Tag Archives: IFC

Health Works: Creating Jobs & Growth Through Quality Care

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Good health empowers people, creates jobs, and drives economic growth. It fuels productivity, strengthens resilience, and acts as a powerful engine for employment—each health job generates up to 3.5 additional jobs in related sectors. We are working closely with countries and partners to reach 1.5 billion people with quality, affordable health services by 2030 which could create 29 million additional jobs. Investing in health is investing in economic opportunity. Join us in advancing health for all—share this video, start a conversation, and support efforts to expand quality, affordable health care. Together, we can create healthier communities, unlock economic opportunity, and build a brighter future for all. 

“Credit: World Bank Group. All rights reserved”

Regional Economic Updates

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Here are the latest bi-annual regional economic updates to explore the macro development trends in Africa, East Asia and the Pacific, Europe and Central Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa, and South Asia.

These reports are released around the World Bank-International Monetary Fund Spring Meetings and updated again around the Annual Meetings. 

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New World Bank Project to Deliver Clean Water and Sanitation to Five Million Sierra Leoneans

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WASHINGTON, September 25, 2025 – The World Bank Board of Executive Directors today approved the Sierra Leone Water Security and WASH Access Improvement Project. Supported by a $40 million International Development Association (IDA) grant focused on the Western Area, the project is the first phase of a Multiphase Programmatic Approach totaling $180 million over the next decade. It is designed to improve sector institutions, strengthen WASH services for millions of Sierra Leoneans, and increase water resources and climate resilience in the country.

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17 Countries Commit to Concrete Plans to Scale Up Electricity Access as Mission 300 Expands

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NEW YORK, September 24, 2025—Seventeen African governments today committed to reforms and actionable plans to expand electricity access as part of Mission 300—an ambitious partnership led by the World Bank Group and African Development Bank Group that aims to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030.

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Port Performance Varies Across the Globe Amid Continuing Shocks

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Overall performance slides, but some developing country ports improved between 2020-2024

Washington, D.C., September 22, 2025 — Port performance across the world declined between 2020 and 2024 due to the Red Sea Crisis, challenges at the Panama Canal, and pandemic-related shocks, according to a new report released today. However, efficiency gains varied by region and income level. 

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Tackling the Pressing Challenge of Defying Drought in West Africa – An Africa Water Center is Established to Strengthen Capacity in the Water Sector

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OUAGADOUGOU, 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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The World Bank and Blockchain: A New Era of Transparency

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Story Highlights

  • FundsChain, a blockchain-based platform, enables the World Bank to improve traceability, accountability, and streamline operations when tracking the use of funds.
  • Key features include tamper-proof digital records, end-to-end tracking of project funds, granting project partners immediate access to transaction records, and the use of digitization to enhance financial management practices.
  • The solution has been successfully tested in 13 projects across 10 countries, earned industry recognition and by June 2026, it is expected to cover approximately 250 projects in developing countries.
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Türkiye’s Energy-Efficient Buildings Bring Savings, Security, Better Lives

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Story Highlights

Pallets of drywall, insulation, and other materials sitting outside a building construction site
Pallets of drywall, insulation, and other materials outside a construction site in Türkiye World Bank
  • With a growing economy and rising energy demand, Türkiye has been taking bold steps to enhance energy efficiency and reduce reliance on imports.
  • Energy efficiency measures in buildings—such as better insulation, efficient heating and cooling technologies, and LED lighting, combined with solar panels to generate clean energy—are being implemented in public hospitals, schools, and government offices.
  • With World Bank support, Türkiye is aiming to reduce energy consumption in public buildings as part of efforts to achieve energy security and cut harmful emissions.
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Why bridging Africa’s skills gap is crucial for growth

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Sub-Saharan Africa’s economic promise is clear. It has the world’s youngest and fastest-growing population; by 2050 a quarter of the world’s working-age population will be living in Africa, with vast natural resources, and expanding regional markets. Yet these strengths are undermined by a persistent weakness: the region’s skills gap. 

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