Our oceans are experiencing a range of problems caused by climate change and human
activity: rising temperatures, acidification, sea-level rise, habitat destruction, overfishing, marine pollution, and the introduction of invasive species. These impacts are damaging ocean health and threatening the livelihoods of billions of people. They also point to a critical lack of governance globally of this precious resource.
Tag Archives: COVID-19
Staying the course for women’s economic empowerment in MENA
The war in Ukraine could not have come at a worse time, eroding global economic
prospects as much of the world struggles to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the immediate impacts of the war has been the surge in commodity prices, raising concerns over food and energy security.
Commodity Markets Outlook: Ukraine war sparks food and energy shocks
WASHINGTON, April 26, 2022—The war in Ukraine has dealt a major shock to commodity markets, altering global patterns of trade, production, and consumption in ways that will keep prices at historically high levels through the end of 2024, according to the World Bank’s latest Commodity Markets Outlook report.
Recap Spring Meeting Events
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April 12 | 7:30 AM EDT  |
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In his speech at the Warsaw School of Economics ahead of the 2022 Spring Meetings, titled “Addressing Challenges to Growth, Security, and Stability,” World Bank Group President David Malpass discussed the millions who are suffering amid massive reversals in development and outlined actions the global community can take to help address this situation. Read the full speech here, which was broadcast live from Poland, a country that has taken in over 2.3 million Ukrainian refugees fleeing war. |
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April 19 | 11:30 AM EDT The Way Forward: Responding to Global Shocks and Managing Uncertainty  |
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IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and World Bank Group President David Malpass kicked off the 2022 Spring Meetings, emphasizing the need for increased debt transparency when debt levels are already high, and urged advanced economies to adjust their policies and improve access to markets, especially during the current food crisis. They also highlighted the immediate response both institutions are providing Ukraine and also discussed how to support the rebuilding of the country. #ResilientFuture
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April 20 | 9:15 AM EDT  |
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World Bank Group President David Malpass addressed the press during the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group 2022 Spring Meetings. He provided updates on the Bank Group’s efforts to respond to myriad crises around the world, as well as to help developing countries manage uncertainty and deliver green, resilient and inclusive development. #ResilientFuture
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April 20 | 11:00 AM EDT  |
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As developing countries struggle to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, digital solutions are enabling economic transformation and putting them on a path toward green, resilient, and inclusive growth. Private and public investment in digital solutions is bringing critical services to the poorest, creating jobs, strengthening small and medium businesses, enabling trade and services, and building resilience to shocks. Catch our replay and learn more. #PowerofDigital
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April 21 | 11:00 AM EDT  Financing Climate Action lays out the complexities of tackling climate and development objectives together amid a geopolitical landscape characterized by conflict, rising prices, and intensifying climate impacts. Several pressing issues are addressed in a series of conversations, from the cost of phasing out coal and the scale of the climate risk we face, to the need to de-risk investments in low-carbon and energy efficiency projects in developing countries, and the expectations for COP27 in Egypt. #Finance4Climate
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April 21 | 2:30 PM EDT  |
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Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky joined this roundtable discussion with the World Bank Group via video link from Ukraine. He spoke about the enormous humanitarian and economic costs of the Russian invasion on Ukraine – including the widespread destruction of schools, nurseries and universities. The World Bank Group estimates the Russian invasion has caused almost $60 billion in physical damage to buildings and infrastructure. The event was hosted by the World Bank Group and the Government of Ukraine. |
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April 22 | 12:00 PM EDT  |
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By 2030, up to two-thirds of the world’s extreme poor could live in fragility, conflict, and violence (FCV) settings, so without addressing the challenges in these economies, we will not succeed in our mission to eradicate extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity. During this event, we heard from David Malpass, President of the World Bank Group, as well as partners and country representatives on how to stay engaged during times of crisis and meet the challenges in new and innovative ways. #RisingFragility |
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April 22 | 2:30 PM EDT  |
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At a time when the global economy is coping with multiple shocks, including the pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and supply chain disruptions to food and other goods, governments are increasingly turning to subsidies for relief. But the costs can be very high, in terms of public spending and distorted incentives for investment and consumption. In this event, the heads of the four key global economic policy institutions—the World Bank Group, the IMF, the OECD and the WTO—discussed the importance of trade and global cooperation for overcoming current challenges and implications of subsidies for markets and poor countries. #UnleashTrade |
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April 23 | 11:00 AM EDT  |
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Now–more than at any other time in living memory–human capital is being dealt devastating blows by conflict, climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The losses to learning, health outcomes, livelihoods, and gender equality have immediate and long-term impacts on people’s well-being and can undermine economic recovery and prosperity for years. Listen to leaders, innovators and change makers who are taking action to put people at the heart of recovery. #InvestInPeople. |
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Helping Countries Cope with Multiple Crises
This year’s Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund took
place at a time of overlapping global crises. The war in Ukraine has compounded concerns about inflation, COVID-19, climate change, and debt, with many other countries also facing fragility and conflict.
The chair’s statement issued on Friday by the Development Committee, a ministerial-level forum that represents 189 member countries of the two organizations, noted that the impacts will be felt most in low- and middle-income countries, especially by their most vulnerable people, including women and children. The statement added that economic recovery is at risk amid geopolitical tensions, with investment, trade, and growth affected, even as countries face further risks from the pandemic and uneven deployment of vaccines.
The 2022 World Bank Group Spring Meetings: Strengthening the case for globalism
In October, 2021, leaders from governments met at the IMF/World Bank Annual meetings to discuss the uneven recovery the global economy was experiencing, develop solutions to ramping up the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and explore ways to ensure that all countries can participate in a green, resilient, and inclusive return to stability and growth.
2022 World Bank Group Spring Meetings
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Joint Statement: The Heads of the World Bank Group, IMF, WFP, and WTO Call for Urgent Coordinated Action on Food Security
- Proposed actions to help vulnerable countries include providing emergency food supplies and deploying financial support to households and countries; facilitating unhindered trade; investing in sustainable food production and nutrition security.
- Leaders call on the international community to support vulnerable countries through grants to cover urgent financing needs.
WASHINGTON, 13 April 2022— The Heads of the World Bank Group (WBG), International Monetary Fund (IMF), United Nations World Food Program (WFP), and World Trade Organization (WTO) today called for urgent action on food security. World Bank Group President David Malpass, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, WFP Executive Director David Beasley and WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala issued the following joint statement ahead of the Spring Meetings of the IMF and World Bank Group next week:
Continue readingGetting it right on development: We do not have to choose between people and climate
The world’s poorest countries did 
the least to contribute to global emissions historically and poorer people within countries emit less than their rich neighbors. Nonetheless, poorer countries and poorer people are more vulnerable to climate impacts. They tend to be more exposed to climate change impacts, for instance living in places exposed to floods, working in occupations like agriculture, or lacking access to improved water and sanitation. And they have fewer resources to adapt and invest in protecting themselves.
Braving the Storms: The outlook for East Asia and the Pacific, illustrated
The Russian invasion of Ukraine threatens the uneven recovery of developing East Asia and Pacific (EAP) countries. The invasion comes on top of the economic distress caused by the lingering COVID-19 pandemic, the financial tightening in the United States, and the pandemic resurgence and the economic slowdown in China. While commodity producers and fiscally solid countries in the region may weather these shocks with less difficulty, these events will dampen the growth prospects of most economies in the region. Overall economic growth is projected to slow to 5 percent in 2022— 0.4 of a percentage point less than expected in October. If global conditions worsen and national policy responses are weak, growth could ease further.
Continue reading
Netherlands for the World Bank 
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