Central banks are among the most data-dense public institutions. As they modernize digital payments and financial supervision, artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled analytics and supervisory technology (SupTech) enable them to draw connections across the large datasets they hold. In doing so, these tools expand central banks’ ability to infer information about legal entities and individuals beyond what is directly contained in any single dataset.
New global platform aligns country reforms, financing, and partnerships to scale delivery
WASHINGTON, April 15, 2026—The World Bank Group, in partnership with multilateral development banks, development finance institutions and key partners, today launched Water Forward, a global platform to help improve water security for 1 billion people by 2030. The platform will align policy reforms, financing, and partnerships to expand reliable water services and strengthen systems against droughts and floods—essential conditions for job creation.
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WASHINGTON, February 26, 2026 – Millions of young people across Eastern and Southern Africa stand to gain skills they need to thrive through a new regional program that is designed to support job creation at scale. By 2034, 18 million young people in the region are expected to receive better education and skills, unlocking opportunities in key economic sectors through the program that will also contribute to millions of new jobs.
Continue readingTUNIS, March 4, 2026 — The World Bank and the Government of Tunisia are expanding their partnership to strengthen the country’s resilience to climate and disaster risks through an additional financing for the US$ 125 million Tunisia Integrated Disaster Resilience Program (ResCat). The additional US$50 million will extend urban flood protection to three highly flood prone regions – Western Tunis, Gabès, and Djerba – building on experience from the cities of Bizerte, Monastir, and Nabeul covered under the initial Program. This scale-up comes as Tunisia continues to face significant flood risks, further exacerbated by climate change, as highlighted by the severe flooding in January 2026, which brought the heaviest rainfall in more than 70 years and widespread disruption across several regions.
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I’ve traded field boots for Board papers, but I still keep the map handy. Since last September, I’ve been Senior Advisor and (the most magical job title ever) temporary permanent alternate ED, in the Dutch Executive Director’s Office at the World Bank, where my portfolio spans the Committee on Development Effectiveness (CODE), trade, procurement, and a mix of regional and thematic files.
Before the Boardroom, my compass pointed firmly toward the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I built extensive field experience in the Western Balkans as regional security coordinator on counter‑terrorism issues, and in Kenya as Deputy Ambassador for Somalia, leading a cross‑ministerial team drawn from four ministries.
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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.
Continue readingDHAKA, November 25, 2025 — Bangladesh reduced poverty significantly between 2010-2022, lifting 34 million people out of poverty while improving living standards and access to essential services like electricity, education, and sanitation, but since 2016, the pace of poverty reduction slowed and economic growth became less inclusive, says a new report launched today.
Continue readingCOTONOU, 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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Netherlands for the World Bank 