{"rows":20,"os":0,"page":1,"total":7396,"documents":{"ZDljMWNiYWNiMTQ3ZWUyZWNmYjkwZDA4ZWFmY2E1ZGE3ZGIwYmVmMQ2":{"id":"ZDljMWNiYWNiMTQ3ZWUyZWNmYjkwZDA4ZWFmY2E1ZGE3ZGIwYmVmMQ2","url":"http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2026/07/27/lessons-from-qiandao-lake-how-nature-based-solutions-smart-tech-and-innovation-are-shaping-global-sustainability","count":"China","descr":{"cdata!":"The Qiandao Lake and Xin'an River Basin Water Resources and Ecological Environment Protection Project embraced a Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) approach to maximize ecological and livelihood benefits while minimizing disturbance to nature. By working with natural processes, the project restored freshwater ecosystems and wetlands and strengthened watershed protection."},"keywd":"country:China,regions:East Asia and Pacific,subject:environment and natural resources","lang":"English","admreg":"East Asia and Pacific","title":{"cdata!":"Lessons from Qiandao Lake: How nature-based solutions, smart tech, and innovation are shaping global sustainability"},"topic":"Environment And Natural Resources","cqpath":"/content/wb-home/en/news/feature/2026/07/27/lessons-from-qiandao-lake-how-nature-based-solutions-smart-tech-and-innovation-are-shaping-global-sustainability","lnchdt":"2026-07-22T10:12:30Z","regionname":"East Asia and Pacific","wcmsource":"cq5","country":"China","countcode":"CN","conttype":"Feature Story","content":{"cdata!":" Located in China’s Zhejiang Province, Qiandao Lake is a national model for ecological protection and a lifeline for 13 million people in the Yangtze River Delta. Its unique aquatic ecosystem delivers critical ecological services—from clean drinking water to biodiversity conservation—while underpinning both economic growth and environmental well-being. However, this vital ecosystem faces serious challenges, including pollution from agriculture, deforestation, biodiversity loss, and the need for long-term pollution control and effective integrated watershed management.  Since 2018, a US$150 million World Bank-financed project has been helping to improve water management and restore ecosystems with synergies in engaged sectors including wetland management, agriculture and forestry in Qiandao Lake and its catchment, while bringing tangible benefits for local communities.  Restoring ecosystems with Nature-Based Solutions The Qiandao Lake and Xin'an River Basin Water Resources and Ecological Environment Protection Project embraced a Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) approach to maximize ecological and livelihood benefits while minimizing disturbance to nature. By working with natural processes, the project restored freshwater ecosystems and wetlands and strengthened watershed protection.   Institutional innovation kept these achievements on track. A watershed self-governance stewardship model was established to ensure sustainable wetland management, while AI-supported monitoring and assessment platforms facilitated dynamic assessment and timely intervention.   Best Practices on the ground The results are tangible. By project close, nitrogen and phosphorus loads flowing into Qiandao Lake had been reduced by more than 25% and 31% respectively — measurable improvements in the water quality of a lake that supplies drinking water to millions. On land, over 13,600 hectares of degraded and denuded forest were restored, and soil erosion across the watershed fell by more than 23%, significantly reducing the sediment and agricultural runoff that had long threatened the lake's ecological health.  In forestry, a “close-to-nature” planting strategy brought resilience back to degraded slopes and opened opportunities for eco-tourism. Pioneering China’s first smart forest transformation model, the project established technical guidance systems for restoration, carbon sink and landscape improvement, adding 54 more local tree species in the project area.  In agriculture, change happened field by field by establishing source-to-end prevention and control systems for both crop farming and livestock production, driving green transformation.  The project helped local farmers change mindset, moving away from routine, indiscriminate pesticide spraying toward cleaner and cost-effective practices. Organic fertilizers replaced chemicals; solar insect traps managed pests without harming the ecosystem. “We have benefited significantly from this project. Using organic fertilizer and solar insect traps for pest control resulted in a reduction of pesticides and fertilizers application and saved our money, improved rice quality and yields”, said Lang Xueyuan, Farmer from Datong Township of Jiande County.    These changes also delivered impact on reducing carbon emissions. Forest restoration and wastewater management cut emissions by 833,000 tons, and conservation agriculture—with reduced chemical fertilizers—further enhanced carbon sequestration and lowered emissions. Mobilizing innovative financing and creating jobs Innovative finance enhanced the sustainability of the results. In collaboration with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the project created the Qiandao Lake Water Fund to bring upstream and downstream stakeholders together. By integrating water compensation into a durable mechanism, the fund channels investment into small-watershed resilience and local environmental protection.  “The World Bank was the determining factor in the creation of the Qiandao Lake Water Fund. It supported the incorporation of water compensation into a robust mechanism that sustainably supports local environmental protection,” said Guo Feifei, Project Manager, Qiandao Lake Water Fund. For villagers like Zhu Lyuren, this model also meant steady employment. Planting water-friendly species on restored wetlands now supports dozens of villagers. “There are around 40 people working with me,” Zhu said. “I used to live on government pension, just a couple hundred yuan. Now my monthly income is more than 3,000 yuan.”     Building knowledge of global relevance What began as a local effort has become a platform for shared learning. China’s ecosystem restoration experience at Qiandao Lake offers lessons with global relevance. “The new knowledge that we have gained from the project is extremely valuable even for other countries.” said Li Sheng, Researcher, Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry Science. The project shows how nature-based solutions, smart technology, and local innovation can work together to protect water, restore biodiversity, and support livelihoods—offering a practical blueprint that other regions can adapt to their own landscapes.  "},"content_1000":{"cdata!":" Located in China’s Zhejiang Province, Qiandao Lake is a national model for ecological protection and a lifeline for 13 million people in the Yangtze River Delta. Its unique aquatic ecosystem delivers critical ecological services—from clean drinking water to biodiversity conservation—while underpinning both economic growth and environmental well-being. However, this vital ecosystem faces serious challenges, including pollution from agriculture, deforestation, biodiversity loss, and the need for long-term pollution control and effective integrated watershed management.  