Amid rising climate shocks, African leaders are redefining development by linking ecological stability with inclusive, resilient economic progress and job creation.
World Bank
Knowledge, especially practical know-how, is crucial for countries to address development challenges and enhance resilience to disasters. Many people and businesses in emerging economies lack insurance against natural disasters, forcing governments to absorb the costs. In 2023, earthquakes in Morocco, Türkiye, and Syria highlighted this gap. In Morocco and Türkiye, public-private insurance partnerships demonstrated effectiveness in these cases, expanding access and affordability of risk coverage. The launched the to facilitate sharing of best practices among global experts and officials, with a goal of transforming knowledge into actionable solutions.
Leaders from African governments and partners are gathering this week in Japan for the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), highlighting the importance of Universal Health Coverage as essential for all. With a rapidly growing youth population in West and Central Africa, investing in health and nutrition is vital for economic potential. Strong health systems are necessary for resilience against crises like COVID-19. Despite progress, challenges remain, including limited access to care and low health spending. The aims to support health services for 1.5 billion people worldwide by 2030 – including 200 million in West and Central Africa- and is working on strategies to enhance local health systems and boost medical manufacturing across the continent.
Corruption hinders development, especially for the poor and vulnerable, by increasing costs and limiting access to essential services. For nearly three decades, the has been committed to combating corruption. Since 1996 "" speech, the international financial institution has spearheaded anti-corruption initiatives and efforts to strengthen institutions. The World Bank is using GovTech solutions to enhance transparency through digital innovations. This focus is driven by client countries’ demand for efficiency, the need to safeguard climate-related investments projected to reach $100 billion annually by 2030, intensified asset recovery efforts, and growing public demands for accountability.
With 1.2 billion young people in emerging economies reaching working age over the next decade—and only about 420 million jobs expected to be generated—the urgency of finding scalable and sustainable solutions has never been greater.
In of , we hear from one young person about their journey into the world of work and what the is doing to address one of the most urgent issues facing development: how to meet the stable employment aspirations of the developing world's fast-growing youth population.
The next generation of innovators is rising from the developing world, and the is helping them thrive. By combining insight, finance, and partnerships, we've transformed $29 billion in donor support into $1.5 trillion in real-world impact.
With just five years remaining to achieve the 2030 global goals, the Outcomes Department has sparked a bold transformation, strengthening impact, accountability, and purpose across the World Bank Group.
Initiatives like the aim to bridge the digital divide and promote inclusive access to digital services in developing countries.
Global policies empowering women and men through land rights, childcare, safe transportation, education, and financial access drive economic growth and societal progress.
aims to bring electricity to 300 million people in Africa by 2030 through bold reforms, investments, and global collaboration to close the energy access gap.
With over 145 million adolescent girls calling Africa home, the potential for transformative change is immense. Yet challenges persist: from high rates of child marriage to limited educational opportunities. to ensure that adolescent girls enter adulthood empowered to thrive?
Closing the gender gap in irrigation through policy reforms, leadership opportunities, and equal access to resources is key to improving agricultural productivity and sustainability.
As the world faces pressing issues like poverty, inequality, and climate change, the poorest communities are often the hardest hit. The aims to provide social protection to at least 500 million people by 2030, including 250 million women. Economic inclusion programs are vital in boosting income and assets, offering pathways to better job opportunities and resilience. These initiatives now reach 15 million households, benefiting over 70 million people globally, largely through government-led efforts, with NGOs providing additional support. However, nearly 700 million people still live on less than $2.15 per day, highlighting the ongoing fight against extreme poverty and the need to scale up these programs.
Generative AI is poised to reshape the job market, raising critical questions about its impact on youth unemployment and underemployment. Despite a global surge in college enrollment, many graduates face job markets that fail to match their qualifications, particularly in developing nations. Youth unemployment is alarmingly high, with developing countries struggling to create stable, productive jobs for their educated populations. For instance, over 70% of young workers in Sub-Saharan Africa are in insecure employment. GenAI’s potential lies in boosting productivity in high-skill service sectors, but it also risks accelerating “premature de-professionalization,” making white-collar jobs harder to secure. The urges developing nations to adopt AI swiftly to access complex, growth-driving industries. Delayed adoption risks further cycles of unemployment and stagnation for the 1.2 billion youth entering the workforce in the next decade.
The World Bank Group's tracks measurable outcomes across key indicators, enhancing transparency and accountability to effectively combat poverty and improve lives.