On June 18, 2025, BudgIT, in collaboration with Connected Development, hosted a Pause and Reflect session in Dakar, Senegal. The event was intentionally designed as a space for civil society organisations, community-based organisations, community leaders, and development actors to share candid reflections on what it truly means to localise development aid. Unlike typical conferences or… [Read More]
World Bank
ILO Launches New Occupational Safety and Health Guide for Agriculture in Jordan
The International Labour Organization (ILO), in partnership with Jordan’s Ministries of Labour and Agriculture, has launched the final Arabic version of the “Guidelines on Occupational Safety and Health in the Agriculture Sector.” The new guide is a major step toward improving workplace safety, reducing risks, and promoting decent work for Jordan’s agricultural workforce, which operates… [Read More]
Africa-Japan Higher Education Partnership Matchmaking Seminar to Strengthen Academic Collaboration
Since 2018, the World Bank has supported Africa-Japan higher education partnerships through initiatives such as the Africa Centers of Excellence (ACE) program and the Partnership for Skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering, and Technology (PASET) Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund. These programs focus on improving the quality of scientific research and innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa while… [Read More]
IFC and OTP Leasing Launch €50M Facility to Drive Ukraine’s Private Sector Growth and Green Energy Projects
IFC and OTP Leasing have launched a €50 million risk-sharing facility (RSF) in Ukraine to expand financing for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and midcap companies. The initiative targets sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, trade, energy, and logistics, with a strong focus on sustainable energy solutions to enhance the country’s energy resilience. The program also aims… [Read More]
Namibia Adopts ICT Initiative for Remote Monitoring of Development Projects
Namibia has officially joined 37 other African countries in adopting advanced technology for development project management through the launch of the Remote Appraisal, Supervision, Monitoring, and Evaluation (RASME) project. The initiative was unveiled in Windhoek by senior government officials in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB). The RASME platform represents a transformative shift in… [Read More]
UNDP and UNDRR Join EU to Strengthen Caribbean Climate and Crisis Resilience
The European Union, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) have launched a four-year initiative under the European Union‑Caribbean‑Resilient Programme (EU‑CA-RES), supported by a €4 million EU grant. The programme aims to strengthen early warning systems and build recovery capacities across Caribbean nations, helping governments, communities,… [Read More]
South Sudan Unveils One Health Strategic Plan and 2nd National Health Security Action Plan (2025–2030)
In 2025, South Sudan officially launched and signed off on the One Health Strategic Plan and the 2nd National Action Plan for Health Security (2025–2030), aimed at strengthening preparedness and response to public health emergencies of international concern. These complementary plans build on evidence from the 2024 Joint External Evaluation and integrate human, animal, and… [Read More]
Costa Rica Boosts Indigenous Leadership in Forest Conservation with World Bank Backing
On August 11, the World Bank approved a $4 million grant to Costa Rica to enhance Indigenous Peoples’ participation in forest conservation and ensure their equitable access to the benefits of the country’s Emission Reductions Program from Deforestation and Forest Degradation. The initiative will foster inclusive decision-making and knowledge exchange on sustainable land use, with… [Read More]
African Development Bank Boosts Africa’s Data Transformation with SDMX and Open Data Platform 2.0 Training
The African Development Bank’s Statistics Department, in partnership with the African Union Institute of Statistics (STATAFRIC), the Africa Centre for Statistics of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and other international organizations, hosted a regional workshop on Statistical Data and Metadata Exchange (SDMX) and the Bank’s Open Data Platform 2.0 (ODP 2.0). Held… [Read More]
Southern Albania Sees Job Growth Through Heritage Tourism Initiatives
Communities across Southern Albania, including Berat, Gjirokastra, Përmet, and Saranda, are experiencing significant economic growth thanks to investments supported by the World Bank. Publicly funded initiatives to preserve heritage sites and improve nearby infrastructure have attracted private sector investment, particularly from entrepreneurs in tourism and hospitality. These efforts have created thousands of new jobs, many… [Read More]
Viet Nam’s Mekong Delta City Gains New Infrastructure to Combat Chronic Flooding
Can Tho City, a key hub in Viet Nam’s Mekong Delta, once faced chronic flooding that cost its economy an estimated US$200 million annually. Floodwaters regularly disrupted daily life, contaminating streets and homes with debris and waste. In 2023, however, the city withstood its first major tidal surge without inundation, thanks to the Can Tho… [Read More]
The Power of Youth: Driving Change for a Sustainable and Inclusive Future
Across East Asia and the Pacific (EAP), young people are transforming their lives and communities through greater access to skills, jobs, and new opportunities. From East Java in Indonesia to Lae in Papua New Guinea, the World Bank is working with governments and partners to create inclusive pathways for youth, focusing on job creation as… [Read More]
World Bank to Support Marshall Islands in Strengthening Public Spending and Local Services
The World Bank has approved a US$15 million grant to help the Republic of the Marshall Islands improve public fund management and strengthen local financial expertise. The Strengthening Public Financial Management II project will support the Ministry of Finance, Banking, and Postal Service in delivering more timely and transparent budgets and financial reporting. Building on… [Read More]
Bringing Prenatal Ultrasound to Rural Burkina Faso: Saving Lives and Improving Maternal Care
In Burkina Faso, a new initiative is transforming maternal healthcare by training midwives to perform basic obstetric ultrasounds during antenatal consultations, especially in remote areas. Previously, pregnant women had to travel long distances and pay high costs to access ultrasound services, leading many to forgo essential scans. Now, free ultrasounds are available locally, reducing delays… [Read More]
World Bank Approves $650M to Boost Istanbul’s Disaster Resilience
The World Bank has approved a $650 million loan to finance the Istanbul Resilience Project, an initiative designed to strengthen the city’s preparedness and response to disasters and climate risks. As Türkiye’s largest city, generating nearly a third of the national GDP and home to more than 15 million people, Istanbul’s vulnerability to earthquakes and… [Read More]
World Bank OKs $150M to Boost Paraguay’s Private Investment
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]
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]
