{"rows":10,"os":0,"page":1,"total":64639,"documents":{"MDQ2ZDlhNmY4ZmNjMDllZGQwYTdjZWM4NjA4NWY1M2Q4ZjJmNTMzMg2":{"id":"MDQ2ZDlhNmY4ZmNjMDllZGQwYTdjZWM4NjA4NWY1M2Q4ZjJmNTMzMg2","url":"http://www.worldbank.org/en/region/sar/publication/south-asia-economic-update","count":"Bhutan,Bangladesh,India,Maldives,Nepal,Sri Lanka","descr":{"cdata!":"South Asia’s growth is expected to slow in 2026 amid headwinds from global energy market dislocation. Trade reforms could unlock further growth by reducing trade barriers, especially for emerging export sectors."},"keywd":"regions:South Asia,country:Bhutan,country:Bangladesh,country:India,country:Maldives,country:Nepal,country:Sri Lanka,subject:macroeconomic and structural policies,subject:jobs and development,subject:economic growth,subject:economic growth analytics,subject:trade,subject:public sector management,subject:migration policies and jobs,subject:climate change adaptation","lang":"English","admreg":"South Asia","title":{"cdata!":"South Asia Economic Update April 2026"},"topic":"Macroeconomic And Structural Policies,Jobs And Development,Economic Growth,Economic Growth Analytics,Trade,Public Sector Management,Migration Policies And Jobs,Climate Change Adaptation","cqpath":"/content/region/sar/en/publication/south-asia-economic-update","lnchdt":"2027-04-08T23:00:00Z","regionname":"South Asia","wcmsource":"cq5","country":"Bhutan,Bangladesh,India,Maldives,Nepal,Sri Lanka","countcode":"BT,BD,IN,MV,NP,LK","conttype":"Publication","content":{"cdata!":" The World Bank’s latest economic outlook explores growth prospects for South Asia and provides analysis on how the region can benefit from the green energy transition."},"content_1000":{"cdata!":" The World Bank’s latest economic outlook explores growth prospects for South Asia and provides analysis on how the region can benefit from the green energy transition."},"displayconttype":"Publication","originating_unit":"South Asia, SAR"},"ZjVlMzA3NzYyYjg1NGFkMGZiZDY2MmYxYjNhODZmZjM4ZTg5YjAwYw2":{"id":"ZjVlMzA3NzYyYjg1NGFkMGZiZDY2MmYxYjNhODZmZjM4ZTg5YjAwYw2","url":"http://www.worldbank.org/en/region/lac/brief/accelerator-lac","descr":{"cdata!":"The LAC AI Accelerator is a regional initiative that aims to foster the development and implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) use cases, especially agentic AI use cases, across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) countries."},"keywd":"regions:Latin America and Caribbean,programs:Education for All","lang":"English","admreg":"Latin America and Caribbean","title":{"cdata!":"LAC AI Accelerator: An AI-Enabled Region"},"cqpath":"/content/region/lac/en/brief/accelerator-lac","lnchdt":"2026-06-02T21:20:00Z","regionname":"Latin America and Caribbean","wcmsource":"cq5","conttype":"Brief","content":{"cdata!":"Advancing AI adoption in Latin America and the Caribbean  1 - What is the LAC AI Acelerator? The LAC AI Accelerator is a regional initiative that aims to foster the development and implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) use cases, especially agentic AI use cases, across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) countries. The initiative will identify high‑potential use cases through an open call and support proponent teams in rigorously validating them. In doing so, the accelerator equips governments with evidence to decide whether to scale AI solutions with long‑term financing or to discontinue them. Lessons from the accelerator will be shared across the ecosystem to enable replication and scaling of effective AI use cases. The initiative envisions empowered governments in LAC to harness AI to innovate in service delivery, promote a more efficient government, design data driven policy, and, ultimately, foster an inclusive digital economy. The LAC AI Accelerator is the first iteration of what is expected to become an annual challenge led by the World Bank. Each iteration will be built on learnings from the previous cohorts and will include an increasingly more comprehensive toolbox of support mechanisms for the use cases. 2 - What is the value of participating in the LAC AI Accelerator? The accelerator will deliver assistance to the proposing teams, called the Digital Service Teams, throughout the design and testing of the AI solutions. The engagement will consist of the following: Institutional maturity assessment: deep-dive evaluation of the proposing organization’s AI readiness, adoption and strategic positioning. This assessment will help the organization understand its current capabilities, identify gaps and define a roadmap for scaling AI initiatives effectively and responsibly. Strategic advisory: expert guidance on selecting the most appropriate AI models. Technical mentorship: hands-on companionship throughout the lifecycle of the pilot to troubleshoot issues as they arise and to test the use case. The World Bank Group and its strategic partners will not provide hardware nor software (including computing power, data and sandbox environments), therefore, all hardware and software will have to be put in by the Digital Service Team. Specialized trainings to strengthen skills for AI-solutions deployment and to improve knowledge on AI fundamentals, data governance, and ethical principles to ensure safe implementation. Members of teams that participate in courses will receive a Certificate of Completion from the World Bank Group. Trainings will be tailored for policymakers and technical staff. Networking and knowledge sharing opportunities. During the World Bank Digital Summit, the selected teams will be able to showcase their use cases, thereby expanding the visibility of their innovations and their opportunities for collaboration. The teams will have access to other types of World Bank Group online and in-person events.3 - What are the direct beneficiaries of the LAC AI Accelerator? The accelerator is open to teams from public or private sector entities, civil society organizations and Academia, all throughout the LAC region, interested in using AI to improve: Category 1 – Digital government services (e.g., through AI agents with which citizens and businesses can interact and make transactions using natural language) Category 2 – Public sector efficiency (e.g., through automated processing, simplification, and case management for Back-office optimization) Category 3 – Policy design and delivery (e.g., through AI-assisted simulation of the potential impact of policy choices, such as subsidies, regulations or social programs, before