Since 2018, a US$150 million World Bank-financed project has been helping to improve water management and restore ecosystems with synergies in engaged sectors including wetland management, agriculture and forestry in Qiandao Lake and its catchment,&"},"displayconttype":"Feature Story","originating_unit":"East Asia and Pacific, EAP","funding_source":"IBRD"},"NDVlYzkzOGNjYTBkNDc0ZDk0ZjQ3MzA4NWY5MDY0Mzc4NjUzN2IwZg2":{"id":"NDVlYzkzOGNjYTBkNDc0ZDk0ZjQ3MzA4NWY5MDY0Mzc4NjUzN2IwZg2","url":"http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2026/07/20/building-trust-for-people-and-nature-in-south-africa-s-mega-living-landscapes","descr":{"cdata!":"In South Africa, a paradigm shift is underway – pioneering the way for inclusive conservation in Mega Living Landscapes that blend community livelihoods with ecosystem health through patient, shared governance."},"lang":"English","title":{"cdata!":"Building Trust for People and Nature in South Africa’s Mega Living Landscapes"},"cqpath":"/content/wb-home/en/news/feature/2026/07/20/building-trust-for-people-and-nature-in-south-africa-s-mega-living-landscapes","lnchdt":"2026-07-20T13:09:19Z","wcmsource":"cq5","conttype":"Feature Story","content":{"cdata!":" In South Africa, a paradigm shift is underway, pioneering the way for inclusive conservation in Mega Living Landscapes that integrate communities, natural ecosystems, and nature-based industries into holistic land-use planning. Central to this transformation is the Greater Addo-Amathole Biodiversity Economy Node, a designated geographic region targeted for simultaneous ecological conservation and economic development. The recent launch of the Greater Addo-Amathole Biodiversity Economy Node Master Plan serves as an important story of change, proving that for a landscape-level strategy to be effective, the \"how\" is just as important as the \"what\". Sustainable conservation cannot be rushed. It requires the patient accumulation of trust. Over the past four years, a rigorous process of co-creation has been led by the project implementers in the Greater Addo-Amathole – South African National Parks (SANParks) and the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency (ECPTA). This initiative is part of a broader Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded project, \"Catalyzing Financing and Capacity for the Biodiversity Economy around Protected Areas\", which is implemented by the World Bank and executed by the national Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) in partnership with others. The project is part of South Africa’s contribution to the Global Wildlife Program (GWP), funded by the GEF and led by the World Bank, which supports countries to strengthen wildlife conservation while improving benefits for people and local economies. Central to the strategy in the Greater Addo-Amathole has been using annual Multi-Stakeholder Coordination Forums as a connecting point to foster collaboration. The progression of these forums provides a lens into a shared journey (Figure 2) that is driving the successful implementation of the GEF-7 project in this landscape:2023 (1st Forum): Introduced the biodiversity economy concept, mapped out regional stakeholders, and identified baseline opportunities.2024 (2nd Forum): Officially initiated the Master Plan process, emphasizing integration and collaboration among different role-players.2025 (3rd & 4th Forums): Presented the draft Master Plan for comment, followed by months of collaborative refinement to consolidate the final draft.2026 (5th Forum): Stakeholders gathered to formally launch the Master Plan and pivot deliberately towards on-the-ground implementation. Crucially, the Master Plan is not intended to sit on a shelf as an “end in itself”, nor does it represent an immediate financial commitment by the state. Instead, it was launched as a dynamic, living tool for stakeholders to actively use and carry forward. It functions as a call for coordinated multi-stakeholder action and a strategic framework to attract further investment."},"content_1000":{"cdata!":" In South Africa, a paradigm shift is underway, pioneering the way for inclusive conservation in Mega Living Landscapes that integrate communities, natural ecosystems, and nature-based industries into holistic land-use planning. Central to this transformation is the Greater Addo-Amathole Biodiversity Economy Node, a designated geographic region targeted for simultaneous ecological conservation and economic development. The recent launch of the Greater Addo-Amathole Biodiversity Economy Node Master Plan serves as an important story of change, proving that for a landscape-level strategy to be effective, the \"how\" is just as important as the \"what\". Sustainable conservation cannot be rushed. It requires the patient accumulation of trust. Over the past four years, a rigorous process of co-creation has been led by the project implementers in the Greater Addo-Amathole – South African National Parks (SANParks) and the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency (ECPTA). This initiative is part"},"displayconttype":"Feature Story","originating_unit":"Environment & Natural Resources, ENV"},"MDc3ODUzMjRmZThhYjZmZTg2NTM4NzM1MTMxMzU5YTlkNWY1Y2M5Yg2":{"id":"MDc3ODUzMjRmZThhYjZmZTg2NTM4NzM1MTMxMzU5YTlkNWY1Y2M5Yg2","url":"http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2026/07/15/building-on-success-how-korea-s-real-estate-expertise-is-driving-development","count":"Korea, Republic of","descr":{"cdata!":"Korea Real Estate Board (REB) through the Korea–World Bank Partnership Facility (KWPF), share real estate and land governance expertise to advance land reforms and sustainable development in client countries."},"keywd":"programs:korea-world-bank-partnership-facility,country:Korea, Republic of","lang":"English","title":{"cdata!":"Building on Success: How Korea's Real Estate Expertise Is Driving Development"},"cqpath":"/content/wb-home/en/news/feature/2026/07/15/building-on-success-how-korea-s-real-estate-expertise-is-driving-development","lnchdt":"2026-07-15T18:56:36Z","wcmsource":"cq5","country":"Korea, Republic of","countcode":"KR","conttype":"Feature Story","content":{"cdata!":" Building on Success: How Korea's Real Estate Expertise Is Driving Development Korea's transformation from aid recipient to one of the World Bank's key donors within a single generation stands as one of the most inspiring models for development and strengthening this association is the Korea–World Bank Partnership Facility (KWPF). It is a trust fund managed by the World Bank and is the largest the Government of Korea has with any Multilateral Development Bank (MDB). KWPF was established with the objective to support low- and middle-income countries adapt and apply Korea's development experience and technical expertise to achieve