2025 has been a year of steep ups and downs for the global economy—at least where growth forecasts have been concerned. The consensus forecasts of economists have swung from optimism to pessimism and back again. Yet actual economic activity has remained remarkably resilient. Forecasters now expect global growth of about 2.7 percent—broadly in line with expectations at the start of the year (figure 1A).
Continue readingOUAGADOUGOU, September 30, 2025 – A two-day High-Level Forum on Defying Drought (D2) in West Africa concluded today in Ouagadougou with a strong commitment to address the pressing challenges of drought in the region, amid the broader context of climate change and population growth. Senior policymakers from Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Senegal, joined by technical experts from Morocco and Brazil, as well as regional and international institutions and development partners, came together to advance coordinated and practical solutions to reduce drought-related losses and build climate resilience across the Sahel. Technical sessions showcased regional and global best practices and facilitated the co-design of a roadmap outlining short-, medium-, and long-term policy actions to strengthen drought resilience across West Africa.
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Foreign direct investment (FDI)—an important source of external financing for emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs)—has weakened since the global financial crisis, heightening the challenges of filling vast infrastructure gaps, reducing poverty, creating new jobs, and addressing climate change. This study provides a broad perspective on the evolution of FDI inflows to EMDEs since 2000, including patterns across regions and changes in sectoral composition.
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At the World Bank Group, creating more and better jobs has long been central to our mission, and we will prioritize job creation as an explicit aim of everything we do.
Continue readingMARRAKECH, February 18, 2025 – Road safety financing faces a critical shortfall, hindering progress toward halving global road traffic fatalities and injuries by 2030. Each year, road crashes claim an estimated 1.19 million lives, leave countless others with permanent disabilities, and impose significant economic costs.
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Are you interested in contributing to Ukraine’s reconstruction and looking for financial opportunities? Then join our information session on international financing options for reconstruction on 13 February 2025. We will inform you about the opportunities that international financial institutions (IFIs) can offer you.
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Informatiebijeenkomst internationale financieringsopties voor wederopbouwprojecten in Oekraïne
Thursday 13 February 13:00 (CET) Register
Continue readingWASHINGTON, D.C., January 7, 2025 – The World Bank (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, IBRD, Aaa/AAA) today priced a 7-year benchmark bond that matures in January 2032. The Sustainable Development Bond raised USD 6 billion from investors seeking a high-quality liquid investment that supports the World Bank’s work to end extreme poverty and boost prosperity on a livable planet.
From October 22 to 26 the World Bank Group (WBG) and International Monetary Fund
(IMF) Annual Meetings took place in Washington D.C.:
This year the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Aid (BHO), Reinette Klever, could not attend and was represented by Finance Minister, Eelco Heinen. Beyond that numerous other Dutch Government and Banking Officials (including from Aruba and Curacao) were present.
The ongoing digitization of financial services and money creates opportunities to build more 
inclusive and efficient financial services and promote economic development. This digital transformation presents a paradigm shift that has various policy implications, including:
Netherlands for the World Bank 