implementation) Applicant teams can use the Agentic State Vision Paper to guide the definition of their use cases. Participating teams should be multi-disciplinary, with experts who understand both the technology and the specific development problem they are trying to solve. It is recommended that proposals target one of the World Bank Group’s five priority sectors: infrastructure, agribusiness, health, manufacturing, and tourism. However, alignment with these sectors is not mandatory, and proposals from any domain that fit within the three eligible categories are welcome. Participating teams must have the support of a public digital authority (national, state or local level) and will have to submit a commitment letter signed by the head of the relevant authority. Support may come from a consortium of public authorities within the same country or among different LAC countries; in this case, there will be more than one sponsoring organization and commitment letter.4 - How will the Digital Service Teams  be  selected?  All Digital Service Teams will have to send the following documents to the address lacaiaccelerator_worldbank.org@worldbank.org: The institutional commitment letter, that is, the letter signed by the head of the public digital authority that backs the Digital Service Team. Use the letter templates available on the right of this page. The use case proposal document, that is, the record that describes the use case proposal, the problem it is trying to solve and the readiness of its AI solution. It should also include considerations for AI suitability and data, and a sustainability and scalability plan. Use the document templates available on the right of this page.The privacy notice through which the applicant consents to share personal information about himself/herself and the Digital Service Team members with the World Bank. Use the templates available on the right of this page. Proposals will be evaluated by the LAC AI Accelerator Governance Committee, composed of a representative from each of the partner organizations, as well as experts from the World Bank Group’s Digital & AI VP.5 - What are the next steps for the LAC AI Accelerator? Here is the calendar of the regional initiative: Milestone Date Call for proposals February 16, 2026 Reception of applications & eligibility screening From February 16, 2026, to March 20, 2026 Announcement of selected use casesSelection will be conducted by the LAC AI Accelerator Governance Committee.For those proposals that have not been selected, an email indicating why will be sent. March 30, 2026 On boarding to training April 6, 2026 Monthly follow-up sessions April 10, 2026 May 8, 2026 June 5, 2026 July 3, 2026 August 7, 2026 September 4, 2026 Closing ceremony September 7, 2026 Publication of the Annual Report and use cases presentation World Bank Digital SummitOctober 2026 Knowledge sharing:The AI use cases will be stored in the AI Use Case and Knowledge Platform, developed through a collaboration among seven Multilateral Development Banks.The LAC AI Accelerator will produce an Annual Report featuring key lessons learned, best practices, and policy design and pilot evaluation recommendations. The report will serve as a regional reference and will be disseminated to policy makers and the international development community.Selected AI use cases will be showcased in regional and global forums, reinforcing the potential of AI to drive inclusive and sustainable development in LAC. For any additional questions, interested parties can contact the organizing team by email at  lacaiaccelerator_worldbank.org@worldbank.org.6 – Frequently Asked Questions Q1: What is the expected maturity level of the submitted use cases? The LAC AI Accelerator is open to AI use cases at a wide range of maturity levels, from early-stage technology concepts to fully deployed systems operating under monitored conditions. What matters most is that the Digital Service Team provides a comprehensive description of the proposed solution and a candid assessment of organizational readiness, covering dimensions such as connectivity, compute capacity, digital public infrastructure, data availability, skills, and risk management. The Accelerator's support is calibrated to meet teams where they are. Q2: The initiative emphasizes agentic AI, but the eligibility categories are broadly defined. Are purely non-agentic AI solutions eligible, or is there a minimum threshold of “agenticity” that proposals must meet? The Accelerator prioritizes solving real development challenges with the most appropriate technology. While the initiative has a particular focus on agentic AI use cases, evaluation will place greater weight on the quality and clarity of the problem statement, the proposed solution, and the organization’s readiness (across policy, skills, infrastructure, and data) than on whether the solution is strictly agentic. Q3: What specific criteria does the LAC AI Accelerator Governance Committee use to evaluate and rank proposals? Proposals are assessed by the Governance Committee against five weighted criteria:Impact & Relevance: Does the solution address a significant development challenge and have the potential to reach a meaningful number of people?Data & AI Fit: Is AI, and specifically agentic AI, the right approach for this problem? Does the team demonstrate readiness in terms of policy, infrastructure, data, and skills?Feasibility & Team: Does the proposal present a realistic plan that a multidisciplinary team can execute within a six-month agile cycle?Safety & Responsibility: Does the solution protect data privacy, mitigate bias, and follow a “do no harm” approach?Sustainability & Scale: Is the solution designed to outlast the pilot phase and be replicable in other contexts or countries? Q4: What type of public digital authority must back the AI use case? Any public authority with competencies in digital matters is eligible to provide institutional backing, regardless of whether it operates at the municipal, state, or national level. The key requirement is that the authority issues a formal Institutional Commitment Letter, signed by its head, confirming political support for the use case and nominating a focal point to engage with the Accelerator throughout the process.7 – Selected proposals The LAC AI Accelerator supports 18 AI solutions across 12 countries in the region: Country Name of the AI solution Description Colombia Agente de IA para una Oferta de Servicio a la Ciudadanía Inteligente y Anticipativa para Bogotá