inclusive and sustainable growth. A defining feature of KWPF is the active role played by Korean institutions, which partner directly with World Bank Group task teams to share knowledge and support client countries on the ground. One such institution is the Korea Real Estate Board (REB), a recognized leader in land administration and real estate policy. Through KWPF, REB has partnered with many World Bank Group task teams, contributing its expertise to support client countries navigating land reforms and related challenges. We reached out to Bongjoon Kim, Director, Global Cooperation Division to learn more about this partnership, what Korea's experience has to offer, and how the exchange of expertise is helping countries build more equitable and sustainable land systems. Q. Could you tell us about the Korea Real Estate Board (REB) and how its partnership with the Korea–World Bank Partnership Facility (KWPF) came about? A: REB is a public institution that helps ensure transparent and reliable real estate policy. Established in 1969 as the Korea Appraisal Board, REB has grown from a valuation institution into a comprehensive public agency within Korea’s land and real estate policy framework. Today, its work covers mass valuation for property taxation, real estate market statistics, operation of real estate information systems, appraisal review, compensation, urban renewal, green building certification, and policy research. REB’s distinctive strength is that it combines policy, data, systems, and field valuation expertise within one institution. REB annually supports the public announcement of land and housing values nationwide, operates systems including Real Estate Transaction Management System (RTMS) and KRIMS, and provides the evidence base for government real estate policy and market monitoring. Our collaboration with the World Bank Group through KWPF began in 2022 through the ‘Indonesia: Supporting Domestic Resource Mobilization for Infrastructure Investment through Improved Land and Property Valuation’, project. In the same year, the partnership was further solidified through a Memorandum of Understanding between the World Bank and REB, providing an institutional framework for cooperation on land and property valuation infrastructure, ICT-based and computer-assisted mass valuation, and digital innovations for valuation. REB has supported four World Bank task teams since then through KWPF-related projects, reaching Indonesia, Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh.  Final mission for the KWPF-supported Indonesia project, March 2024. © Korea Real Estate Board Q. What types of support has REB extended to client countries through this partnership, and could you share one experience that you found particularly rewarding? A: Through KWPF, REB’s support has focused mainly on land administration, real estate mass valuation, property taxation, and digital real estate information systems. The work has not been limited to study tours. Apart from the Indonesian project mentioned previously, in Pakistan, under the KWPF project ‘Mass Land Valuation Pilot for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’, REB helped demonstrate how administrative records, geospatial data, and field surveys could be combined to produce evidence-based residential land values in a pilot area. In Nepal, Under the KWPF project, ‘Learning from Korea's Experience on Land and Property Valuation and Taxation System’, REB prepared a technical documentation report on Korea’s land and property valuation and taxation system to assist policymakers in considering institutional, legal, and technological options. More recently, REB organized and delivered a capacity-building program for government officials from Bangladesh and Pakistan in Korea, which included lectures, system demonstrations, and site visits covering Korea’s public announcement system, property tax, cadastre, KRIMS, RTMS, and architectural information systems. A rewarding experience: The Pakistan mass land valuation pilot was a particularly rewarding experience. It went beyond just knowledge sharing and tested a practical model in a real administrative context. Even with data limitations, the pilot demonstrated that mass valuation could be technically feasible when parcel data, GIS analysis, reference parcel selection, and field verification are combined. This was meaningful because Korea’s experience was adapted and translated into recommendations for fairer taxation, better data governance, and future scale-up.  Capacity Building on Mass Property Valuation for Bangladeshi and Pakistani officials, January 2026. © Korea Real Estate Board Q. Given that KWPF task teams have often partnered with REB to support land administration and real estate initiatives in client countries, have these countries continued to engage with REB after the completion of the KWPF-supported grants? If so, how has the partnership evolved and sustained over time? A: Yes, and Indonesia is an important example of how a KWPF-supported engagement developed into a sustained institutional relationship. In our experience, KWPF-supported work often becomes the starting point for longer technical dialogue rather than a one-time activity. Client countries and World Bank task teams have continued to engage with REB.  During the KWPF-supported Indonesia project implementation, REB and ATR/BPN(the project’s recipient agency) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on real estate price systems and digital information. The MoU was significant because it formalized the trust and technical dialogue built during the ongoing collaboration on land and property valuation, mass valuation modeling, databank formation, and pilot system strategy. It provided a basis for exchanging regulatory information, standards, methods, techniques, and experiences. This includes cooperation on real estate mass valuation, digital information, land acquisition and development, policy and legal systems, professional knowledge exchange, and capacity-building activities. Building on this relationship, REB has also proposed a 2027 Official Development Assistance (ODA) project funded by Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) to expand cooperation with ATR/BPN into the field of land compensation management. This reflects how the KWPF-supported engagement has continued to create opportunities for broader institutional and technical cooperation.  