The World Bank has approved an additional $18.34 million grant to help Sierra Leone strengthen biodiversity protection, environmental sustainability, and climate change resilience. The funding, provided through the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) under the Global Environment Facility (GEF), will expand activities under Phase 2 of the West Africa Food System Resilience Program (FSRP), with… [Read More]
World Bank
Republic of Congo Commits to Reducing Climate Risks and Advancing Sustainable Urban Development
The World Bank has approved $60 million for the Strengthening Urban Resilience Project in the Republic of Congo to help reduce erosion and flood risks while improving access to climate-resilient and sustainable infrastructure in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire, the country’s two largest cities. The project takes a multi-sectoral approach, investing in urban infrastructure, climate risk reduction,… [Read More]
Improving Inclusive Education for Children with Disabilities in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso continues to face major challenges in ensuring inclusive education, with over 72 percent of children with disabilities currently out of school. Factors such as poor infrastructure, limited teacher training, and persistent social stigma hinder these children’s access to quality education. Although the government developed a National Strategy for Inclusive Education, its implementation has… [Read More]
IFC Backs EcoEnterprises Partners IV to Strengthen Small Businesses Across Latin America and the Caribbean
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has announced an investment in EcoEnterprises Partners IV, a women-led impact fund designed to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Through IFC’s SME Ventures Program, this US$10 million investment highlights IFC’s dedication to expanding access to… [Read More]
Inter-American Development Bank Advances Digital Transformation in Latin America and the Caribbean
For the first time in Latin America and the Caribbean, citizens will be able to complete digital public service transactions in another country using their national digital identity. This achievement was showcased during the XIX Annual Meeting of the Inter-American Digital Government Network (Red Gealc) in Antigua, Guatemala, with the launch of IdLAC — a… [Read More]
IFC Backs America Embalagens to Strengthen Brazil’s Circular Economy
In October 2025, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, announced a strategic investment in America Embalagens, one of Brazil’s leading rigid plastic packaging manufacturers. The funding aims to support the expansion and modernization of the company’s largest plant in São Paulo state. This initiative aligns with efforts to enhance… [Read More]
Ottawa pledges $7 million to support Caribbean recovery after Hurricane Melissa
Canada has announced $7 million in humanitarian aid for Caribbean nations devastated by Hurricane Melissa, with the government also prepared to deploy soldiers if requested. The Category 5 storm, which made landfall earlier in the week, has caused extensive damage in Jamaica, Cuba, and Haiti, resulting in dozens of deaths, widespread power outages, and severe… [Read More]
Evidence-Based Strategies Unveiled to Combat Global Literacy Challenges Among Children
A new global report has shed light on the ongoing literacy crisis affecting millions of children in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), emphasizing the urgent need for evidence-based teaching methods to improve reading skills. The paper, Effective Reading Instruction in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: What the Evidence Shows, draws on around 120 studies conducted across… [Read More]
Collaborative Efforts Across Central Africa Aim to Enhance Health System Resilience
The World Bank has approved the expansion of its Health Security Program (HeSP) to Central Africa, marking a major step toward strengthening health emergency preparedness and response across the region. Supported by $280 million in International Development Association (IDA) grants and credits, along with a $10 million grant from the Global Financing Facility for Women,… [Read More]
Global Leaders Gather at 2025 Human Capital Conclave to Tackle Skills and Job Gaps
A billion young people are expected to enter the workforce in the next decade, making skills development critical to future job creation. The 13th Human Capital Ministerial Conclave, held during the 2025 World Bank Group and IMF Annual Meetings, focused on the theme “Skills for Jobs.” Leaders from the manufacturing, digital, and health sectors discussed… [Read More]
World Bank Report: Liberia Can Unlock Job Creation by Strengthening Private Sector and Productivity
The World Bank has released the Sixth Edition of its annual Liberia Economic Update, titled “From Stabilization to Inclusion – Pathways to Resilient Growth and Productive Jobs.” The 2025 report provides an in-depth analysis of Liberia’s economic performance and private sector development, emphasizing how strengthening the private sector can drive productive employment and inclusive growth…. [Read More]
Union of the Comoros Launches $137 Million Maritime Corridor Project with AfDB Support