Built for the Alcaldía Mayor de Bogotá D.C. in Colombia, this AI agent is integrated into the district portal bogota.gov.co and connects public information with service delivery while orchestrating various key tasks within the citizen services system. Trinidad and Tobago AI-Enabled Digital Public Services and Decision Intelligence Platform Developed for Trinidad and Tobago’s Ministry of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence, this AI-driven platform integrates predictive analytics and data tools to support government decision-making and strengthen public health system resilience and preparedness against climate-related disasters. Chile Copiloto IA para recuperación automática de cupos liberados por cancelación en confirmación de horas Deployed for the Municipalidad de Puente Alto in Chile, this AI co-pilot automatically detects cancelled or freed primary healthcare appointment slots and reassigns them to waiting patients using rule-based agentic automation, while providing dashboards to track recovered capacity and operational performance. Argentina DINO EMPRENDE: Agente de Inteligencia Artificial para el Acompañamiento al Emprendimiento Femenino Integrated into Chubut Province’s existing DINO bot in Argentina, this AI agent assists women entrepreneurs with personalized guidance on formalization, financing, training, and commercialization, while generating dashboards to support evidence-based public policy decisions. Chile Ecosistema Integral de IA para Búsqueda, Cribado, Extracción, Síntesis y Consulta de Evidencia Clínica To be deployed for the Ministerio de Salud of Chile, this AI-powered hybrid multi-model system automates the screening, extraction, and analysis of scientific literature (using NLP, RAG, and automated GRADE generation) to support technical health professionals in accelerating the biennial update of Clinical Practice Guidelines, reducing manual review burden while keeping human validation at the center of the process. Panama Empleo 3.0: AI-Powered Public Workforce Development Platform Integrated into an employment platform for Panama City’s Municipality, this AI system matches candidates to job postings, provides personalized career coaching with skills gap analysis, and offers labor market forecasting and program effectiveness tools to municipal decision-makers. Brazil Fiscalização Inteligente de Contratos Complexos Built for the Governo do Estado do Espírito Santo in Brazil, this AI system autonomously audits government contracts for regulatory compliance, generates risk alerts, and classifies invoices and deliverables by risk level to support contract oversight officials across the state executive branch. Brazil Framework para Autoavaliação de Impacto Ético em Inteligência Artificial Developed for Brazil’s Secretaria de Governo Digital, this AI governance tool guides federal public servants through a structured ethical self-assessment questionnaire to diagnose adherence to ethical principles and generate improvement recommendations for AI solutions developed or procured by federal agencies. Uruguay Gobernanza de tecnologías emergentes: marco de valoración y sostenibilidad aplicado al Asistente Ciudadano Implemented for the Intendencia de Montevideo in Uruguay, this decision intelligence process evaluates and pilots technological evolution options for the city’s citizen service virtual assistant, assessing agentic AI models using evidence on performance, privacy, sustainability, and public value. Peru Iñatech: Tecnología de Soporte Designed for local governments in the Department of Amazonas of Peru, this AI-powered predictive and prescriptive system (integrated into a mobile app) analyzes users’ mobility data to recommend and personalize ergonomic orthopedic devices made from Amazonian bamboo and 3D printing, with the objective of improving affordable access to mobility aids for elderly people and individuals with disabilities in rural communities. Mexico Laboratorio UX/UI/AI en México para servicios digitales: Caso Chatbot “Xoli” Created for the Agencia Digital de Innovación Pública of Mexico City, this LLM-based multilingual chatbot provides automated, geolocated information on cultural events, activities, and tourism services to residents and visitors. Turks and Caicos National Health Insurance Board Agentic AI Treatment Abroad Program Case Manager Pilot Designed for the National Health Insurance Board of the Turks and Caicos Islands, this agentic AI application orchestrates and manages end-to-end Treatment Abroad Program cases with human oversight. St. Vincent and the Grenadines One Stop Vincy Gov AI Concierge Deployed for the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, this AI-powered concierge integrated into the national digital portal processes natural language queries to provide citizens with general information and personalized service status updates based on user identification. Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic Operating System for Agentic Government This AI solution is an open-source AI platform developed for the governments of Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic that enables citizens to access and complete public service procedures through a single natural language interface while coordinating workflows across government institutions. Colombia Proyecto CEREBRO: Inteligencia Artificial para la Gobernanza Macroeconómica Developed for the Alcaldía Municipal de Palmira in Colombia, this generative AI platform combines Colombia’s DSGE PATACON macroeconomic model with advanced AI to help governments simulate economic scenarios, evaluate fiscal and monetary policy impacts, and recommend optimal policy actions in real time. Uruguay Resumen del Paciente Developed for AGESIC and Uruguay’s Ministerio de Salud Pública, this AI solution automatically summarizes a patient’s full electronic health record, including chronic conditions, medications, allergies, and key procedures, to help physicians quickly access the most relevant clinical information within a standard 10-minute consultation. Argentina Sistema de Inteligencia Artificial para la Optimización Predictiva del Servicio de Salud Municipal Deployed for the Municipalidad de la Ciudad de Mendoza in Argentina, this AI-powered predictive system forecasts patient demand, appointment no-shows, and resource needs at municipal health centers to support operational staff in optimizing scheduling and medical resource allocation. Mexico Ventanilla Digital: IA para la Eficiencia Gubernamental en Baja California Built for the Agencia Digital del Estado de Baja California in Mexico, this AI-powered digital platform simplifies and digitalizes citizen-government interactions by reducing bureaucracy and improving public service efficiency through no-code technology, digital identity, and integrated e-government tools."