Signing ceremony for the MoU between REB and Indonesia’s ATR/BPN, April 2023. © Korea Real Estate Board Q. As a closing thought, what would you like to share about REB's experience of partnering with the World Bank through KWPF? What does this collaboration mean for REB and the broader goal of sustainable development? A: For REB, partnering with the World Bank through KWPF has been more than a channel for sharing technical expertise. It has been an opportunity to reflect on Korea’s own development path and translate that experience into practical support for countries facing similar, but not identical, reform challenges. Korea’s land and property systems were built over many decades through urbanization, industrialization, legal reform, digitalization, and continuous debate on fairness in taxation and land use. Therefore, our message to client countries is not that Korea’s model should be copied as it is. Rather, the value lies in sharing the underlying principles and experiences: clear legal mandates, reliable and integrated data, transparent valuation standards, coordination among institutions, public disclosure, objection procedures, and digital systems that strengthen professional decision-making. The World Bank and KWPF make this exchange more effective by connecting REB’s experience with real reform demand on the ground. Through World Bank task teams, we can understand each country’s institutional context, work with counterpart agencies, and tailor our support from technical reports to pilot models, system demonstrations, workshops, and capacity-building programs. REB also learns from each engagement. The challenges faced by Indonesia, Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh remind us that valuation reform is not only technical; it is closely linked to domestic revenue mobilization, tenure security, market transparency, and public trust. As Korea has transitioned from an aid recipient country to a donor country, REB sees KWPF as a meaningful way to give back. The collaboration allows us to share lessons with humility, support sustainable development, and build partnerships that continue beyond individual projects. Related Links: ·       REB’s Official Website ·       Introductory Video about REB"},"content_1000":{"cdata!":" Building on Success: How Korea's Real Estate Expertise Is Driving Development Korea's transformation from aid recipient to one of the World Bank's key donors within a single generation stands as one of the most inspiring models for development and strengthening this association is the Korea–World Bank Partnership Facility (KWPF). It is a trust fund managed by the World Bank and is the largest the Government of Korea has with any Multilateral Development Bank (MDB). KWPF was established with the objective to support low- and middle-income countries adapt and apply Korea's development experience and technical expertise to achieve inclusive and sustainable growth. A defining feature of KWPF is the active role played by Korean institutions, which partner directly with World Bank Group task teams to share knowledge and support client countries on the ground. One such institution is the Korea Real Estate Board (REB), a recognized leader in land administration and real estate policy. Through"},"displayconttype":"Feature Story","originating_unit":"Development Finance, CFP"},"MzU3Mzc5Yzg2MGRhNWZjNDQzZTA0ZWFkMWZmODU3YjI4MjMzZDQ0Mw2":{"id":"MzU3Mzc5Yzg2MGRhNWZjNDQzZTA0ZWFkMWZmODU3YjI4MjMzZDQ0Mw2","url":"http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2026/07/15/corridor-to-trade-jobs-and-services","count":"Lao PDR,Vietnam,Thailand","descr":{"cdata!":"SEARECC economic corridor project builds trade links across three countries and brings job opportunities and public services to villagers across northern Laos"},"keywd":"subject:road-safety,subject:transport,subject:infrastructure and growth,subject:infrastructure,country:Lao PDR,consultations:language/lao,subject:trade facilitation and logistics,subject:trade,subject:inclusive-growth,country:Vietnam,country:Thailand,subject:agribusiness,video:categories/agriculture","lang":"English","title":{"cdata!":"Corridor to Trade, Jobs, and Services"},"topic":"Road-safety,Transport,Infrastructure And Growth,Infrastructure,Trade Facilitation And Logistics,Trade,Inclusive-growth,Agribusiness","proid":"P176088","cqpath":"/content/wb-home/en/news/feature/2026/07/15/corridor-to-trade-jobs-and-services","lnchdt":"2026-07-15T09:07:25Z","wcmsource":"cq5","country":"Lao PDR,Vietnam,Thailand","countcode":"LA,VN,TH","conttype":"Feature Story","content":{"cdata!":" Mr. Bounkhong is well known in Somxay village, in the northern Lao province of Oudomxay. His wife and daughter run a small shop in the middle of the village, selling snacks and everyday items but he spends much of his time at the family farm, where he grows vegetables and raises poultry. Like most of the villagers, he also holds fields where he cultivates rice for household consumption, plus cash crops like maize and rubber. Life is getting better for Bounkhong’s family and for many of the villagers. For over a year now, a new road has run from the village to Houn district town 3 kilometers away. This is part of a network of secondary roads that connect to National Road 2, and their upgrade is financed by the World Bank as part of the $132 million Southeast Asia Regional Economic Corridor and Connectivity Project, designed to increase job opportunities through better connectivity across three countries in Southeast Asia. “It only takes ten minutes or so to get into town now,” says Bounkhong. “Along the old road, it could take an hour in the monsoon season”. As secondary schools, hospitals, markets, shops and government offices are all located in Houn, the new road provides easy year-round access to essential services, and it also means that traders are more likely to visit farmers in the village."},"content_1000":{"cdata!":" Mr. Bounkhong is well known in Somxay village, in the northern Lao province of Oudomxay. His wife and daughter run a small shop in the middle of the village, selling snacks and everyday items but he spends much of his time at the family farm, where he grows vegetables and raises poultry. Like most of the villagers, he also holds fields where he cultivates rice for household consumption, plus cash crops like maize and rubber. Life is getting better for Bounkhong’s family and for many of the villagers. For over a year now, a new road has run from the village to Houn district town 3 kilometers away. This is part of a network of secondary roads that connect to National Road 2, and their upgrade is financed by the World Bank as part of the $132 million Southeast Asia Regional Economic Corridor and Connectivity Project, designed to increase job opportunities through better connectivity across three countries in Southeast Asia. “It only takes ten minutes or so to get into town now,” says Bou"},"displayconttype":"Feature Story","originating_unit":"Transport, TRA","funding_source":"IDA"},"NmIxZjg3OGM4YTAxMGM3YzBiOGFiOWVmYjYxMzU3NDcxNzIwNzI0Zg2":{"id":"NmIxZjg3OGM4YTAxMGM3YzBiOGFiOWVmYjYxMzU3NDcxNzIwNzI0Zg2","url":"http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2026/07/14/opportunity-in-the-oasis-creating-jobs-for-the-next-generation-in-rural-morocco","descr":{"cdata!":"In southern Morocco, community-led projects are creating jobs, supporting entrepreneurship, and helping young people build futures closer to home."