Mozambique has made significant strides in expanding electricity access, nearly doubling its electrification rate from 31 percent in 2018 to 60 percent by the end of 2024. This achievement, benefitting around 9.5 million people, is largely attributed to the World Bank-supported ProEnergia project, which forms part of Mozambique’s National Energy for All Program. ProEnergia has… [Read More]
World Bank
Ethiopia Strengthens Livelihoods Through Poultry Farming Initiatives
Imran Abba Jihad, a disabled farmer in southwest Ethiopia, has transformed his livelihood through poultry farming under the Livestock and Fisheries Sector Development Project (LFSDP). Before joining the project, Imran had no income-generating activities and limited experience in poultry farming, leaving his family of five vulnerable to food insecurity. In 2023, he joined the Kena… [Read More]
The Gambia’s Economy Sustains Strong Growth Despite Global Challenges
The Gambia’s economy has shown steady resilience and recovery, recording a real GDP growth of 5.7% in 2024, according to the World Bank’s Fifth Economic Update for the country. This performance underscores the nation’s successful recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and its ability to withstand persistent global economic challenges. Growth in 2024… [Read More]
Aid Efforts Underway After Devastating Earthquake Wipes Out Afghan Villages
The UN Secretary-General expressed full solidarity with the people of Afghanistan following a devastating earthquake that struck the country, offering condolences to the victims’ families and wishing a swift recovery for the injured. The UN team in Afghanistan is actively mobilized to assist those affected in the impacted regions. Several UN agencies reported widespread destruction… [Read More]
Protecting Nature Fuels Economic Growth and Jobs, Finds New Global Report
A new World Bank report reveals that 90% of the global population lives with at least one major environmental challenge—degraded land, unhealthy air, or water stress—while in low-income countries, 80% of people lack access to all three. The report, Reboot Development: The Economics of a Livable Planet, highlights how these environmental deficits are not just… [Read More]
Unlocking Private Sector Investment to Boost Job Creation and Sustainable Growth
Togo has experienced steady and robust economic growth over the past decade, but it now faces new challenges amid increasing regional and global uncertainties, according to the World Bank’s latest economic update. To navigate these uncertainties and accelerate development, the report recommends that Togo deepen structural reforms, implement its fiscal consolidation strategy, and attract greater… [Read More]
Thailand’s Blue Economy Boosted by World Bank Support and Coastal Protection Funding
Thailand is intensifying its efforts to harness the potential of its blue economy with significant technical support from the World Bank. A key part of this initiative includes plans to issue the country’s first sovereign blue bond, which will finance sustainable, ocean-based development. Given Thailand’s 23 coastal provinces and over 3,000 kilometers of coastline, marine… [Read More]
Cambodia: World Bank Launches New Project to Improve Education and Learning for Young Children
The World Bank has approved the Basic Education Improvement Project, which aims to enhance education quality in Cambodia and benefit more than 1.7 million children. The initiative is supported by a $100 million credit from the International Development Association and a $5 million grant from the Early Learning Partnership Multi-Donor Trust Fund. Its primary goal… [Read More]
Creating Jobs to Empower People Living in Poverty
The global economy faces a pressing challenge: over the next decade, 1.2 billion young people in emerging markets will reach working age, but only 420 million jobs are expected to be created. This leaves hundreds of millions, many from poor and vulnerable communities, without stable income or opportunities for economic mobility. While long-term job creation… [Read More]
World Bank Launches Project to Protect Indigenous Lands and Ecosystems in Xingu, Amazon
The World Bank’s Board of Directors has approved a new project aimed at protecting forests and promoting sustainable development in the Lower Xingu region of Pará, Brazil. Developed in partnership with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the Government of Pará, the Brazilian Forest Service, and the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio),… [Read More]
World Bank Launches New Initiative Linking Fiscal Sustainability and Forest Conservation in Amazonas
The World Bank Board of Directors has approved a new operation to boost the environmental governance of the State of Amazonas by enhancing its fiscal sustainability, and mobilizing finance for forest conservation and a low-carbon bioeconomy. This will provide more economic opportunities and jobs for the State’s population, especially Indigenous Peoples, smallholders, and traditional forest-dwelling… [Read More]
World Bank Report Outlines Strategies for Energy Security and Job Creation in East Asia
The World Bank has released a new report, Green Horizon: East Asia’s Sustainable Energy Future, which presents actionable strategies for modernizing and upgrading the region’s energy systems. The report focuses on aligning power and industrial sectors to sustain long-term growth, create jobs, and enhance economic competitiveness across East Asia. It serves as a follow-up to… [Read More]