},"content_1000":{"cdata!":"Advancing AI adoption in Latin America and the Caribbean  1 - What is the LAC AI Acelerator? The LAC AI Accelerator is a regional initiative that aims to foster the development and implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) use cases, especially agentic AI use cases, across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) countries. The initiative will identify high‑potential use cases through an open call and support proponent teams in rigorously validating them. In doing so, the accelerator equips governments with evidence to decide whether to scale AI solutions with long‑term financing or to discontinue them. Lessons from the accelerator will be shared across the ecosystem to enable replication and scaling of effective AI use cases. The initiative envisions empowered governments in LAC to harness AI to innovate in service delivery, promote a more efficient government, design data driven policy, and, ultimately, foster an"},"displayconttype":"Brief","originating_unit":"Latin America & Caribbean, LCR","publication_domain":"region|lac"},"ODM5OTNhZTIxM2M3NzcxODJjMjJiMWYyMjBmZjc1YTM3ZDEyZTNhMA2":{"id":"ODM5OTNhZTIxM2M3NzcxODJjMjJiMWYyMjBmZjc1YTM3ZDEyZTNhMA2","url":"http://www.worldbank.org/ja/country/japan/brief/wbtokyo-enews","count":"Japan","descr":{"cdata!":"世界銀行東京事務所Eニュースは、世界銀行東京事務所が週一回程度発行する無料の電子メールマガジンです。最近の世界銀行の活動、セミナーの開催情報、新着資料・出版物などについて日本語でご案内します。"},"keywd":"country:Japan","lang":"Japanese","title":{"cdata!":"世界銀行東京事務所 Eニュース"},"cqpath":"/content/country/japan/ja/brief/wbtokyo-enews","lnchdt":"2026-05-01T17:45:00Z","wcmsource":"cq5","country":"Japan","countcode":"JP","conttype":"Brief","content":{"cdata!":"  世界銀行東京事務所Eニュースは、世界銀行東京事務所が週一回程度発行する無料の電子メールマガジンです。最近の世界銀行の活動、セミナーの開催情報、新着資料・出版物などについて日本語でご案内します。  最新のEニュース（PDF）2026年5月1日発行【世界銀行東京事務所　Eニュース984号】報告書「一次産品市場の見通し」最新版発表、他バックナンバー（PDF）2026年1月2月3月4月5月6月7月8月9月10月11月12月2025年1月2月3月4月5月6月7月8月9月10月11月12月2024年1月2月３月4月5月6月7月8月9月10月11月12月2023年1月2月3月4月5月6月7月8月9月10月11月12月2022年1月2月3月4月5月6月7月8月9月10月11月12月2021年1月2月3月4月5月6月7月8月9月10月11月12月2020年1月2月3月4月5月6月7月8月9月10月11月12月2019年1月2月3月4月5月6月7月8月9月10月11月12月   "},"content_1000":{"cdata!":"  世界銀行東京事務所Eニュースは、世界銀行東京事務所が週一回程度発行する無料の電子メールマガジンです。最近の世界銀行の活動、セミナーの開催情報、新着資料・出版物などについて日本語でご案内します。  最新のEニュース（PDF）2026年5月1日発行【世界銀行東京事務所　Eニュース984号】報告書「一次産品市場の見通し」最新版発表、他バックナンバー（PDF）2026年1月2月3月4月5月6月7月8月9月10月11月12月2025年1月2月3月4月5月6月7月8月9月10月11月12月2024年1月2月３月4月5月6月7月8月9月10月11月12月2023年1月2月3月4月5月6月7月8月9月10月11月12月2022年1月2月3月4月5月6月7月8月9月10月11月12月2021年1月2月3月4月5月6月7月8月9月10月11月12月2020年1月2月3月4月5月6月7月8月9月10月11月12月2019年1月2月3月4月5月6月7月8月9月10月11月12月   "},"displayconttype":"Brief","originating_unit":"External and Corporate Relations, ECR","publication_domain":"country|japan"},"ODhiOTRlODFhYzUxMTJhY2JjNGJkNmU3NjU3NjAwMDg4ZTgwMTE3MQ2":{"id":"ODhiOTRlODFhYzUxMTJhY2JjNGJkNmU3NjU3NjAwMDg4ZTgwMTE3MQ2","url":"http://www.worldbank.org/en/about/leadership/directors/eds10/brief/strengthening-the-partnership-between-the-world-bank-and-cgiar-a-roundtable-on-the-future-of-food-land-and-water","descr":{"cdata!":"On April 13, 2026, World Bank Group Executive Directors gathered with CGIAR leadership for a frank 90-minute roundtable on the future of food, land, and water, moderated by Nathalie Francken, Executive Director of EDS10. The meeting was co-hosted by Executive Directors from Japan, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Saudi Arabia, and brought together CGIAR Director General Ismahane Elouafi, Director General of CIMMYT Bram Govaerts, Director General of IFPRI Johan Swinnen, and Director General of CIP Simon Heck, alongside colleagues from across the World Bank Group's Sustainable Development family."},"lang":"English","title":{"cdata!":"Strengthening the Partnership Between the World Bank Group and CGIAR: A Roundtable on the Future of Food, Land, and Water"},"cqpath":"/content/executive-directors/eds10/en/brief/strengthening-the-partnership-between-the-world-bank-and-cgiar-a-roundtable-on-the-future-of-food-land-and-water","lnchdt":"2026-05-01T13:46:00Z","wcmsource":"cq5","conttype":"Brief","content":{"cdata!":" On April 13, 2026, World Bank Group Executive Directors gathered with CGIAR leadership for a frank 90-minute roundtable on the future of food, land, and water, moderated by Nathalie Francken, Executive Director of EDS10. The meeting was co-hosted by Executive Directors from Mexico, Japan, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Saudi Arabia, and brought together CGIAR Director General Ismahane Elouafi, Director General of CIMMYT Bram Govaerts, Director General of IFPRI Johan Swinnen, and Director General of CIP Simon Heck, alongside colleagues from across the World Bank Group's Sustainable Development family."},"content_1000":{"cdata!":" On April 13, 2026, World Bank Group Executive Directors gathered with CGIAR leadership for a frank 90-minute roundtable on the future of food, land, and water, moderated by Nathalie Francken, Executive Director of EDS10. The meeting was co-hosted by Executive Directors from Mexico, Japan, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Saudi Arabia, and brought together CGIAR Director General Ismahane Elouafi, Director General of CIMMYT Bram Govaerts, Director General of IFPRI Johan Swinnen, and Director General of CIP Simon Heck, alongside colleagues from across the World Bank Group's Sustainable Development family."},"displayconttype":"Brief","originating_unit":"Executive Directors, EDS","publication_domain":"executive-directors|eds10"},"OTZjNjUwNDBmZDQ5ZTkyMGExMTRkNzhhMzViMWI1YmMxNjlmZDk1Nw2":{"id":"OTZjNjUwNDBmZDQ5ZTkyMGExMTRkNzhhMzViMWI1YmMxNjlmZDk1Nw2","url":"http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2026/05/01/world-bank-and-asian-development-bank-partner-with-tonga-to-strengthen-jobs-connectivity-and-resilience","count":"Tonga,Pacific Islands","descr":{"cdata!":"Thousands of Tongans will see more reliable access to jobs, markets, and essential services as new support strengthens resilient roads, bridges, and urban infrastructure on Tongatapu. A new project will help reduce flooding, keep transport links open during extreme weather, and protect the economic activity that communities depend on."