teams, clients, and regional partners. The relocation of… [Read More]
Tajikistan’s Poverty Decline: Job Creation and Inequality Remain Pressing Challenges
Tajikistan has made significant strides in reducing poverty over the past decade, according to a new World Bank report. The national poverty rate fell from 56% in 2010 to around 20% in 2024, while the middle class grew more than fourfold, from 8% to 33% of the population. Between 2021 and 2023, approximately 35% of… [Read More]
Container Port Performance Index 2020–2024: Key Trends and Insights
Container ports play a pivotal role in global supply chains, managing the flow of merchandise and semi-finished products. The Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) tracks the time container ships spend in port, providing stakeholders with a key benchmark for operational efficiency and sustainable port development. Efficient port operations not only reduce logistics costs but also… [Read More]
Zambia Expands Employment Opportunities with World Bank Digital Access Initiative
The World Bank Group has approved the Digital Zambia Acceleration Project (DZAP) to support the Zambian government in expanding access to the internet and digitally enabled services, with a particular focus on promoting inclusive digital participation. The project aims to empower women and girls, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable communities by enhancing their access… [Read More]
World Bank Boosts Support for Argentina’s Economic Growth and Development Agenda
The World Bank Group has announced an accelerated support package for Argentina, aiming to deploy up to US$4 billion over the coming months to advance the country’s reform agenda and long-term growth strategy. This initiative combines public-sector financing with private-sector investment and mobilization to bolster key sectors that drive competitiveness. The support will focus on… [Read More]
Republic of Congo Economic Outlook 2025: Boosting Living Standards through Better Capital Management
The Congolese economy achieved modest real GDP growth of 2.6% in 2024, marking a slight increase in per capita income for the first time since 2016. Despite this progress, the World Bank’s latest Economic Update for the Republic of Congo notes that these gains have yet to translate into a meaningful reduction in poverty. The… [Read More]
Pakistan Urged to Implement Bold, People-Centered Reforms to Tackle Poverty and Protect Vulnerable Communities
The World Bank has released “Reclaiming Momentum Towards Prosperity: Pakistan’s Poverty, Equity and Resilience Assessment,” the first comprehensive evaluation of poverty and welfare trends in Pakistan since the early 2000s. The report shows that after a steady decline in poverty from 64.3% in 2001-02 to 21.9% in 2018-19, the national poverty rate began rising in… [Read More]
Türkiye’s Energy-Efficient Buildings Boost Savings and Enhance Quality of Life
Türkiye is taking decisive steps to enhance energy efficiency in response to a growing economy and rising energy demand, aiming to reduce reliance on imports and cut harmful emissions. Energy-saving measures are being implemented across public hospitals, schools, and government offices, including improved insulation, efficient heating and cooling systems, LED lighting, and solar panels. Supported… [Read More]
Morocco Sees Rapid Rise in Preschool Enrollment as Education Reforms Take Effect
In 2018, Morocco set a national goal to achieve universal preschool access for children aged 4 to 5 by 2028, prioritizing rural and disadvantaged communities with limited access to early learning. Over the six years since the initiative began, preschool enrollment surged from 45% to 80% nationally and from 33% to 91% in rural areas,… [Read More]
17 Countries Pledge Concrete Plans to Expand Electricity Access as Mission 300 Grows
Seventeen African governments have committed to reforms and actionable plans to expand electricity access as part of Mission 300, a partnership led by the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank Group aiming to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030. The pledges were made at the Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Forum, where national… [Read More]
Over 650,000 Zambians to Gain from World Bank Support for Sustainable Natural Resource Management
The World Bank is expanding its support for Zambia’s watershed management and forest conservation through the second phase of the Transforming Landscapes for Resilience and Development (TRALARD II) project. The initiative aims to sustainably manage over 680,000 hectares of land and enhance livelihood resilience for more than 650,000 people in vulnerable communities within Zambia’s Miombo… [Read More]
World Bank: Pakistan’s Poverty Rate Rises to 25.3% After Years of Decline
Pakistan’s long-term progress in reducing poverty has reversed in recent years, with the national poverty rate rising to 25.3 percent in 2023-24 after steadily declining for nearly two decades. According to the World Bank’s latest assessment, Reclaiming Momentum Towards Prosperity: Pakistan’s Poverty, Equity and Resilience Assessment, this marks a significant setback after poverty had fallen… [Read More]
African Development Bank Trains East African Finance Experts to Boost Service Delivery
The African Development Bank Group’s Fiduciary and Inspection Department, in partnership with the Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) Secretariat of the World Bank, organized a flagship training on the PEFA framework for public financial management (PFM) experts in Eastern Africa. Held from 16 to 18 September 2025, the program brought together more than 60… [Read More]
West Africa’s Green Ambitions Stall Amid Major Energy Funding Shortfall
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]
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]
