For the first time, the Debt team at the World Bank Development Economics Data Group 
(DECDG) will publish online a new series of Debt Reports, at regular intervals, over the course of the year. Their aim is to provide users with analyses of evolving trends and development related to external debt and public debt in individual countries and regional groups, with primary emphasis on low- and middle-income countries, and to keep users abreast of debt-related issues and initiatives.
Fulfilling the Aspirations of MENA’s Youth
In recent months across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, youth have been taking to the streets in ever larger numbers to demand improvements in governance, transparency, service delivery, the environment, and job opportunities.
World Bank blogs
TechEmerge challenge- Health East Africa
The TechEmerge Health East Africa program was launched at CES 2020 as part of a 
World Bank Group (WBG) – CES Global Tech Challenge. TechEmerge brings technologies to new markets to drive sustainable innovation in regions that need it the most.
TIMELINE 2020
eC2: Disaster Risk Finance Capacity Building Program for Francophone Africa
Deadline: 03-Feb-2020 at 11:59:59 PM (Eastern Time – Washington D.C.) 
The objective of the Executive Education training will be for relevant African stakeholders to: enhance their understanding of disaster risk financing strategies and instruments for protection from natural disasters, embedded in the broader DRM and fiscal risk management frameworks, and build the skill sets to design and implement such strategies.
eC2: Advisory Services to the Indonesia Coastal Fisheries Initiative
Deadline: 10-Feb-2020 at 11:59:59 PM (Eastern Time – Washington D.C.) 
The objective of this consultancy is to identify: (1) main barriers a) for the participation of the private sector in sustainable fisheries and b) for the establishment of community private sector partnerships around sustainable fisheries; (2) advise on ways to address these barriers; and (3) present a concrete business case of return-seeking responsible investments in a specific target fishery, that incorporates the advice above, and thus informs understanding of fisheries investment risks and opportunities.
Jobs, Skills, and the Potential of AI in Kenya
One of the advantages of artificial intelligence (AI) is that it can help us carry out tasks 
faster and with fewer errors than humans. I wanted to test this on analyzing labor market demand and skills gaps. So, earlier this year, I partnered with Headai, a Finnish company, to apply an AI-enabled labor market assessment tool in Kenya. We used the tool to analyze: (a) online job advertisements from select online job portals in Kenya and (b) computer science curricula from the University of Nairobi and Moi University to identify the gaps between what the labor market is looking for and what the university curriculum is providing.
World Bank blogs
eC2: Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+ programme (GCFRP)
Deadline: 06-Feb-2020 at 11:59:59 PM (Eastern Time – Washington D.C.)
A reputable Ghanaian non-governmental organization (NGO)/firm, with significant experience and expertise working on community-based natural resource management (e.g. CREMA and HIA) and established presence in the GCFRP landscape will be contracted to work in direct collaboration to with the National REDD+ Secretariat to:
1) bring together the existing plans, knowledge, processes, structures and learning on the implementation of HIAs (including governance structures and consortiums); and then
2) use this information in 2 target HIAs to support the development of governance structures (e.g. CREMA, Sub-HIA, HIA, and Consortium), leading to the signing of Framework Agreements in partnership with the private sector and government.
eC2: West Africa: Regional Digital Infrastructure Market Development
Deadline: 03-Feb-2020 at 11:59:59 PM (Eastern Time – Washington D.C.) 
The objective of this assignment is two-fold: (i) to conduct a deep-dive gap analysis of the existing legal, competition and regulatory framework, and subsequent market outcomes, in 4-6 selected countries to identify specific areas that require strengthening to promote broadband infrastructure and service market development at both the country and regional levels; and (ii) based on the gap analysis, prepare Reform Roadmaps for each country, consisting of carefully sequenced reforms and investment prioritizations for the next 5 years (up to 2025). The Reform Roadmaps will identify policy and regulatory actions necessary to remove bottlenecks for digital infrastructure growth at both the wholesale and retail levels, as well as at country and regional (i.e. cross-border) levels, to ultimately prepare the foundations of a West Africa regional digital economy.
Top 9 water blogs of 2019
As we wrap up 2019, we continue our end-of-year tradition of recapping the top pieces 
from The Water Blog and creating this special list for you.
Countdown to 2030: A race against time to end extreme poverty
Imagine you are in a race, running at a steady pace during the first two-thirds. However, 
you notice that your pace is slowing, and you realize that unless you make changes you are not only not going to win, but you risk not even completing the race.
I find this analogy to work well while narrating the story about the reduction in global extreme poverty to my family and friends. Even though this is when we should be ratcheting up the pace, it has been slowing for the last few years, so that the world not only risks missing out on its extreme poverty reduction goals, but in some cases, we are seeing a reversal in the gains achieved.
Netherlands for the World Bank 
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