Green Horizon: Advancing Sustainable Energy in East Asia
The Green Horizon: East Asia’s Sustainable Energy Future report provides a comprehensive roadmap for aligning energy and development objectives across East Asia. It emphasizes decarbonizing the power and industrial sectors—which together account for 75–87 percent of regional emissions—through strategies such as enhanced efficiency, electrification, renewable energy deployment, and advanced technologies like green hydrogen and carbon… [Read More]
Early Childhood Investment in El Salvador: Unlocking Transformative Growth
Over the past several years, significant progress has been made in transforming education in El Salvador, driven by collaboration between the World Bank and local partners. Three major achievements stand out: mobilizing funds to invest in critical areas such as school infrastructure, teacher training, and educational materials; fostering collaboration among government entities, NGOs, and civil… [Read More]
World Bank Launches Education Project in Punjab to Benefit 4 Million+ Children
The World Bank has approved a US$47.9 million grant, funded by the Global Partnership for Education Fund, to enhance educational access and quality for children in Pakistan’s Punjab province. The support is aimed at improving participation among both girls and boys at pre-primary and primary levels, strengthening learning outcomes, and providing remedial support for elementary… [Read More]
Canada Reaffirms Support for a Just and Lasting Peace in Ukraine
Canada has reinforced its unwavering support for Ukraine as Prime Minister Mark Carney visited Kyiv on the 34th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence. Canada, the first Western country to recognize Ukraine’s sovereignty in 1991, has maintained consistent backing for the country as it faces Russia’s ongoing full-scale invasion. The visit underscored Canada’s commitment to defending democracy,… [Read More]
World Bank Returns to Canadian Dollar Bond Market with CAD 1.5 Billion Benchmark Issue
The World Bank (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, IBRD, Aaa/AAA) has priced a new three-year CAD $1.5 billion Sustainable Development Bond, maturing in September 2028. The benchmark transaction carries a semi-annual coupon of 2.90% per annum, an issue price of 99.946%, and a final spread of 9.8 basis points over the CAN 3.25% September… [Read More]
Viet Nam’s Green Rice Revolution: Boosting Farmer Incomes and Protecting the Environment
Drought and extreme heat are increasingly threatening the livelihoods of smallholder farmers worldwide, particularly those reliant on rain-fed agriculture. Climate-resilient irrigation has emerged as a transformative solution, enabling farmers to produce more crops with less water despite erratic rainfall. This sustainable approach not only enhances agricultural productivity but also strengthens local economies and could help… [Read More]
Reviving Soil and Farming Livelihoods in Ethiopia for Sustainable Agriculture
Smallholder farmers across Ethiopia are learning sustainable farming practices such as vermicomposting and integrated pest management to restore soil health and improve their agricultural productivity. These techniques have already resulted in higher maize yields, enhancing household food security, strengthening family incomes, and supporting broader community resilience. Through the Ethiopia Food Systems Resilience Program (FSRP), more… [Read More]
Protecting Women and Girls in the DRC from Cervical Cancer Through Early Detection and Care
In Kinshasa, secondary school girls joined government officials in a walk against cervical cancer, chanting “No to Cervical Cancer!” along Boulevard du 30 juin. Some participants were winners of a flyer contest supported by the Gates Foundation, receiving tuition prizes. Their biggest concern was where they could access the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which plays… [Read More]
Investing in People: How Nepal Can Drive Better Jobs and Economic Growth
In Nepal, one of the biggest barriers to better jobs and economic growth is not geography, natural resources, or access to finance, but the country’s limited investment in its people. Many young Nepalis are growing up without quality education, healthcare, and skills, particularly in remote and poorer regions. This has left much of Nepal’s human… [Read More]
AND Global Secures $21.4 Million Funding to Drive Financial Inclusion
Leading global fintech company AND Global has successfully raised $21.4 million in a Series B funding round led by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of The World Bank Group, and AEON Financial Service, a major Japanese financial group operating in 11 Asian markets. This milestone marks a significant step forward for the company’s… [Read More]
TICAD9: AfDB to Drive Partnerships and Investment at Tokyo Conference on African Development
The African Development Bank will participate in the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), taking place in Yokohama, Japan, from 20 to 22 August. The conference comes at a pivotal moment as Africa works to bridge investment gaps and build resilience against global economic and climate shocks. The Bank will play a central… [Read More]
