OUAGADOUGOU, September 30, 2025 – A two-day High-Level Forum on Defying Drought (D2) in West Africa concluded today in Ouagadougou with a strong commitment to address the pressing challenges of drought in the region, amid the broader context of climate change and population growth. Senior policymakers from Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Senegal, joined by technical experts from Morocco and Brazil, as well as regional and international institutions and development partners, came together to advance coordinated and practical solutions to reduce drought-related losses and build climate resilience across the Sahel. Technical sessions showcased regional and global best practices and facilitated the co-design of a roadmap outlining short-, medium-, and long-term policy actions to strengthen drought resilience across West Africa.
Continue readingAuthor Archives: NL4WorldBank
The World Bank and Blockchain: A New Era of Transparency
Story Highlights
- FundsChain, a blockchain-based platform, enables the World Bank to improve traceability, accountability, and streamline operations when tracking the use of funds.
- Key features include tamper-proof digital records, end-to-end tracking of project funds, granting project partners immediate access to transaction records, and the use of digitization to enhance financial management practices.
- The solution has been successfully tested in 13 projects across 10 countries, earned industry recognition and by June 2026, it is expected to cover approximately 250 projects in developing countries.
Türkiye’s Energy-Efficient Buildings Bring Savings, Security, Better Lives
Story Highlights
- With a growing economy and rising energy demand, Türkiye has been taking bold steps to enhance energy efficiency and reduce reliance on imports.
- Energy efficiency measures in buildings—such as better insulation, efficient heating and cooling technologies, and LED lighting, combined with solar panels to generate clean energy—are being implemented in public hospitals, schools, and government offices.
- With World Bank support, Türkiye is aiming to reduce energy consumption in public buildings as part of efforts to achieve energy security and cut harmful emissions.
Why bridging Africa’s skills gap is crucial for growth
Sub-Saharan Africa’s economic promise is clear. It has the world’s youngest and fastest-growing population; by 2050 a quarter of the world’s working-age population will be living in Africa, with vast natural resources, and expanding regional markets. Yet these strengths are undermined by a persistent weakness: the region’s skills gap.
Continue readingEmbracing and Shaping Change: Human Development for a Middle East and North Africa in Transition
“Credit: World Bank Group. All rights reserved”
Digital technology is driving the future of jobs
A farmer in Kenya uses mobile apps to get real-time harvesting tips, check market prices, and connect directly with buyers and lenders. A woman in Indonesia takes meal orders and arranges deliveries through social media. A small innkeeper in Jamaica lists rooms on booking platforms and manages reservations online. A street vendor in Dakar sells handmade jewelry across Africa using just her smartphone. And in Manila, a university student teaches math to high schoolers in remote areas via an online e-learning platform.
Continue reading2025 Annual Meetings: Join Us Online
The global development community gathers in Washington, DC. Join us online October 13–18, 2025 for live updates from the World Bank Group–IMF Annual Meetings.
Sign up for updates: 2025 Annual Meetings
World Bank Group Successfully Closes Inaugural Securitization Transaction, Marking Pivotal Step in Private Sector Mobilization Effort
WASHINGTON, D.C., September 19, 2025—The World Bank Group, through its private sector arm, the International Finance Corporation, has closed its inaugural securitization transaction; successfully launching a new model to attract institutional private capital into emerging markets. This transaction marks the first tangible step in a larger effort to build an originate-to-distribute model for emerging market investments.
Continue readingAccelerating Investment: Challenges and Policies
Developing economies have an acute need for higher investment. Investment is the engine that builds productive capacity, modernizes infrastructure, sets the stage for job growth, and advances countries toward development and climate goals. Yet as development needs have expanded, investment growth has been in a deep slump—a call to action for policy makers, investors, and development practitioners.
Continue readingVirtual Global Supplier Webinar
World Bank is excited to host and share with you this announcement on the upcoming Virtual Global Supplier Webinar.
This session will provide an overview of upcoming procurement opportunities in Energy, Transport, and Water sectors, which account for over half of the international contracts in projects financed by the World Bank. You’ll also learn about recent enhancements to our procurement framework designed to make participation easier and more impactful for suppliers of all sizes.
Join us on October 9th in any of our two sessions available to accommodate global time zones:
🕘 Session 1: 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM (DC Time)
🕘 Session 2: 9:00 PM – 10:30 PM (DC Time)
Agenda Overview:
- Welcome Remarks
- Procurement Framework Updates
- Sector Opportunities: Water, Energy, Transport
- Supplier Resources
- Live Q&A
- Closing Remarks
🌍 The session is open to global suppliers of goods, works, services, and consultancy. We hope you will join us and share this invitation with companies in your network. Please note this session focuses on World Bank-financed investment projects – it will not address supplying directly to the World Bank or “Corporate Procurement.”
Register here:
🕘 Session 1: 9:00 AM (DC Time)
🔗 https://worldbankgroup.webex.com/weblink/register/r9cf4986523bea25bb84dd0ba8c248645
🕘 Session 2: 9:00 PM (DC Time)
🔗 https://worldbankgroup.webex.com/weblink/register/re147d66b8db52706158604a0547727a2
We look forward to your participation!
Netherlands for the World Bank 
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