Investing in people, creating opportunities

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Over the past 15 years, even as incomes have risen and poverty has declined, nearly two-thirds of low- and middle-income countries have experienced setbacks in nutrition, learning, or workforce skills.

Among all low- and middle-income countries, gaps in these outcomes from what should be achievable are large, and the potential cost is cause for alarm: an estimated 51 percent loss in future earnings. Behind this number are children growing up with fewer opportunities to thrive, families struggling to secure a stable future, and communities at risk of losing hard-won social gains.

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Six ways to make tourism projects work for people, places, and prosperity

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Tourism generates 10 percent of global GDP and supports 1 in 10 jobs worldwide. Because of this, it’s a key sector of interest for the World Bank Group.

Over the past decade, the World Bank Group has mobi­lized over US$10 billion to support tourism development across 80 countries.  But what makes a good project that delivers on its objectives?

A new World Bank report, Lessons Learned from a Decade of World Bank Experience, examines what works—and what doesn’t in the design of tourism projects. The findings point to six key ingredients that help tourism projects deliver real development impact on the ground.

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Senegal Launches AgriConnect Compact to Transform its Agriculture Sector

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DAKAR, February 10, 2026 – The Government of Senegal, in partnership with the World Bank Group, today announced the launch of the AgriConnect Senegal Compact. This strategic initiative aims to transform the country’s agri-food systems and improve food security for millions of Senegalese.

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Unlocking Development through the Power of Co-financing

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WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2026 — On February 11, the World Bank Group, together with the Moroccan Ministry of Economy and Finance and AFD Group, will convene a high-level forum — The Power of Co-Financing — to strengthen collaboration on co-financing among development partners and countries.

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The hidden cost of water in Europe and Central Asia

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Delivering water safely uses a surprising amount of energy. In the emerging markets and developing economies of Europe and Central Asia, the energy footprint of delivering water services is particularly high. The average country spends about 10% of its energy bills on water use—more than five times the share spent in advanced economies. In fact, total water-related energy use in the region annually is roughly equal to the total energy consumption of Greece. 

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Strengthening Health Systems in Sahel’s Fragile Communities

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Results Highlights

​Between 2018 and 2024, results achieved included: 

  • ​Expanded and improved health services: Over 5 million people in Mali and Mauritania accessed basic health services, half of them women, far exceeding the original goal of 3.65 million. Health centers in targeted regions of both countries significantly improved quality through better equipment, staff training, and patient care.  
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From Risk to Resilience: Strengthening Preparedness for Wildfires and Earthquakes in Europe

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STORY HIGHLIGHTS

  • Wildfires in Europe are becoming more frequent and severe, with record areas burnt in 2025. Spreading into regions once considered low risk, wildfires increasingly threaten lives, communities, and infrastructure.
  • More than one-third of the EU population lives in seismic zones, yet awareness is dangerously low. Aging housing and vulnerable critical services leave people exposed, while secondary hazards such as landslides, soil liquification, and tsunamis can worsen earthquake impacts.
  • Strategic investments in resilient infrastructure, early-warning systems, and recovery planning, including post-disaster financing, can help reduce risks, protect people, and strengthen preparedness.
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Powering Prosperity: Unlocking East Asia’s Renewable Energy for Growth and Competitiveness

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With vast, untapped renewable resources, East Asia can accelerate its clean energy transition—boosting competitiveness, creating millions of jobs, and strengthening energy security. A new World Bank report charts how.

East Asia’s industrial rise has been powered by coal in recent decades – delivering rapid growth – but also making the region a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. Today, the economics and the imperatives have shifted. A new World Bank Group report, Green Horizon: East Asia’s Sustainable Energy Future, finds that the region’s enormous, but largely untapped, renewable energy potential can fuel the next wave of growth, secure affordable energy, and enhance competitiveness.

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