},"keywd":"country:Tonga,regions:East Asia and Pacific,country:Pacific Islands","lang":"English","admreg":"East Asia and Pacific","title":{"cdata!":"World Bank and Asian Development Bank Partner with Tonga to Strengthen Jobs, Connectivity, and Resilience"},"proid":"P512750","cqpath":"/content/wb-home/en/news/press-release/2026/05/01/world-bank-and-asian-development-bank-partner-with-tonga-to-strengthen-jobs-connectivity-and-resilience","lnchdt":"2026-05-01T13:44:49Z","regionname":"East Asia and Pacific","wcmsource":"cq5","country":"Tonga,Pacific Islands","countcode":"TO,PI","conttype":"Press Release","content":{"cdata!":" NUKU’ALOFA, May 1, 2026— Thousands of Tongans will see more reliable access to jobs, markets, and essential services as new support strengthens resilient roads, bridges, and urban infrastructure on Tongatapu. A new project will help reduce flooding, keep transport links open during extreme weather, and protect the economic activity that communities depend on. The Tonga Sustainable Economic Corridors and Urban Resilience Project is made possible through a strong partnership between the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the Government of Tonga. The World Bank has approved US$40 million in grant financing through the International Development Association (IDA), while the Asian Development Bank and the Tongan Government are contributing an additional US$80 million and US$25 million, respectively. Together, these contributions bring the total project financing to US$145 million. The project will finance a new climate-resilient bridge and upgraded roads to improve access and emergency response, creating a more direct and efficient link between the airport and port, alongside drainage and water management systems to reduce flooding in key urban areas. Together, these investments will help reduce disruptions, protect livelihoods, and support Tonga’s long-term growth. “This investment will strengthen critical infrastructure while enhancing safety and connectivity for our people,” said Prime Minister of Tonga, Lord Fakafānua. “It will help ensure that individuals can get to work in less time, communities are better connected, and families are able to move safely, including evacuating when necessary during natural disasters.” The project is being delivered in close partnership with the Asian Development Bank through a new approach that allows both institutions to work as one on a project. Instead of separate processes, the project uses one set of rules and one lead partner for preparation and implementation. This reduces duplication, speeds up delivery, and helps ensure support reaches communities faster. “This is about keeping people moving and connected to opportunity,” said Stephen Ndegwa, World Bank Division Director for the South and North Pacific. “By working in close partnership, we are helping Tonga invest in infrastructure that will support jobs during its construction and, when completed, promote more investment and business.” Under the new approach, the Asian Development Bank is leading project preparation and implementation, while the World Bank is providing financing alongside it. This approach brings both institutions’ strengths into a single, coordinated program with faster results and clearer benefits for Tongans."},"content_1000":{"cdata!":" NUKU’ALOFA, May 1, 2026— Thousands of Tongans will see more reliable access to jobs, markets, and essential services as new support strengthens resilient roads, bridges, and urban infrastructure on Tongatapu. A new project will help reduce flooding, keep transport links open during extreme weather, and protect the economic activity that communities depend on. The Tonga Sustainable Economic Corridors and Urban Resilience Project is made possible through a strong partnership between the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the Government of Tonga. The World Bank has approved US$40 million in grant financing through the International Development Association (IDA), while the Asian Development Bank and the Tongan Government are contributing an additional US$80 million and US$25 million, respectively. Together, these contributions bring the total project financing to US$145 million. The project will finance a new climate-resilient bridge and upgraded roads to improve access and emerg"},"displayconttype":"Press Release","originating_unit":"East Asia and Pacific, EAP"},"M2UxNWRhYWYwMTUzZTQxNDE2Njc3N2JiNmMyYzQ5YTdhNmYxYjc5Yw2":{"id":"M2UxNWRhYWYwMTUzZTQxNDE2Njc3N2JiNmMyYzQ5YTdhNmYxYjc5Yw2","url":"http://www.worldbank.org/en/results/2026/05/01/building-burundi-s-national-social-protection-systems-to-deliver-jobs-and-respond-to-crises","count":"Burundi","descr":{"cdata!":"Burundi’s flagship national social protection program—Cash for Jobs project, or Merankabandi—launched as a pilot in 2016 and scaled nationwide in 2022. It has reached over 1.5 million people with cash transfers, startup capital, and crisis response, while strengthening national systems, with a strong focus on women, youth, refugees and shock responsiveness."},"keywd":"country:Burundi","lang":"English","title":{"cdata!":"Building Burundi’s National Social Protection Systems to Deliver Jobs and Respond to Crises"},"proid":"P175327","cqpath":"/content/wb-home/en/projects-operations/results/2026/05/01/building-burundi-s-national-social-protection-systems-to-deliver-jobs-and-respond-to-crises","lnchdt":"2026-05-01T13:16:07Z","isresult":"true","wcmsource":"cq5","country":"Burundi","countcode":"BI","conttype":"Results","content":{"cdata!":" Before joining MERANKABANDI II, Neema Niyokwizera and her three children lived in extreme poverty without food security or a home. With project support, she started a small shop, grew her business, accessed microfinance, and is now building her own house—securing a more stable income and a better future for her family."},"content_1000":{"cdata!":" Before joining MERANKABANDI II, Neema Niyokwizera and her three children lived in extreme poverty without food security or a home. With project support, she started a small shop, grew her business, accessed microfinance, and is now building her own house—securing a more stable income and a better future for her family."