From clicks to care: Targeting social media to improve health in vulnerable communities

Over the past decade, internet access in low- and middle-income countries has surged, with 62% of the population online by 2022 (The World Bank). This growing connectivity has led governments, researchers, and development organizations to turn to social media for spreading important health messages. However, social media algorithms tend to prioritize the most active users, making it unclear whether campaigns reach and impact those who need them most—such as individuals at high risk of contracting malaria.
 

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The International Monetary Fund, the World Bank Group, and the World Health Organization Step Up Cooperation on Pandemic Preparedness

WASHINGTON, Oct. 4, 2024 — The Heads of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank Group (WBG), and the World Health Organization (WHO) have agreed on broad principles for cooperation on pandemic preparedness. This cooperation will allow a scaling up of support to countries to prevent, detect and respond to public health threats through the IMF’s Resilience and Sustainability Trust (RST), the WBG’s financial and technical support, and WHO’s technical expertise and in-country capabilities. The RST allows eligible member countries to access long-term financing at low interest rates to help implement reforms that address structural challenges to the stability of the economy, such as those posed by pandemics, and to enhance countries’ health systems resilience.

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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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Strengthening Collaboration to Maximize Development Impact

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Join World Bank President Ajay Banga and Interamerican Development Bank (IDB) President Ilan Goldfajn for an insightful discussion about strategic and collaborative approaches in a world faced with complex challenges. 

Strengthening Collaboration to Maximize Development Impact

Thursday, August 31
10:00-10:30 am EDT (local time)

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Indigenous Youth on Cultural Identity and a Livable Planet

This year, the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples recognizes the efforts of Indigenous Youth to support sustainable development, along with their pursuit of justice and preservation of their culture and traditions. The World Bank interviewed Indigenous Youth leaders from Africa, Asia, and Latin America to hear their stories and deepen our understanding of their strategies.  While each have experienced unique circumstances, they face similar challenges that put at risk their capacity to sustain their peoples’ significant contributions to conserving the world’s rich cultural and biological diversity.

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We are still unprepared for the next pandemic. But we can fix this.

We live in a world where the risks of pandemics – particularly with zoonotic origins – are1107956685_56cdcab7d1_k_1140x500.jpg growing, driven by climate change, deforestation, changing land use patterns, food systems, water shortages, and urbanization. As the WHO has warned, the question is not if there will be another pandemic, it’s when.

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COVID vaccines: Why we must succeed in every country

The COVID-19 pandemic is far from over, and vaccines remain our most important tool for vaccines_herohelping every country overcome it and get on the path to recovery. 

Since February, much of the world’s attention has shifted to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the risks it poses to global supplies of food and energy.  And the war is coming on top of many other crises – climate change, conflict in many other places, record numbers of refugees, and a rise in poverty for the first time in decades. But even among these daunting global challenges, COVID has particularly far-ranging health, social, and economic impacts, especially for the poorest countries and most vulnerable people.  

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