The President of the Union of the Comoros, Azali Assoumani, officially launched the Maritime Corridor and Regional Trade Facilitation Project in a ceremony held on 27 October 2025 in Moroni. The project, financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group with $137 million, represents a major step toward strengthening Comoros’ maritime infrastructure and boosting regional… [Read More]
Delivering Connectivity: Ethiopia’s Modjo–Hawassa Expressway Set to Transform Transport Links
The Modjo–Hawassa Expressway in Ethiopia, a 202-kilometer high-standard toll road, is transforming transportation and trade connectivity across southern Ethiopia. Supported by the World Bank and other development partners, the project aims to reduce travel time by up to 40% and lower vehicle operating costs by as much as 20%. The expressway will also improve access… [Read More]
Building Financial Resilience: Rwanda Strengthens Disaster Risk Management
Rwanda is transforming the lessons learned from the devastating May 2023 floods into proactive disaster preparedness and financial resilience. The floods and landslides claimed more than 130 lives and destroyed homes, roads, and farms across the country’s northern and western provinces. Recognizing that climate shocks are becoming more frequent, Rwanda is shifting from reacting to… [Read More]
Sustained Economic Reforms Key to Pakistan’s Growth, Stability, and Post-Flood Recovery
Pakistan’s economy grew by 3.0 percent in the fiscal year ending June 2025, marking a slight improvement from 2.6 percent in the previous year. This growth was driven by stronger industrial and service sector performance, though agricultural output lagged behind due to floods, adverse weather, and pest infestations. According to the World Bank’s Pakistan Development… [Read More]
AfDB Empowers Tanzania with Training to Advance Sustainable Development Goals
Tanzania has taken a significant step toward advancing sustainable development by strengthening the capacity of project implementers to apply environmental and social safeguards effectively. More than 80 participants from government ministries, project teams, environmental agencies, and development partners, including the World Bank, attended a week-long training in Arusha on the African Development Bank’s Updated Integrated… [Read More]
It’s Not Just About Electricity — Why Energy Access Means Development, Equity, and Resilience
In Nepal’s remote Himalayan villages, access to electricity has long been a challenge, hindering economic growth and quality of life. Through the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) investment in micro-hydropower, communities that once lived without reliable power are now thriving. For residents like widow Pabitra Giri, electricity brought by the micro-hydropower plant in Kharbang, Baglung,… [Read More]
Over 500,000 Zambian Children to Benefit from New Malaria Vaccine Rollout
Zambia has officially launched the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine under its Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), marking a major step in its fight against malaria. The rollout, led by the Ministry of Health, will initially target over 500,000 children aged 6–8 months in 83 districts, with the second phase planned for 2026. The country becomes the… [Read More]
Nigeria Strengthens Mpox Response with New Guidelines and Public Awareness Campaigns
Nigeria is intensifying efforts to strengthen its national response to mpox through updated clinical management guidelines, improved referral systems, and expanded public awareness campaigns. With mpox continuing to pose a public health threat since its re-emergence in 2017, the country has reported 389 confirmed cases and six deaths across 35 states and the Federal Capital… [Read More]
Kerala Secures $400 Million World Bank Support for Major Health Reform Initiative
The World Bank has approved a USD 400 million (approximately Rs 3,400 crore) financing package to support Kerala’s new health initiative aimed at strengthening the state’s public health systems and improving their efficiency. The package includes a USD 280 million loan from the World Bank, with the remaining funds provided by the state government. The… [Read More]
World News Update: Development Funding Declines, Human Rights in Belarus Under Pressure, Health Alerts in Africa
Sharp reductions in global aid are threatening to reverse decades of progress on human rights and development, warned UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al Nashif. Speaking in Geneva, she cautioned that the world is witnessing a decline in respect for human rights and multilateral cooperation as conflicts, debt, and shrinking development assistance… [Read More]
How Education Thrives Amid Fragility, Conflict, and Violence
Ensuring that children can learn in safe environments is a key priority for the World Bank, particularly in countries affected by fragility, conflict, and violence (FCV). Education plays a critical role in preventing violence, fostering peacebuilding, and developing the skills needed for stability and economic growth. Despite its importance, education receives only about 3% of… [Read More]
El Salvador Collaborates with PAHO and Global Banks to Enhance Primary Health Care Services
The Ministry of Health of El Salvador (MINSAL), with the support of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the World Bank (WB), and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), organized a two-day technical workshop to strengthen coordination and advance the implementation of the country’s primary health care (PHC) model. The event, held on October 16–17 in… [Read More]