},"displayconttype":"Results","originating_unit":"Africa, AFR","funding_source":"IDA"},"Y2JlMjljYzg0NTgwNDgzNTRhODA3Yzk5NmZhMTgzMjVmZDEyZjdjMg2":{"id":"Y2JlMjljYzg0NTgwNDgzNTRhODA3Yzk5NmZhMTgzMjVmZDEyZjdjMg2","url":"http://www.vsemirnyjbank.org/ru/news/press-release/2026/05/01/tajikistan-boosts-entrepreneurship-and-jobs-for-women","count":"Tajikistan","descr":{"cdata!":"Всемирный банк одобрил новый грант на расширение экономических возможностей женщин в Таджикистане, преимуществами которого, как ожидается, смогут воспользоваться до 20 000 человек, включая безработных мужчин и женщин, жителей сельских и пригородных районов, а также экономически уязвимых женщин по всей стране"},"keywd":"country:Tajikistan,regions:Europe and Central Asia,subject:gender,subject:jobs and development,subject:private sector development","lang":"Russian","admreg":"Europe and Central Asia","title":{"cdata!":"Таджикистан способствует развитию предпринимательства и созданию рабочих мест для женщин"},"topic":"Gender,Jobs And Development,Private Sector Development","cqpath":"/content/wb-home/ru/news/press-release/2026/05/01/tajikistan-boosts-entrepreneurship-and-jobs-for-women","lnchdt":"2026-05-01T08:46:00Z","regionname":"Europe and Central Asia","wcmsource":"cq5","country":"Tajikistan","countcode":"TJ","conttype":"Press Release","content":{"cdata!":" ДУШАНБЕ, Таджикистан, 1 мая 2026 г.— Сегодня Всемирный банк одобрил новый грант на расширение экономических возможностей женщин в Таджикистане, преимуществами которого, как ожидается, смогут воспользоваться до 20 000 человек, включая безработных мужчин и женщин, жителей сельских и пригородных районов, а также экономически уязвимых женщин по всей стране. Проект по расширению экономических возможностей женщин в Таджикистане призван создать 3450 новых рабочих мест и обеспечить доступ к финансовым услугам для 850 предприятий, принадлежащих женщинам и возглавляемых ими, что стало возможным благодаря гранту в размере 4,73 млн долларов США от Японского фонда социального развития (ЯФСР). «Рабочие места — это основа роста. Но остаются препятствия, мешающие женщинам достаточно быстро открывать свой бизнес и сдерживающие такой мощный двигатель роста», — отметил Гаэль Рабалланд, Постоянный представитель Группы Всемирного банка в Таджикистане. «Данный проект будет содействовать решению этого вопроса и помогать социальной интеграции, что имеет решающее значение для более экономически процветающего Таджикистана». Проект окажет поддержку 3200 начинающим женщинам-предпринимателям и 100 предприятиям, возглавляемым женщинами, в Душанбе, районах республиканского подчинения (РРП) и Горно-Бадахшанской автономной области (ГБАО) посредством обучения предпринимательству, развития навыков и улучшения доступа к финансовым услугам, с акцентом на перспективные сектора, такие как туризм, агробизнес, цифровые технологии и промышленность, включая переработку отходов, возобновляемые источники энергии, устойчивую агропереработку и климатически устойчивое сельское хозяйство. Проект предоставит женщинам предпринимательские и финансовые навыки, обеспечит прозрачное и конкурентоспособное грантовое финансирование жизнеспособным индивидуальным и групповым предприятиям, а также поддержит выход на более высокодоходные, цифровые и экологически чистые рынки. В частности, проект окажет поддержку 1600 женщинам, предоставив гранты и структурированное наставничество, обеспечит консультационную поддержку 100 зарегистрированным микро-, малым и средним предприятиям (МСП) и предоставит софинансирование 50 МСП. Укрепляя бизнес, возглавляемый женщинами, он создаст возможности для получения дохода, будет стимулировать создание рабочих мест на местном уровне и внесет вклад в более широкое развитие частного сектора. Помимо пользы для непосредственных участников, проект также улучшит продовольственную и экономическую безопасность домохозяйств-бенефициаров, способствуя достижению более широких целей по сокращению бедности в стране. Реализация проекта будет осуществляться Государственным комитетом по инвестициям и управлению государственным имуществом Республики Таджикистан в координации с Комитетом по делам женщин и семьи при Правительстве Республики Таджикистан и Государственным бизнес-инкубатором. Проект также задействует партнёрские отношения с подразделением Группы Всемирного банка по работе с частным сектором (Международной финансовой корпорацией (IFC)) для привлечения частного сектора и с Японским агентством международного сотрудничества (JICA) в рамках инициативы «Одна деревня — один продукт» (OVOP), которая поддерживает развитие сельской экономики и местного предпринимательства. Основанный в 2000 году, Японский фонд социального развития (ЯФСР) является партнерством между правительством Японии и Всемирным банком, направленным на поддержку инициатив, реализуемых на уровне сообществ и приносящих пользу наиболее уязвимым и обездоленным группам населения мира. Гранты ЯФСР финансируют пилотные проекты, которые бросают вызов существующей практике, внедряют инновационные решения для решения давних проблем и обладают потенциалом для масштабного воздействия."},"content_1000":{"cdata!":" ДУШАНБЕ, Таджикистан, 1 мая 2026 г.— Сегодня Всемирный банк одобрил новый грант на расширение экономических возможностей женщин в Таджикистане, преимуществами которого, как ожидается, смогут воспользоваться до 20 000 человек, включая безработных мужчин и женщин, жителей сельских и пригородных районов, а также экономически уязвимых женщин по всей стране. Проект по расширению экономических возможностей женщин в Таджикистане призван создать 3450 новых рабочих мест и обеспечить доступ к финансовым услугам для 850 предприятий, принадлежащих женщинам и возглавляемых ими, что стало возможным благодаря гранту в размере 4,73 млн долларов США от Японского фонда социального развития (ЯФСР). «Рабочие места — это основа роста. Но остаются препятствия, мешающие женщинам достаточно быстро открывать свой бизнес и сдерживающие такой мощный двигатель роста», — отметил Гаэль Рабалланд, Постоянный представитель Группы Всемирного банка в Таджикистане. «Данный проект будет содействовать решению этого вопро"},"displayconttype":"Press Release","originating_unit":"Europe and Central Asia, ECA","funding_source":"Trust Fund"},"YTBkMTdlM2YwMzFhOTFhMmRlMzk3MWY4NjM0NTg5ZDJmZTNiZjQ4Yw2":{"id":"YTBkMTdlM2YwMzFhOTFhMmRlMzk3MWY4NjM0NTg5ZDJmZTNiZjQ4Yw2","url":"http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2026/05/01/tajikistan-boosts-entrepreneurship-and-jobs-for-women","count":"Tajikistan","descr":{"cdata!":"The World Bank today approved a new grant to expand economic opportunities for women in Tajikistan, with expected benefits reaching up to 20,000 people, including unemployed men and women, people living in rural and peri-urban communities, and economically vulnerable women across the country."