“Where are all the women?” I asked my team after assuming the duties of the World Bank
director for Central Asia in July 2021. In my introductory meetings with heads of state, governments, and major cities across the region, I and other World Bank officials were usually the only women in the room.
Tag Archives: COVID-19
Women and Girls are Key to Effective Climate Action
Remittances Grow 5% in 2022, Despite Global Headwinds
WASHINGTON, Nov 30, 2022 — Remittances to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) withstood global headwinds in 2022, growing an estimated 5% to $626 billion. This is sharply lower than the 10.2% increase in 2021, according to the latest World Bank Migration and Development Brief.
How Vietnam Opened New Doors for Deaf Children
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- The Quality Improvement of Primary Education for Deaf Children Project developed new sign language gestures and trained deaf teachers, mentors, and caregivers.
- Expanded sign language facilitated the integration of deaf children in Vietnam into the mainstream and special education.
- The success of the project makes it suitable for expansion around the country and to older students.
Blue Economy for Resilient Africa Program
About the Blue Economy for a Resilient Africa Program 
The African Union estimates that the Blue Economy currently generates nearly US$300 billion for the continent, creating 49 million jobs in the process. These and other crucial benefits—most notably food security, livelihoods, and biodiversity—are entirely dependent on the ocean’s health. By safeguarding and enhancing marine and coastal health, countries will be in a better position to take full advantage of future Blue Economy opportunities, which range from sustainable blue energy to aquaculture to blue carbon.
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World Bank Mobilizes Additional $4.5 billion for Ongoing Assistance to Ukraine
WASHINGTON, November 22, 2022—The World Bank Group today announced an assistance package for Ukraine of $4.5 billion in additional grant financing provided by the United States government. The grant is mobilized under the World Bank’s Public Expenditures for Administrative Capacity Endurance in Ukraine (PEACE) Project, which aims to help the Government of Ukraine sustain essential services and core government functions at the national and regional levels.
Key drivers of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in developing countries
As the world is entering the third year of the global COVID-19 pandemic, it is increasingly
important to understand why many people are still hesitant to get the COVID-19 vaccine even when it is available . However, little is known about vaccine hesitancy in developing countries, as most studies have focused on high-income countries and the few that have analyzed developing countries were either not comparable across countries or not nationally representative.
Costa Rica’s Forest Conservation Pays Off
STORY HIGHLIGHTS 
- Costa Rica has become the first country in Latin America and the Caribbean to receive payments from the World Bank’s Forest Carbon Partnership Facility for reducing carbon emissions from deforestation and forest degradation—commonly known as REDD+.
- This first payment – of $16.4 million for independently verified emission reductions — is a milestone for Costa Rica.
- Results-based climate finance such as payments for emission reductions increasingly is being used to incentivize climate action and help countries achieve their Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Agreement.
Countries Could Cut Emissions by 70% by 2050 and Boost Resilience with Annual Investments of 1.4% of GDP
Low- and middle-income countries can transition to low-carbon, resilient growth pathways if key conditions are met with international support
WASHINGTON, Nov. 3, 2022—Investing an average of 1.4% of GDP annually could reduce emissions in developing countries by as much as 70% by 2050 and boost resilience, according to a new report from the World Bank Group.
Building Resilient Health Systems in the Shadow of COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed structural weaknesses in health systems worldwide and 
negatively impacted individuals, societies, and economies. In the pandemic’s wake, political leaders and everyday people alike recognize the importance of resilient health systems that can prevent, prepare for, respond to, and learn from infectious outbreaks and other shocks while continuing to deliver quality essential health services. But urgent questions remain. Which features of a health system are most important for achieving resilience? How can countries—especially poor ones—build resilient health systems? Which investments should countries prioritize to make their systems resilient to future challenges?
Thursday, November 3rd- 8-9AM EDT
This new World Bank report, “Change Cannot Wait: Building Resilient Health Systems in the Shadow of COVID-19,” builds on previous work, leverages new research, and considers countries’ frontline experiences during the pandemic. It presents a new framework for making health systems resilient, shows how countries can build them, and where countries and partners can target investments to improve health outcomes.
Netherlands for the World Bank 
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