High-Level Retreat in New Hampshire as part of Bretton Woods at 80 Initiative

WASHINGTON, September 24, 2024 – As part of the previously announced Bretton Woods at 80 Initiative, the IMF and the World Bank Group are hosting a high-level retreat at Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, on September 26‒27, 2024.

This two-day Chatham House Rules event will bring together a small and diverse group of global thinkers—including individuals prominent in the fields of history, international relations, political science, finance, and business—at the location of the 1944 United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference (the “Bretton Woods Conference”).

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Finding a path to peace, stability, and development in Haiti

 

Less than an hour after landing in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Wednesday last week we were ida-haiti-1140x500already at the National Emergency Operation Center of the Direction Générale de la Protection Civile discussing how the International Development Association (IDA) can help strengthen the country’s disaster risk management capacity. Remarkably, the center was launched in May 2024 despite the ongoing security and political crisis at the time, demonstrating the resilience of the IDA program implementation in Haiti. We witnessed similar results in other programs and during the field visit to the Southern Peninsula, where IDA projects are having a visible impact on the lives of the Haitian residents of that area.  

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A new World Bank database to support a new era in biodiversity conservation

Biodiversity conservation is vital for sustainable development, poverty alleviation, biodiverstiy-illustration-1-960-540-1and a livable planet. It sustains ecosystems that support human livelihoods, particularly in developing nations, by providing essential resources like food, clean water, and climate stability. Healthy ecosystems are crucial for agriculture, fishing, and forestry, which reduce poverty and foster sustainable economic growth. Additionally, biodiversity fuels industries such as ecotourism and pharmaceuticals, generating jobs and income. Maintaining biodiversity strengthens ecosystem resilience, stabilizes climate, and mitigates climate change impacts, making it key to environmental health and global sustainability.

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Financial Sector at a Crossroads in Emerging Markets: Climate Risks and Financing Gaps Demand Action

 

WASHINGTON, August 29, 2024 — In almost 60% of banks in Emerging Market and Developing Economies (EMDEs), lending for climate-related investment accounts for less than 5% of their overall portfolios, and more than one-quarter offer no climate financing at all, according to a new World Bank report.  

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More than 400 Million Students Affected by Climate-Related School Closures since 2022

 For less than $20 per student schools can adapt and minimize learning losses

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4, 2024 – A staggering 400 million students globally experienced school closures from extreme weather since 2022, according to a new World Bank report released today. The report examines the detrimental impacts of climate change on education in low- and middle-income countries and offers solutions to harness education to spur climate action. It also estimates that a one-time investment of $18.51 per child can mitigate the impact from climate shocks.

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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 EducacionTecnolog-aLAC 1140x500and 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.

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Empowering Africa’s Youth: Bridging the Digital Skills Gap