Tag Archives: RVO

When risks stack up: Threats to global food markets in 2026

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Global food commodity markets entered 2026 on a relatively stable footing, supported by ample grain and edible oil supplies. However, escalating conflict in the Middle East has disrupted that stability, introducing new volatility into food trade and input markets. The World Bank Group’s April 2026 Commodity Markets Outlook projects a 2.5 percent increase in the global food commodity price index this year, but risks are firmly tilted to the upside. The emergence of El Niño conditions, rising energy and fertilizer costs, growing biofuel demand, and potential trade restrictions could all push food prices significantly above current projections.


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Closing the skills gap: why industry must help lead the way

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The global economy is changing at extraordinary speed, and education and training systems are struggling to keep up. Artificial intelligence is transforming jobs almost overnight. The green transition will create tens of millions of new ones. By 2050, 22 percent of the world will be over the age of 60, creating urgent shortfalls in health and care workers. And yet, despite a large and untapped global labor force, employers cannot find the talent they need. The result is a paradox: mass unmet demand for talent, alongside a vast untapped labor force.

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New World Bank Group Partnership with Poland Focuses on Mobilizing Private Capital, Driving Innovation, and Creating Better Jobs

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WASHINGTON, June 16, 2026—The World Bank Group’s Board of Executive Directors today discussed a new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for Poland for the period 2026-2031. The program will help Poland build a more innovative and competitive economy, mobilize private investment, create better jobs, and support the country’s next phase of growth.

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The World Bank Group and Japan Expand Cooperation to Strengthen Critical Minerals Supply Chains and Energy Resilience

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TOKYO, June 1, 2026 — World Bank Group President Ajay Banga and Minister of Finance of Japan Satsuki Katayama today agreed to strengthen collaboration on helping developing countries build more resilient supply chains and energy systems, unlocking investment, jobs, and long-term economic growth.

They signed the document to launch the Resilient and Inclusive Supply-chain Enhancement Plus (RISE+) , and agreed on a new framework called Dynamic Response for Invigorating Value Chains and Energy Security (DRIVE). Together, these initiatives extend Japan’s existing partnerships with the World Bank Group on critical minerals and regional energy security.

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Building Ethiopia’s Pharmaceutical Future: From Strong Regulation to Local Production

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Ethiopia is transforming from an import-dependent market into a pharmaceutical manufacturing hub. After becoming the 9th African nation to reach WHO Maturity Level 3, local production now exceeds 40% of medicine supply. This WBG feature examines how regulation, the Kilinto Special Economic Zone, and research at AHRI and CDT-Africa are driving jobs, exports, and health sovereignty.

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Small bridge, massive impact: Connecting Madagascar’s vanilla to the world

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There is a bridge in northeastern Madagascar that you probably haven’t heard of, yet it probably has brought some joy into your life. It is about 140 meters long, with a three-meter-wide traffic lane and a one-meter-wide sidewalk. By any global measure, it is unremarkable. No tourists photograph it. It is not the kind of place that shows up on Instagram feeds, and no travel guidebook mentions it.

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World Bank Group Report Shows How Digital Tools Can Help Cities Cut Waste Costs, Improve Services, and Build Circular Economies

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WASHINGTON, May 27, 2026, Municipalities and waste management companies can use digital tools to improve service reliability, reduce operating costs, strengthen recycling systems, and make better investment decisions, according to a new World Bank Group report, Waste, Reimagined: Practical Guidance for Digitalizing Waste Management.

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Unlocking Global International Financial Institution Opportunities: How RVO and the Washington Embassy Support Dutch Business

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Dutch entrepreneurs looking to expand globally through International Financial Institutions (IFIs), the strategic partnership between the RVO Team International Organisations (TIO) and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Washington D.C. (WAS) offers a vital support network. TIO serves as the primary point of contact for initial advice on a wide range of institutions—including the IADB, ADB, AfDB, and UN—while the WAS team specializes in providing in-depth guidance for DC-based organizations like the World Bank Group and IADB. Together, they ensure that the Dutch private sector is well-positioned to navigate the complex landscape of international procurement and partnership.

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