},"keywd":"country:Tajikistan,regions:Europe and Central Asia,subject:gender,subject:jobs and development,subject:private sector development","lang":"English","admreg":"Europe and Central Asia","title":{"cdata!":"Tajikistan Boosts Entrepreneurship and Jobs for Women"},"topic":"Gender,Jobs And Development,Private Sector Development","cqpath":"/content/wb-home/en/news/press-release/2026/05/01/tajikistan-boosts-entrepreneurship-and-jobs-for-women","lnchdt":"2026-05-01T08:46:00Z","regionname":"Europe and Central Asia","wcmsource":"cq5","country":"Tajikistan","countcode":"TJ","conttype":"Press Release","content":{"cdata!":" DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, May 1, 2026—The World Bank today approved a new grant to expand economic opportunities for women in Tajikistan, with expected benefits reaching up to 20,000 people, including unemployed men and women, people living in rural and peri-urban communities, and economically vulnerable women across the country. The Tajikistan Women's Economic Empowerment Project (TWEEP) is expected to create 3,450 new jobs and enable 850 women-owned and women-led businesses to access financial services through a $4.73 million grant from the Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF). “Jobs are the foundation of growth. But barriers remain, preventing women from starting new businesses at the same rate and holding back a powerful engine of growth,” said Gael Raballand, the World Bank Group Country Manager for Tajikistan. “The project aims to contribute toward closing that gap and strengthening social inclusion, which is critical for a more economically vibrant Tajikistan.\" The project will support 3,200 aspiring women entrepreneurs and 100 women-led businesses in the Dushanbe,  the Districts of Republican Subordination (DRS), and the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO) through entrepreneurship training, skills development, and improved access to financial services, with a focus on emerging sectors such as tourism, agribusiness, digital technologies, and industries, including recycling, renewable energy services, sustainable agro-processing, and climate-smart agriculture. TWEEP will equip women with entrepreneurial and financial skills, provide transparent and competitive grant financing to viable individual and group enterprises, and support entry into higher-value, digital, and green sectors. Specifically, the project will support 1,600 women with grants and structured mentoring, provide advisory support to 100 registered micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and offer matching grants to 50 MSMEs. By strengthening women-led businesses, TWEEP will generate income opportunities, stimulate local job creation, and contribute to broader private sector development. Beyond benefiting direct participants, the project will also improve food and economic security for their households, contributing to broader poverty reduction goals in the country. Implementation of the project will be led by the State Committee for Investment and State Property Management of the Republic of Tajikistan (SCISPM), in coordination with the Committee on Women and Family Affairs under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the State Business Incubator. The project will also leverage partnerships with the World Bank Group’s private sector arm (the International Finance Corporation (IFC)) for private sector engagement and with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) through its \"One Village One Product (OVOP)\" initiative, which supports rural economic development and local entrepreneurship. Founded in 2000, the Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF) is a partnership between the government of Japan and the World Bank that supports community-driven activities that benefit the world's most vulnerable and disadvantaged people. JSDF grants fund pilot interventions that challenge the status quo, introduce innovative solutions to solve long-standing problems, and offer the potential to deliver impact at scale."},"content_1000":{"cdata!":" DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, May 1, 2026—The World Bank today approved a new grant to expand economic opportunities for women in Tajikistan, with expected benefits reaching up to 20,000 people, including unemployed men and women, people living in rural and peri-urban communities, and economically vulnerable women across the country. The Tajikistan Women's Economic Empowerment Project (TWEEP) is expected to create 3,450 new jobs and enable 850 women-owned and women-led businesses to access financial services through a $4.73 million grant from the Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF). “Jobs are the foundation of growth. But barriers remain, preventing women from starting new businesses at the same rate and holding back a powerful engine of growth,” said Gael Raballand, the World Bank Group Country Manager for Tajikistan. “The project aims to contribute toward closing that gap and strengthening social inclusion, which is critical for a more economically vibrant Tajikistan.\" The project will sup"},"displayconttype":"Press Release","originating_unit":"Europe and Central Asia, ECA","funding_source":"Trust Fund"},"MTM4YWNiMzMwZmM4MGNmYjQ0ZmQ3NTViZDYzOTdkNTYxYWIyNjJhMA2":{"id":"MTM4YWNiMzMwZmM4MGNmYjQ0ZmQ3NTViZDYzOTdkNTYxYWIyNjJhMA2","url":"http://www.bancomundial.org/es/news/immersive-story/2026/02/26/ida20-retrospective","descr":{"cdata!":"La vigésima reposición de los recursos de la Asociación Internacional de Fomento (AIF-20) se puso en marcha un año antes, en julio de 2022, en respuesta a una pandemia mundial y varias crisis superpuestas, tras el ciclo abreviado de la AIF-19. La comunidad internacional reconoció la necesidad de adoptar medidas rápidas y decisivas para “lograr una reconstrucción mejorada” después de que la pandemia de COVID-19 causara daños duraderos y provocara el primer aumento de la pobreza mundial en una generación. La AIF-20 se convirtió en la herramienta principal para ayudar a los países a responder a los desafíos inmediatos, recuperar el terreno perdido y recobrar el impulso hacia los objetivos de desarrollo de 2030."