Tag Archives: Innovation

The AI governance balancing act: Navigating opportunities and risks

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Did you know that in Sub-Saharan Africa, students spend an average of six years in school but leave with only three years’ worth of learning? The learning gap is stark, but artificial intelligence (AI) is rising to the challenge. In Kenya, innovators have created Somanasi (“Learn with me”), an AI-powered chatbot designed to help bridge this divide. By providing real-time, tailored responses to student questions, gamifying lessons, and promoting collaborative learning, this resource helps students better understand and retain the school curriculum, empowering them to make the most of their time in school and narrow the learning deficit. 

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USAID Launches New Window of $50 Million for EDGE Fund to Boost Innovation through Private Sector Partnerships

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Press Release

USAID announced a new $50 million round of funding for the USAID’s EDGE Fund. The EDGE Fund enables USAID Missions worldwide to leverage private sector expertise, networks and supply chains to drive sustainable and scalable solutions to global challenges.  

Recognizing that the needs faced by communities around the globe are simply too large for governments and donors to tackle alone, USAID engages a wide range of partners in its work, most notably the private sector. The EDGE Fund supports the most catalytic types of private sector partnerships in which there is significant alignment between the commercial interests of our private sector partners, the development objectives of the Agency, and development needs of local populations, ensuring continued private sector investment into targeted communities well into the future.

Through prior rounds of EDGE funding, USAID is investing $100 million and is leveraging over $280 million from the private sector to implement solutions that could unlock upwards of $2 billion in mobilized investments for sustainable development. Through collaborations with over 80 private sector partners, the EDGE Fund is advancing market-led solutions that address conflict, displacement, and food insecurity; accelerate inclusive economic growth; tackle the climate crisis; and combat political repression and corruption.   

This new $50 million third round of funding, brings total USAID investment through the EDGE Fund to $150 million.

Prospective partners can submit Expressions of Interest on the EDGE Fund page.

 

 
 
 

 

Innovative financing solutions for improved nutrition

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In spite of a commendable decline in stunting rates over the past 30 years, 148 million children shutterstock-2436807165-1140x500_1140x500worldwide remain stunted. The condition impairs their growth, health, development, and education and has long-term consequences for their future wellbeing.

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What middle-income countries can learn from America’s innovation system

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The American model of innovation has long been the envy of the world. From the garage USA-flag-chip_1140x500tinkerers of Silicon Valley to the research labs of prestigious universities, the United States has consistently churned out groundbreaking technologies that have reshaped industries and transformed lives. Today, the United States leads the world in the number of patents produced per person—as well as the importance of these patents.

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Sowing the seeds of change to solve the water crisis

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Solving the water crisis is central to our future on a livable planet. Whether it is too much, too little, or too polluted water, this triple threat, exacerbated by climate change, denies billions of people reliable access to safe water and sanitation.  It threatens economies, fuels migration, and can ignite conflict. We need global action to establish water security for green, resilient, and inclusive growth, and to tackle the water-climate-conflict nexus.

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A Conversation with David Malpass and Samantha Power

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June 21st, 11:30 AM EDT (local time) –> LINK

Join World Bank Group President David Malpass, and USAID Administrator Samantha Power at 11.30am, June 21st for a conversation about the impact of the current overlapping global crises on the poorest and most vulnerable.

How should the international community respond to challenges including the war in Ukraine, rising food insecurity and higher inflation? What can we learn from past crises and what innovative ideas could help us respond to the current global shocks? President Malpass and Administrator Power discuss the global response, the role of governments and multilateral institutions, and ideas for the way forward. 

The Way Forward is an occasional series of in-depth discussions on development challenges and innovative solutions, hosted by World Bank Group President, David Malpass.

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COVID-19 and women-led businesses: More innovation but greater financial risk

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Over a year into the pandemic, we have witnessed how a sweeping infectious disease and lockdown measures quickly deepened inequalities, hindering the progress that many have fought for years to achieve. One of the most striking examples is the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on women.

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NL Success: IFC TechEmerge East-Africa

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We are excited to announce 3 Dutch Companies are shortlisted for the IFC TechEmerge Health East-Africa: Qtracer, CarePay and SwyMed.index

53 tech companies from 20 countries that have been selected to attend the virtual TechEmerge Health East Africa Innovation Summit (date to be confirmed; possibly Aug/Sept. 2020).

In total, over 415 tech companies from 50 countries applied to the TechEmerge Health East Africa program. Applications went through a competitive evaluation process supported by a global network of  ~30 independent expert advisors. 53 tech companies across multiple categories were identified to have market-relevant solutions that may meet the needs of participating East Africa healthcare providers (“Providers”). There are ~25 leading Providers in Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia participating in the program, serving over 6.5 million patients across 285+ facilities, with 2,850 beds.

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Corporate Procurement WB: Request EOI for the WB Blockchain for Traceability Project

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Deadline: February 25, 2020 @ 5:00 PM EST

The World Bank Group Technology and Innovation Lab (“World Bank IL”) invites interested parties to respond to an Invitation for Prototype Build (IPB) for application of blockchain and DLT protocols to address disbursement traceability of World Bank funded projects.

The World Bank IL provides a learning platform, exploration space, and technology advice around disruptive technologies. The World Bank IL collaborates with its internal technology and business units, and external stakeholders to explore, test and understand new technology capabilities that will enable the World Bank to fully harness the Digital Age to achieve its mission.

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FCV strategy consultations

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Consultations have closed on the World Bank Group’s first Strategy for Fragility, Conflict and Violence with over two thousand stakeholders having provided feedback. The strategy is expected to be finalized in the next few weeks. Click here to see the process so far.

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