DHAKA, November 25, 2025 — Bangladesh reduced poverty significantly between 2010-2022, lifting 34 million people out of poverty while improving living standards and access to essential services like electricity, education, and sanitation, but since 2016, the pace of poverty reduction slowed and economic growth became less inclusive, says a new report launched today.
Continue readingCOTONOU, November 18, 2025 – At the conclusion of a regional summit held on November 17–18, 2025, in Benin, ministers responsible for digital affairs from West and Central African countries adopted the Cotonou Declaration, signaling their strong commitment to accelerating digital transformation in the region. They set ambitious targets for 2030, including achieving affordable and reliable broadband access for 90% of the population, deploying interoperable public digital infrastructure such as digital identity and payment systems, doubling intra-African e-commerce, and adopting harmonized frameworks for cybersecurity, data governance, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create a trusted environment.
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As leaders from across African governments, the private sector, civil society, and international development partners gather this week in Japan for the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), it’s encouraging to see health taking a prominent place on the agenda.
Continue reading“Credit: World Bank Group. All rights reserved”
WASHINGTON, D.C., August 19, 2025 – The World Bank (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, IBRD, Aaa/AAA) today priced a USD 5 billion benchmark bond that matures in August 2035. The World Bank’s successful USD bond attracted its largest ever 10-year order book with investors around the world.
With more than 180 investor orders, the transaction attracted over USD 13 billion high-quality investor orders, primarily driven by bank treasuries, central banks/official institutions, and asset managers.
Continue readingWashington, July 7, 2025—Comoros is set to rehabilitate 12 kilometers of climate-resilient roads, restoring vital connectivity and strengthening disaster resilience for 13,000 people in one of the country’s most cyclone-affected regions. Additional financing of $12.5 million through a grant from the World Bank Group’s International Development Association (IDA), will complete the critical Mtsangadjou–Foumbouni corridor, enhancing access and safety for vulnerable coastal communities.
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As we cross the halfway point of 2025, mounting headwinds are slowing down global trade. A decade-long rise in trade restrictions has been supercharged by sharp tariff hikes and retaliatory measures from major economies over the past three months. Although some of these measures have since been rolled back and fresh negotiations are underway, businesses are still navigating choppy waters—including elevated policy uncertainty, stretched supply chains, and the ever-present threat of new barriers. In the face of this, we explore how these headwinds will likely reshape trade growth this year and next, identify the most critical risks ahead, and highlight the bright spots that could help steady the ship.
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Netherlands for the World Bank 