},"keywd":"regions:Middle East and North Africa,subject:environment and natural resources,subject:jobs and development","lang":"English","admreg":"Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, & Pakistan","title":{"cdata!":"Opportunity in the Oasis: Creating Jobs for the Next Generation in Rural Morocco"},"topic":"Environment And Natural Resources,Jobs And Development","proid":"P500402","cqpath":"/content/wb-home/en/news/feature/2026/07/14/opportunity-in-the-oasis-creating-jobs-for-the-next-generation-in-rural-morocco","lnchdt":"2026-07-14T04:32:00Z","regionname":"Middle East and North Africa","wcmsource":"cq5","conttype":"Feature Story","content":{"cdata!":" Covering 15 percent of Morocco, oasis landscapes support rural jobs and economic activities, especially in natural resource-based sectors.  In these oasis landscapes, life depends on a carefully managed balance among its key landscape components: water resources, agriculture systems, and community stewardship. For generations, traditional farming practices have sustained these fragile ecosystems. Today, however, this balance is increasingly threatened by rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and declining water availability, placing growing pressure on the land and people who depend on it.  In the last two decades, the population of Tata Province has halved, as young people leave in search of economic opportunities further afield. Fewer young people have consequences for both the ecosystem and rural economy that it underpins. The challenge underscores a broader reality: nature is not simply an environmental asset, but foundational infrastructure for poverty reduction, economic opportunity, and a better quality of life. To reverse this trend, the Government of Morocco, with support from the World Bank Group through PROGREEN, is investing in a new model that links ecosystem resilience with job creation and channels investment to where need is greatest and impact is highest. The approach aligns with the findings of the Morocco Growth and Jobs Report, which highlights the critical role of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises—representing 94 percent of Morocco's private sector—in creating economic opportunities, particularly for young people. Through the Sustainable Oasis Ecosystems Management Project, 20 community-led initiatives are underway in the Aoufous and Akka oases in rural Morocco, supporting enterprises in agriculture, tourism, handicrafts, and digital services. At the heart of this effort are the people transforming these opportunities into livelihoods. Turning ideas into enterprises  For many participants, the project is a steppingstone toward entrepreneurship.  After participating in business development training, Maryam Boulah is launching a cooperative, “Tirtwin,” to produce aromatic plants, incense, and natural cosmetics. The cooperative has started as a family initiative, with the hopes to expand into a community enterprise. "},"content_1000":{"cdata!":" Covering 15 percent of Morocco, oasis landscapes support rural jobs and economic activities, especially in natural resource-based sectors.  In these oasis landscapes, life depends on a carefully managed balance among its key landscape components: water resources, agriculture systems, and community stewardship. For generations, traditional farming practices have sustained these fragile ecosystems. Today, however, this balance is increasingly threatened by rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and declining water availability, placing growing pressure on the land and people who depend on it.  In the last two decades, the population of Tata Province has halved, as young people leave in search of economic opportunities further afield. Fewer young people have consequences for both the ecosystem and rural economy that it underpins. The challenge underscores a broader reality: nature is not simply an environmental asset, but foundational infrastructure for poverty reduction"},"displayconttype":"Feature Story","originating_unit":"Environment & Natural Resources, ENV","funding_source":"IBRD,Trust Fund"},"OGE2YTlhNjVhYjlhMTZkY2M1NzU0MTM1NzhhMThiOTE4MDBlNjFmZA2":{"id":"OGE2YTlhNjVhYjlhMTZkY2M1NzU0MTM1NzhhMThiOTE4MDBlNjFmZA2","url":"http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2026/07/13/latin-america-seeks-to-transform-its-mineral-wealth-into-jobs-and-development","count":"Chile","descr":{"cdata!":"A regional dialogue in Santiago explored how mineral wealth can generate jobs, innovation, infrastructure, and local development."},"keywd":"country:Chile,regions:Latin America and Caribbean,subject:energy and extractives,subject:extractives and cross-cutting themes","lang":"English","admreg":"Latin America and Caribbean","title":{"cdata!":"Latin America Seeks to Transform Its Mineral Wealth into Jobs and Development"},"topic":"Energy And Extractives,Extractives And Cross-cutting Themes","cqpath":"/content/wb-home/en/news/feature/2026/07/13/latin-america-seeks-to-transform-its-mineral-wealth-into-jobs-and-development","lnchdt":"2026-07-13T12:24:53Z","regionname":"Latin America and Caribbean","wcmsource":"cq5","country":"Chile","countcode":"CL","conttype":"Feature Story","content":{"cdata!":" A regional dialogue in Santiago explored how mineral wealth can generate jobs, innovation, infrastructure, and local development.  Latin America is home to some of the world's most important copper and lithium reserves, positioning the region at the center of the global energy transition. As demand for critical minerals continues to grow, countries across the region are exploring how to translate natural resource wealth into broader economic opportunities and sustainable development.  That question was at the heart of \"From Resources to Jobs: The Value of Minerals for Latin America,\" an event held in Santiago, Chile that brought together government officials, mining executives, multilateral organizations, ambassadors, and international experts to discuss how mining can create greater value through employment, industrialization, infrastructure, and territorial development.  Chile's Minister of Economy and Mining, Daniel Mas, emphasized the central role of employment in the mining sector “The first link in the virtuous cycle of mineral wealth is the generation of formal, high-quality employment, with specialization, good wages, and opportunities for families. Its impact goes far beyond large corporations: behind every mining operation there are thousands of small and medium-sized enterprises providing services, metalworking, software, transportation, and innovation. The challenge is to continue strengthening this productive ecosystem.”    According to the World Bank Group, much of the potential value from mining is created beyond extraction itself. As Namrata Thapar, Global Director for Metals and Minerals at the World Bank Group, noted: “Latin America has a significant opportunity to translate its mineral wealth into jobs, growth, and development. The greatest gains will come from everything that happens around the mine—including supplier industries, processing, infrastructure, logistics, and workforce development”. She added that “the countries that move fastest and farthest will be those that combine resource potential with stable legal framework, high environmental and social standards, and the ability to attract responsible private investment”. The event examined four key areas that can help countries capture more value from their mineral resources: quality employment, industrialization, strategic infrastructure, and territorial development. Participants represented government, industry, academia, and development institutions from across the region.  