Mary Banda in Zambia runs a small restaurant in one of Lusaka’s oldest markets. Before she learned that financial services could make the way she did business easier, her profits were low. But today, her profits have increased, both because she banks her money and because she uses mobile money transfer services.
Using financial services has simplified managing her business and increased profits. And business proceeds now pay her children’s school fees.
Cities are where most people live and most economic activity takes place. Cities bring opportunities, but not equally for all residents. A lack of access, rights, and opportunities for people within cities undermines the positive role cities can play. 
What is your role within the World Bank?
I work in the field of disaster risk management. Global economic losses from disasters such as floods, cyclones, droughts and earthquakes exceeded US$300 billion in 2017, which made this the most costly year on record. The poorest people are often hit hardest by such events, because they often live in low-lying areas in less robust housing, and have limited capacity to recover from financial shocks. The Disaster Risk Management practice in the World Bank aims at reducing the impacts of disasters on poor and vulnerable people around the world. We assist countries in disaster risk reduction (such as dikes, drainage, land-use planning and earthquake-resistant building construction), response and recovery after events, and financial solutions to help buffer the economic impact. I work in the Africa regional team, mainly focusing on Madagascar, Mozambique and the Seychelles. In Madagascar, for example, we are working with the Government to reduce flood risk and improve urban living conditions in the nation’s capital.
The application for the 2019 Selection Process for the Young Professionals Program will be open from June 14 to July 31, 2018 (midnight EST).
Check out the Facebook Live: Q&A with World Bank Young Professionals Program for useful tips and information.
Eligibility – Program Features – Selection Cycle – Application Process
The Young Professionals Program (YPP) is a starting point for an exciting career at the World Bank Group.
On April 18th, 2018 the World Bank Group organized an all day deep dive on procurement for the PSLO’s at the Embassies. The World Bank Procurement Team highlighted the changes in the procurement framework and adressed different topics as Selection Methods for Goods, Works and Non-Consulting Services, Complaints Handling, and Standard Procurement Documents.
The Institute for Future of Living (previously GSC3) signed a partnership agreement with the World Bank in India on May 24, 2018. The goal of this partnership is to create a strong partnership to support global Smart City development in conjunction with implementing the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. The agreement will become activated in the coming months in close collaboration with Dutch businesses and government.
Please see the video with Prime Minister of The Netherlands Mark Rutte.
In the context of strained public finances and limited borrowing capacity for developing countries, there is growing debate on the roles of public and private actors to deliver the trillions of dollars of infrastructure necessary to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). On one hand, high-profile public-private partnership (PPP) project failures have cast doubt about the viability of the model. On the other hand, while public authorities are ultimately responsible for the delivery of public services, deficient infrastructure services in some countries have raised concerns about the ability of the public sector to deliver on its own.
Unrealized Potential: The High Cost of Gender Inequality in Earnings is the first in a series of reports that aim to measure the global economic costs of gender inequality. This first report measures these losses in lifetime earnings.
In many countries, girls’ average educational attainment remains lower than boys and adult women are less literate than men. Apart from these gender gaps in educational attainment, discrimination and social norms shape the terms of female labor force participation. Women are less likely than men to join the labor force and to work for pay. When they do, they are more likely to work part-time, in the informal sector, or in occupations that have lower pay. These disadvantages translate into substantial gender gaps in earnings, which in turn decrease women’s bargaining power and voice.
“The World Bank is one of the world’s largest producers of development data and research. But our responsibility does not stop with making these global public goods available; we need to make them understandable to a general audience.
When both the public and policy makers share an evidence-based view of the world, real advances in social and economic development, such as achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), become possible.” – Shanta Devarajan
We’re pleased to release the 2018 Atlas of Sustainable Development Goals. With over 180 maps and charts, the new publication shows the progress societies are making towards the 17 SDGs.
by Kristalina Georgieva 
On Wed, 05/23/2018
I opened my first bank account as a new student at the London School of Economics in 1987. This seemingly small act meant that I could manage my own finances, spend my own money, and make my own financial decisions. It meant freedom to decide for myself.
Netherlands for the World Bank 
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