},"lang":"Spanish","title":{"cdata!":"AIF-20: Lograr resultados con flexibilidad, agilidad y resiliencia"},"cqpath":"/content/wb-home/es/news/immersive-story/2026/02/26/ida20-retrospective","lnchdt":"2026-05-01T06:00:00Z","wcmsource":"cq5","conttype":"Immersive Story","subtitle":{"0":{"cdata!":"Generar impacto en épocas de crisis"}},"content":{"cdata!":" The World Bank Group is working with countries to create the conditions for progress, opportunity, and resilience, with a focus on one powerful lever: jobs. This was our year of job creation, as we placed it at the center of our development efforts and made it an explicit objective of every project—for the first time in our history.  Jobs are not only the surest path out of poverty, but also provide dignity, hope, and stability. "},"content_1000":{"cdata!":" The World Bank Group is working with countries to create the conditions for progress, opportunity, and resilience, with a focus on one powerful lever: jobs. This was our year of job creation, as we placed it at the center of our development efforts and made it an explicit objective of every project—for the first time in our history.  Jobs are not only the surest path out of poverty, but also provide dignity, hope, and stability. "},"displayconttype":"Immersive Story","originating_unit":"Development Finance, CFP","funding_source":"IFC,IDA,MIGA"},"YTg1MjJkMGZiN2YwMzg5YzZiNmM3ZWIxYmViNTUyMmE4Y2JkNWZlOQ2":{"id":"YTg1MjJkMGZiN2YwMzg5YzZiNmM3ZWIxYmViNTUyMmE4Y2JkNWZlOQ2","url":"http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2026/04/30/the-world-bank-scales-up-sustainable-agroforestry-financing-in-paraguay","descr":{"cdata!":"The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors approved an innovative new project in Paraguay that will create jobs within sustainable agroforestry value chains in rural areas and expand access to long-term financing."},"lang":"English","title":{"cdata!":"The World Bank Scales Up Sustainable Agroforestry Financing in Paraguay"},"cqpath":"/content/wb-home/en/news/press-release/2026/04/30/the-world-bank-scales-up-sustainable-agroforestry-financing-in-paraguay","lnchdt":"2026-04-30T22:00:40Z","wcmsource":"cq5","conttype":"Press Release","content":{"cdata!":" WASHINGTON, April 30, 2026 — The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors approved an innovative new project in Paraguay that will create jobs within sustainable agroforestry value chains in rural areas and expand access to long-term financing. The US$100 million “Scaling up Finance for Sustainable Agroforestry in Paraguay” project will be implemented by Agencia Financiera de Desarrollo (AFD), Paraguay’s national development bank, and is structured around three core mechanisms:First, a line of credit will incentivize smallholder and medium-scale producers to invest in sustainable agroforestry activities, including commercial or mixed plantations, restoration of natural forests, silvopastoral systems, and value chain processing.Second, a Forestry Investment Fund will mobilize equity financing to larger-scale plantation projects and close financing gaps by attracting institutional and private investors.Finally, funding will also be allocated to strengthen AFD’s Environmental and Social Management System and support project management and technical oversight, ensuring effective implementation and compliance with World Bank standards. \"This project represents a significant step forward in Paraguay's efforts to build a more sustainable and inclusive rural economy. By unlocking long-term financing for agroforestry, we are helping companies, rural cooperatives, smallholders, and developers work together towards managing natural resources sustainably and creating job opportunities,\" said Peter Siegenthaler, Division Director for the World Bank for Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. “AFD is proud to partner with the World Bank on this transformative initiative. Sustainable agroforestry is central to Paraguay’s vision for rural development and climate resilience, and this financing will allow us to reach more producers with better conditions, scaling the sector toward more sophisticated and competitive markets.” said Stella Guillén, President of the Agencia Financiera de Desarrollo (AFD). The project’s innovative design focuses on a sustainability-linked credit line that offers improved loan conditions to borrowers who meet specific environmental and social performance targets. Notably, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification is a baseline requirement for financing, and developers who aggregate smallholders and conserve natural habitats beyond legal requirements will be eligible for further interest-rate reductions, directly linking the cost of financing to environmental and social development outcomes. The conversion of degraded pasturelands into diversified agroforestry systems that store more carbon, improve soil and water conditions, and reduce pressure on native forests will also be supported. The World Bank Group remains committed to partnering with Paraguay to help the country achieve its development goals and ensure that the benefits of growth are felt across all segments of society, notably by creating job opportunities at scale. The loan is a variable spread loan with a 17.5-year term, including a 3-year grace period.   Learn more about the work of the World Bank in Paraguay: https://www.bancomundial.org/es/country/paraguay Learn more about the work of the World Bank in Latin America and the Caribbean: www.worldbank.org/lac Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/worldbank X: https://x.com/BancoMundialLAC YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/BancoMundialLAC"},"content_1000":{"cdata!":" WASHINGTON, April 30, 2026 — The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors approved an innovative new project in Paraguay that will create jobs within sustainable agroforestry value chains in rural areas and expand access to long-term financing. The US$100 million “Scaling up Finance for Sustainable Agroforestry in Paraguay” project will be implemented by Agencia Financiera de Desarrollo (AFD), Paraguay’s national development bank, and is structured around three core mechanisms:First, a line of credit will incentivize smallholder and medium-scale producers to invest in sustainable agroforestry activities, including commercial or mixed plantations, restoration of natural forests, silvopastoral systems, and value chain processing.Second, a Forestry Investment Fund will mobilize equity financing to larger-scale plantation projects and close financing gaps by attracting institutional and private investors.Finally, funding will also be allocated to strengthen AFD’s Environmental and Social"},"displayconttype":"Press Release","originating_unit":"Latin America & Caribbean, LCR"},"facets":{}}}