Julio Pertuzé, President of Fundación Chile, highlighted the importance of regional collaboration: “The geopolitical context, the energy transition, and the growing demand for critical minerals represent a historic opportunity for Latin America. We must seize it,” adding that “we firmly believe that the most relevant challenges are best addressed through collaboration among all stakeholders. This capacity for coordination, which has characterized us, is precisely what we aim to bring to today’s discussion.”   The World Bank Group also reiterated its commitment to supporting Chile's efforts to increase the development impact of its mineral resources. Jean-Marc Arbogast, World Bank Group Country Manager for Chile, said: “We want to be a strategic partner for Chile in advancing toward a more competitive mining sector and in multiplying the value of its minerals, generating quality jobs, new capabilities, investment, and opportunities for people. This agenda is also linked to water security, the energy transition, infrastructure, and innovation—essential factors for mining that is sustainable and has a greater impact on development.”  A recurring theme throughout the discussions was the need for stronger collaboration among governments, companies, suppliers, academic institutions, and communities. Participants agreed that expanding local supply chains and strengthening relationships with communities will be essential to transforming mineral wealth into employment, industrialization, and territorial development across Latin America. The event was supported by the Extractives Global Programmatic Support (EGPS) through This event was funded by the Extractives Global Programmatic Support (EGPS), through its Resilient and Inclusive Supply Chain Enhancement Partnership (RISE) with support from Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Japan, Korea, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, to strengthen sustainable supply chain development in the mining sector. "},"content_1000":{"cdata!":" A regional dialogue in Santiago explored how mineral wealth can generate jobs, innovation, infrastructure, and local development.  Latin America is home to some of the world's most important copper and lithium reserves, positioning the region at the center of the global energy transition. As demand for critical minerals continues to grow, countries across the region are exploring how to translate natural resource wealth into broader economic opportunities and sustainable development.  That question was at the heart of \"From Resources to Jobs: The Value of Minerals for Latin America,\" an event held in Santiago, Chile that brought together government officials, mining executives, multilateral organizations, ambassadors, and international experts to discuss how mining can create greater value through employment, industrialization, infrastructure, and territorial development.  Chile's Minister of Economy and Mining, Daniel Mas, emphasized the central role of employment in t"},"displayconttype":"Feature Story","originating_unit":"Latin America & Caribbean, LCR","funding_source":"IBRD"},"NDY2NGIwMDA0OTkxYTI2OTUyNTk5NWM1ZTcyYmI1NjQ0OWU4YjIzNw2":{"id":"NDY2NGIwMDA0OTkxYTI2OTUyNTk5NWM1ZTcyYmI1NjQ0OWU4YjIzNw2","url":"http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2026/07/06/a-global-farming-initiative-is-redefining-jobs-and-harvests-in-rural-bangladesh","descr":{"cdata!":"Bangladesh's smallholder farmers, the millions of men and women who cultivate small plots across the delta, have always lived at the intersection of hope and precarity. Agriculture remains the backbone of the country's rural economy, employing nearly 40 percent of the total workforce of the country."},"keywd":"regions:South Asia,consultations:country/bangladesh,subject:agriculture and food security,subject:agribusiness,organization:International Finance Corporation (IFC)","lang":"English","admreg":"South Asia","title":{"cdata!":"The Agri-Entrepreneur Next Door - A global farming initiative is redefining jobs and harvests in rural Bangladesh"},"topic":"Agriculture And Food Security,Agribusiness","unit":"International Finance Corporation (IFC)","cqpath":"/content/wb-home/en/news/feature/2026/07/06/a-global-farming-initiative-is-redefining-jobs-and-harvests-in-rural-bangladesh","lnchdt":"2026-07-06T21:21:00Z","regionname":"South Asia","wcmsource":"cq5","conttype":"Feature Story","content":{"cdata!":" It is early morning in a small market town in northern Bangladesh, and Mehedi is already at his shop. He opened the doors of his Better Life Center in Saidpur before dawn, stacking shelves with seeds and crop protection products, as he readies himself for the stream of farmers who will come in from surrounding villages before the day grows hot. His young daughter sometimes stops by after school, threading through the rows of inputs to find her father behind the counter, and lately, her grandfather too, who now helps manage a space the family has built on its own land. Five years ago, Mehedi was a recent university graduate in a country where youth unemployment weighs heavily on young shoulders. He had a degree and ambition, but no clear path forward. That struggle was far from his alone — for many educated young graduates, ambition is plentiful, but jobs are not. Then a Better Life Farming agri-consultant came to his community, looking not for established shopkeepers, but for people like Mehedi: curious, trusted by neighbors, open to learning. Today, Mehedi serves over 500 farmers across five villages. He does more than sell agricultural solutions—he diagnoses, advises, and follows up. He is, in the language of the program, an agri-entrepreneur. But to the farmers who rely on him, he is something simpler and more essential: the person you call when your crop starts wilting and you don't know why. In stepping into that role, Mehedi also found something else: a steady livelihood, and proof that agriculture can be a genuine career path for young people willing to reimagine what a job can look like.  