Tag Archives: World Bank Group

Harnessing Digital Potential to Unlock Inclusive Growth and Job Creation

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Western and Central African countries are committed to accelerating digital transformation to ensure broadband access, develop artificial intelligence capabilities, create digital jobs, and build an integrated market by 2030.

COTONOU, November 18, 2025 – At the conclusion of a regional summit held on November 17–18, 2025, in Benin, ministers responsible for digital affairs from West and Central African countries adopted the Cotonou Declaration, signaling their strong commitment to accelerating digital transformation in the region. They set ambitious targets for 2030, including achieving affordable and reliable broadband access for 90% of the population, deploying interoperable public digital infrastructure such as digital identity and payment systems, doubling intra-African e-commerce, and adopting harmonized frameworks for cybersecurity, data governance, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create a trusted environment.

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Skills Training Is Opening Opportunities for Millions of Young People in Africa

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From a young age, Leah Francis Basu was fascinated by the mechanics of an aircraft. “I loved aircrafts,” she recalls, describing the moment she first discovered the science of lift. “It was surprising to me to learn the Bernoulli’s principle, where air moving faster over the top of the wing creates lower pressure, while the air beneath the wing remains at higher pressure, forcing the aircraft upward to take off.”

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Level Up MENA: How digital education and skills are powering the next generation of jobs

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Imagine landing your dream engineering role at one of Silicon Valley’s top technology companies – from your apartment in Riyadh, Cairo, or Beirut. This dream is now within reach for thousands in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), provided they have the right skills.

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Continental Drying: A Threat to Our Common Future

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The world is facing a dangerous decline in freshwater availability. This persistent freshwater loss—known as continental drying— is disrupting jobs, incomes, and ecosystems. By combining satellite data with economic and land-use information, Continental Drying: A Threat to our Common Future, offers new insight into where and why freshwater is disappearing and what can be done.

The report maps global hotspots, quantifies the economic and environmental toll, and outlines a three-pronged strategy—managing demand, augmenting supply, and improving allocation—to tackle the continental drying crisis. Beyond water, addressing trade barriers, investing in education and skills, and expanding access to markets and finance are critical to strengthening jobs and safeguarding livelihoods worldwide.

FULL REPORT

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How has the profile of extreme poverty changed over the last decade? Five key facts

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There are over 830 million people around the world living in extreme poverty today, but who are they, and what do we know about their daily lives? A deeper understanding of the characteristics of people and households living in extreme poverty can help us design more effective policies. To gain those insights, we need key data.  

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Digital pathways to a thriving and livable planet

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Across the world, people are feeling the strain of a changing environment. In 2025, nine out of 10 people were living in places where the land is losing productivity, the air is polluted, or the water is becoming scarce or unsafe. In low-income countries, most people face all three of these challenges at once—putting health, jobs, and growth at risk.

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World Bank and Southern African Power Pool Partner to Expand Regional Power Trade

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WASHINGTON, November 4, 2025 – Today the World Bank approved the Technical Assistance to the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) project, also known as RETRADE SAPP, to support increasing and expanding the regional electricity market in the SAPP.

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Guinea’s electricity surge: powering local small businesses and communities

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STORY HIGHLIGHTS

  • The OMVG transmission network has increased Guinea’s electricity trade capacity to 340,000 KVA, up from zero in 2015, surpassing the original project target and enabling reliable cross-border energy exchange.
  • Guinea’s hydropower plants (Kaleta and Souapiti) now supply clean energy domestically and export 1,174 GWh annually to Senegal, The Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau, supporting regional energy transition and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
  • Commercial losses in Guinea’s grid are projected to decrease from 40% in 2025 to 20% by 2030, thanks to grid modernization, regularization of illegal connections, and deployment of pre-paid meters under the project.
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From commitment to action: Driving effective implementation in IDA21

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In an era marked by unprecedented challenges, rapid change, and fiscal constraints, the need to effectively implement development efforts for greater impact has never been higher. 

The 21st round of financing for the International Development Association (IDA21), our fund for low-income countries, is ushering in a bold new chapter to build a better life for all, supported by up to $100 billion in commitments from donors and the World Bank. As 78 countries prepare to chart their own courses toward prosperity, the spotlight turns to the tactics and partnerships that will transform this ambition into tangible progress for the world’s most vulnerable communities.

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