Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest city and economic hub, has long grappled with a pressing 
environmental and public health challenge: inadequate wastewater treatment. With a population of over 2.7 million people, this bustling metropolis has historically struggled to manage its wastewater effectively, mirroring a widespread issue across Latin America.
Tag Archives: RVO
Education for Climate Action
Ingredients for Accelerating Universal Electricity Access: Lessons from Rwanda’s Inspirational Approach
In just 15 years, Rwanda has increased its electricity access to 75% from 6% in 2009. This took government ownership, leadership, and commitment, partnership with the private sector, funding from development partners, and dedicated structure and institutional strengthening.
The goal of lighting up every household is not a dream, but an achievable reality. In a remarkable 15-year journey, Rwanda increased access to electricity to households from 6% in 2009 to 75% as of March 2024. The country has connected 100% of health centers and administrative facilities at the sector level and 84% of schools and most productive users (micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises). This electrification expansion was one of the fastest in the world between 2010 and 2020, ranking 11th globally and 3rd in Africa.
Government ownership, leadership, and commitment to universal electrification. Since 2008, the Government of Rwanda (GoR) has been intentional in engraining electrification targets in its development strategies. The Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy 1 (EDPRS1 2008-2012) set out targets for electricity connections from 70,000 to 200,000 households, and for institutions providing social and administrative services from 50% to 80%. Likewise, both the EDPRS2 (2013-2018), and the National Strategy for Transformation 1 (2017-2024) set a universal electrification target by 2024.
Continue readingNavigating troubled waters: The Red Sea shipping crisis and its global repercussions
The Red Sea, a critical conduit for 30% of the world’s container traffic, is currently facing a
shipping crisis of unprecedented scale. The New Brief, first of a new series analyzing recent economic and social developments and special issues in Fragile, Conflict, and Violence (FCV) situations in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), explores the impact of the Red Sea shipping crisis. The recent conflict in the Middle East has led to attacks on commercial vessels, causing a significant downturn in maritime activity (Figure 1). As of end-March 2024, the volume of traffic through the strategic Suez Canal and Bab El-Mandeb Strait has dropped by half, while the alternative route via the Cape of Good Hope route has witnessed a 100% increase in navigation (Figure 2).
March 2024 global poverty update from the World Bank: first estimates of global poverty until 2022 from survey data
Global poverty estimates were updated today on the Poverty and Inequality Platform (PIP). As 
explained in more detail in the What’s New document, more than 100 new surveys were added to the PIP database, bringing the total number of surveys to more than 2,300. With more recent survey data, this March 2024 PIP update is the first to report a global poverty number for 2020-2022, the period of the COVID-19 pandemic. We estimate that COVID-19 increased extreme poverty in the world, as measured by the international poverty line of $2.15, from 8.9 percent in 2019 to 9.7 percent in 2020 (see Figure 1). This is the first increase in global poverty in decades. It is in line with earlier estimates of the COVID-19 impact which used limited survey data and GDP growth projections.
Educating for the present and the future: using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to address the learning crisis
Can Artificial Intelligence (IA) help address massive education gaps? The answer is a cautious 
and optimistic yes. 1.8 billion students in the world should receive a good education. However, half of them do not achieve basic reading and numeracy skills needed for life.
Investing in rail can help put African cities on a more sustainable track
Africa is home to 11 of the world’s most populous cities, with urban areas growing rapidly. 
While urbanization has fueled significant economic expansion across the region, it has also brought a variety of challenges, including a significant rise in the demand for motorized transport. The impact on people’s lives is hard to overstate: for the residents of African cities, more vehicles on the road often translates into chronic traffic congestion, longer commutes, as well as increased traffic fatalities and injuries.
While urbanization has fueled significant economic expansion across the region, it has also brought a variety of challenges, including a significant rise in the demand for motorized transport. The impact on people’s lives is hard to overstate: for the residents of African cities, more vehicles on the road often translates into chronic traffic congestion, longer commutes, as well as increased traffic fatalities and injuries.World Bank Group Ramps Up Fight Against Global Hunger
Expanded ambition and partnership with the G20 Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty to reach at least 500 million people in need
Empowering Africa’s Youth: Bridging the Digital Skills Gap
Digitalization is one of the most transformative opportunities of our time and a potent tool to 
eradicate poverty on a livable planet. Right before our eyes, digital technologies are constantly evolving, changing societies and our everyday lives. The rapid speed of new technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) is also changing digital capabilities for many countries, although not all.
Netherlands for the World Bank 
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