A System That Wasn’t Working Bangladesh's smallholder farmers, the millions of men and women who cultivate small plots across the delta, have always lived at the intersection of hope and precarity. Agriculture remains the backbone of the country's rural economy, employing nearly 40 percent of the total workforce of the country. Yet productivity has remained stubbornly low, held in place by a knot of interconnected challenges: limited access to quality inputs, fragmented advice, volatile markets, and, increasingly, the disrupting hand of weather shocks. Erratic rainfall, flooding, salinity intrusion, and rising temperatures have turned farming calendars unreliable. A crop that thrived on a familiar rhythm of seasons now faces conditions its growers were not trained for. Without access to reliable guidance, many farmers turned to informal dealers, purchasing low-quality inputs that increased costs without improving outcomes. The result was a vicious cycle: low productivity, low income, low investment, and greater vulnerability to the next shock. Women farmers faced these pressures acutely. With less access to public spaces, extension services, and markets, they were often the last to receive new information and the first to bear the losses. A Different Kind of Partnership Better Life Farming is a last-mile initiative bringing together global partners including Bayer, Netafim, Yara, and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, to address the everyday needs of rural farming communities worldwide. This initiative is built on a simple premise: smallholder farmers are not the problem to be solved, but entrepreneurs to be supported. Rather than treating farmers as passive beneficiaries, Better Life Farming delivers integrated solutions such as quality inputs, climate-smart agronomic advice, digital tools, and market linkages through locally anchored service hubs that operate as trusted, commercially viable rural businesses. In Bangladesh, the model centers on building and professionalizing a network of rural agri-entrepreneurs who manage Better Life Farming one-stop centers as frontline advisors and service providers. These are neither government extension workers nor corporate agents. They are neighbors, trained and trusted to serve their communities with both technical knowledge and genuine accountability. The Bangladesh initiative also builds on the World Bank–supported PARTNER project (Program on Agricultural and Rural Transformation for Nutrition, Entrepreneurship, and Resilience), which strengthened public agricultural systems and service delivery at scale and formalized collaboration between Bayer CropScience Ltd. Bangladesh and the Department of Agricultural Extension. Building on this, Better Life Farming provides a market-based pathway to sustain and scale public investment by integrating eligible PARTNER-trained entrepreneurs into commercially viable Better Life Farming centers. In this, Bangladesh is embracing AgriConnect: a World Bank Group initiative that aims to support 300 million smallholder farmers move up the value chain globally, creating jobs, strengthening food security, and demonstrating that productivity and resilience can scale through private sector leadership.  Finding the Mehedis One of the distinctive features of Better Life Farming Bangladesh is the deliberate search for untapped human potential in rural communities, particularly among young people for whom agriculture, while long a mainstay of the economy, has not been seen as a viable future. \"Job scarcity is a real problem here. Educated young men, graduates, are sitting idle. Not because they lack ambition, but because opportunity is hard to find. So, we open a door. We bring them in for trial sessions on modern agri-techniques, no pressure, just a look at what's possible. Not everyone comes back, but many do. Enough to surprise you. And from those who stay, we find our next agri-entrepreneur,\" says Razzak, a Better Life Farming agri-consultant. The training agri-entrepreneurs receive through Better Life Farming—drawing on methodologies from IFC's Agribusiness Leadership Program—covers not only agronomy but also business management, digital tools, advisory service models, and risk frameworks. The goal is not to create short-term intermediaries but a generation of professional rural service providers capable of growing with their communities. Better Life Farming Bangladesh aims to empower over 1,000 agri-entrepreneurs, with at least 20% women—more than double the current share. In turn, these agri-entrepreneurs will directly serve over 250,000 farmers across the country, acting as the human infrastructure of a new agricultural ecosystem."},"content_1000":{"cdata!":" It is early morning in a small market town in northern Bangladesh, and Mehedi is already at his shop. He opened the doors of his Better Life Center in Saidpur before dawn, stacking shelves with seeds and crop protection products, as he readies himself for the stream of farmers who will come in from surrounding villages before the day grows hot. His young daughter sometimes stops by after school, threading through the rows of inputs to find her father behind the counter, and lately, her grandfather too, who now helps manage a space the family has built on its own land. Five years ago, Mehedi was a recent university graduate in a country where youth unemployment weighs heavily on young shoulders. He had a degree and ambition, but no clear path forward. That struggle was far from his alone — for many educated young graduates, ambition is plentiful, but jobs are not. Then a Better Life Farming agri-consultant came to his community, looking not for established shopkeepers, but for people l"},"displayconttype":"Feature Story","originating_unit":"South Asia, SAR"},"MGQ5NDI1YjQ0NWIxZTFiZjAzZjU5OTAwZGM5Yzk0ZTUwMDEyYTFhZA2":{"id":"MGQ5NDI1YjQ0NWIxZTFiZjAzZjU5OTAwZGM5Yzk0ZTUwMDEyYTFhZA2","url":"http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2026/07/03/5-myths-about-malaysia-s-subnational-development","descr":{"cdata!":"Malaysia is on the cusp of reaching high-income status. But currently, only 5 of 16 Malaysian states and federal territories have attained the World Bank’s high-income threshold. This story, based on the World Bank report “Understanding and Unlocking State-Level Growth Potential in Malaysia” sheds light on Malaysia’s spatial disparities."},"lang":"English","title":{"cdata!":"5 Myths about Malaysia's Subnational Development"},"proid":"MY-Malaysia Growth and Inclusion -- P500550","cqpath":"/content/wb-home/en/news/feature/2026/07/03/5-myths-about-malaysia-s-subnational-development","lnchdt":"2026-07-03T10:40:03Z","wcmsource":"cq5","conttype":"Feature Story","content":{"cdata!":" By Deisigan Shammugam and Apurva Sanghi Malaysia is on the cusp of reaching high-income status. But currently, only 5 of 16 Malaysian states and federal territories have attained the World Bank’s high-income threshold. Spatial disparities run deep: average incomes in Kuala Lumpur exceed those in Portugal, a high-income country. By contrast, average incomes in Kelantan are comparable to those in Sri Lanka — and almost eight times lower than those in Kuala Lumpur. Even if Kelantan grows at an above-average rate of 5 percent annually, it will still take nearly three decades for it to reach the current high-income threshold. Such disparities are evident when it also comes to what matters most to Malaysians: high quality and dignified jobs. Kelantan and Terengganu bear high levels of underemployment: over 4-in-10 people work