As daily infection rates in South and Central America are increasing significantly, Haiti 
faces specific health challenges in battling the coronavirus pandemic. A new report outlines how the pandemic may look different in rich versus developing countries, and how the latter may experience more severe health impacts. As our daily routines now include checking new COVID-19 numbers, data experts are exploring how more timely data could contribute to stronger development outcomes.
Category Archives: Projects
In the pandemic, cities are scrambling to expand cycling infrastructure: Big Data can help
The coronavirus (COVID-19) and lockdown measures have created immense challenges 
for urban transport. But they also provide an opportunity for cities to rethink the future of mobility. Cycling, in particular, is enjoying renewed attention. This is not surprising, as biking offers many advantages that make it an attractive form of urban transport both during and after the pandemic: bicycles can ease the pressure on public transit systems, allow for easy social distancing, contribute to better public health, and reduce air pollution.
Weekly Recap
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Over the past three months, the World Bank Group has mounted the fastest crisis response in its history. We are now financing emergency operations in over 100 countries – home to 70% of the global population. In this virtual interview, David Malpass, President of the World Bank Group, discussed the path ahead for developing countries. What will a robust and resilient recovery look like? How can we promote economic growth, support the poorest, and sustain businesses and jobs? Watch the replay. |
Investing in Nature Pays off for People and Biodiversity
If you take care of the land, it will take care of you, says Tsefaye Kidane, a 40-year-old coffee farmer from the Kafa Biosphere Reserve, a protected area in southwest Ethiopia that is also regarded as the birthplace of wild Arabica coffee.
World Bank Announces $500 Million to Fight Locusts, Preserve Food Security and Protect Livelihoods
Emergency Financing for Locust Affected Countries will help people recover from losses
WASHINGTON, May 21, 2020 — The World Bank Group approved today a US$500 million program to help countries in Africa and the Middle East fight the locust swarms that are threatening the food security and livelihoods of millions of people.
The Emergency Locust Response Program (ELRP), approved today by the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors, will focus on providing immediate assistance to help poor and vulnerable farmers, herders, and rural households overcome one of the worst locust upsurges in decades. ELRP will provide immediate support to affected households through targeted social safety nets like cash transfers, while investing in the medium-term recovery of agriculture and livestock production systems and rural livelihoods in affected countries.
Incidence of COVID-19 and Connections with Air Pollution Exposure : Evidence from the Netherlands
The fast spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has resulted in the 
emergence of several hot-spots around the world. Several of these are located in areas associated with high levels of air pollution. This study investigates the relationship between exposure to particulate matter and COVID-19 incidence in 355 municipalities in the Netherlands. The results show that atmospheric particulate matter with diameter less than 2.5 is a highly significant predictor of the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and related hospital admissions. The estimates suggest that expected COVID-19 cases increase by nearly 100 percent when pollution concentrations increase by 20 percent.
Newsletter September 2017: Cooperation, the Key to Success
We are excited to bring you the “after the Summer holiday special” September edition of the NL4WorldBank newsletter, 
Cooperation, the Key to Success which was published the 6th.
Webinar on “How to Complain?”
You are kindly invited to join us for a Private Sector Webinar on “How to Complain”, The
webinar will be held on Thursday June 8, 2017 from 08:00am – 10:00am Washington, DC Time.
Description
The 2016 Procurement Framework has enhanced the mechanism for handling of procurement-related complaints. The enhancements are aimed at providing fair, timely and meaningful relief to complainants while avoiding undue delays and disruptions to project implementation.
Register: Please email your interest to: Nancy Bikondo-Omosa (nbikondo@worldbank.org).
Deadline: 5pm, Monday June 5, 2017
Turkey health sector development project approved
The World Bank’s Board of Directors has 
approved a financing of €120 million / $134 million to the Health System Strengthening and Support Project of Turkey.
The objective of the Health System Strengthening and Support Project for Turkey is to improve primary and secondary prevention of selected non-communicable diseases, increase the efficiency of public hospital management, and enhance the capacity of the Ministry of Health for evidence-based policy making.
The project aims to implement three integrated components and activities: Continue reading
US$250 Million Program to Support Jordan’s Energy & Water Sectors
The World Bank Board of Directors approved
today a US$250 million financial package to support Jordan’s process to reform the energy and water sectors, two critical public services which are challenged by scarce resources and further burdened by a sharp rise in demand caused by the influx of Syrian refugees.
“The water sector is on track to start generating energy efficiency savings that will help to reduce the fiscal and environmental footprints of the sector.”
– Caroline van den Berg, World Bank Lead Water and Sanitation Specialist.
Jordan’s historic vulnerability to the fluctuations in fuel prices, coupled with the frequent interruptions in piped natural gas from Egypt since the outbreak of the Arab upheaval in 2011, have severely taxed the budget. To compensate for the gas shortages, Jordan has resorted to importing more expensive diesel and fuel oil. This development encouraged the Government to develop and implement programs to diversify and reduce cost of energy supply through the development of domestic renewable energy resources and alternate natural gas supply options for power generation.
On the water front, Jordan has historically grappled with water scarcity, which has forced the Kingdom to maximize its use of shared resources, while becoming more dependent on non-conventional, and often very energy-intensive, water infrastructure. A series of external shocks, including the fluctuations in oil prices and the influx of the Syrian refugees in the country, have rapidly increased the cost of water. In response, the Government is implementing a sector reform program that aims to optimize the allocation of water resources, while reducing the use of energy in the sector – a program that would be supported by the DPL. The plan will optimize the use of existing surface water resources while allocating increasing flows of treated wastewater to farmers and industry to support economic growth while reducing the over-extraction of groundwater.
“We are pleased to continue supporting the Government of Jordan in implementing its ambitious and far reaching reform programs, which aim to bolster the country’s broad development agendas.”
– Ferid Belhaj, World Bank Director for the Middle East.
The water sector is one of the largest consumers of electricity in the country, and hence any increase in energy efficiency will help to reduce the cost of water and reduce emissions and subsequently the carbon footprint of the sector.
In addition to the new US$250 million loan, the World Bank’s portfolio in Jordan comprises three projects amounting to US$430 million, as well as 15 trust fund grants for a total of US$83.4 million.
More information can be found on the World Bank website, where you also may find the program document.
Netherlands for the World Bank 
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