below their skill levels. But that ratio falls by almost half for Kuala Lumpur and Penang. The fact that disparities are large may not be news to most Malaysians, and indeed, they are also a feature in most developing countries. But how do these disparities in Malaysia stack up against those in other countries, especially other federations? What are the causes and potential solutions? These are the questions that spawned an intensive two-year effort, which culminated in the World Bank report “Understanding and Unlocking State-Level Growth Potential in Malaysia”. In this article, we shed light on “5 myths” about Malaysia’s spatial disparities:  Myth 1: Malaysia's regional inequality is “normal” for a developing country Truth. It is not; in fact, comparable economies such as Brazil, China, and the European Union all saw their subnational/states income distributions narrow over roughly the same period that Malaysia's diverged. One reason is that Malaysian states have limited capacity to generate their own revenues, which in turn leads to them carrying far narrower functional responsibilities and smaller fiscal envelopes compared to subnationals in other countries. Another is that states rely on a sizeable share of federal transfers (about one-third): in states like Terengganu and Kelantan, such transfers account for more than half of total state revenue. Moreover, these transfers are discretionary in nature. All these reasons can make it difficult for states to plan their budgets. Compared to others, Malaysia’s story is not that of normal growing pains. Malaysian states have relatively low shares of total revenues compared to other federations Share of state revenue of total federal government revenue, Percentage  Source: World Bank “Understanding and Unlocking State-Level Growth Potential in Malaysia” report   The capacity of each state government to generate its own revenue and its reliance on federal transfers varies significantly Average share of state revenue from 2018 to 2022, Percentage  Source: World Bank “Understanding and Unlocking State-Level Growth Potential in Malaysia” report Note: Own-source revenue includes tax revenue, non-tax revenue, other non-revenue receipts What it means. If this were a race, the richer states in Malaysia are running faster than poorer ones, causing the economic gap between them to widen – and not shrink -- as in other countries.  One reason is the discretionary and unpredictable nature of federal transfers which leave states with limited ability to shape their own economic trajectories. Greater transparency in how allocations are made, for example, through a more empowered National Finance Council, could help.  Myth 2: Poorer states are falling behind because they lack potential Truth. Poorer states actually have higher potential growth rates than richer ones – but their actual growth rates consistently fall short. We estimate, for the first time, “potential growth” of Malaysian states. Potential growth is simply the growth a state should be able to achieve over time, given its people, investment, and how efficiently the economy works. Most Malaysian states fall short of their potential Average potential and actual GDP growth from 2011-21, Percent  Source: World Bank “Understanding and Unlocking State-Level Growth Potential in Malaysia” report What goes wrong is that poorer states consistently have been unable to grow as fast as their own potential suggests. As a result, the gap between actual and potential growth becomes larger for poorer states than for richer ones. Put simply, the poorer a state is, the more it falls short of its own potential. Kelantan, Sabah, and Perlis are not missing potential. They are missing the conditions to realize it.  Lower-income states face greater challenges in realizing their full potential Gap between actual and potential growth, Percentage points  Source: World Bank “Understanding and Unlocking State-Level Growth Potential in Malaysia” report What it means. This finding reframes the policy question. The problem is not necessarily that poorer states lack endowments, but that regulatory, structural, and institutional changes are needed to convert high potential growth into high actual growth.  Myth 3: Malaysia's cities are too big and growing too fast Truth. The data suggests the opposite problem. We find that Malaysia's urban system is top-heavy, with Kuala Lumpur dominant at one end while mid-sized cities fail to grow proportionally. Malaysia's major cities are not dense enough. Rather than growing upward they are sprawling outward. Our analysis of granular satellite imagery data shows that economic activity is expanding fastest -- not in established urban cores -- but in the peripheral areas around them. This pattern of sprawl raises infrastructure costs, reduces efficiency, and does not produce the kind of agglomeration that drives productivity gains in the way that genuinely dense cities do. Large cities are growing larger than mid-sized ones Log rank  Source: World Bank “Understanding and Unlocking State-Level Growth Potential in Malaysia” report What it means. Malaysia needs to invest in the density and depth of its cities. Mid-sized cities in poorer states, such as Alor Setar, Kota Bharu, and Kuantan, represent particularly underutilized opportunities for inclusive urban growth.  Myth 4: Lowering barriers to mobility can help equalize incomes across states Truth. In theory, workers moving from low- to high- income states should help equalize incomes. But in Malaysia, such internal migration runs at just 0.5 percent, lower than Thailand’s and far below the United States – and it is declining. Moreover, our findings suggest that those who do move are not primarily motivated by income. Only 1 out of 4 people cite job or career opportunities as a reason for moving. Cultural ties, family networks, and non-economic factors dominate migration decisions. And even when Malaysians do move, 3 out of 5 people stay within their own state. Most of the migration in Malaysia is intrastate migration as opposed to interstate migration Overall migration rate across years in Malaysia, Percentage  Source: World Bank “Understanding and Unlocking State-Level Growth Potential in Malaysia” report What it means. Betting on the “pull” force of migration to address regional inequality is not necessarily a winning strategy in Malaysia. Explicit policy levers including investment in poorer regions, removal of capital mobility barriers (for example, the Kelantan Land Enactment 1938 restricts transfers of land from Kelantan natives to non-natives without prior state approval), and targeted fiscal transfers are equally important.  Myth 5: If a state is poor, then its districts must be poor as well Truth. Poor states can have high-performing districts and vice versa. Indeed, our report's district-level analysis, another methodological first for Malaysia, finds enormous variation within states. High-potential districts exist within poorer states. Low-potential districts exist within ostensibly leading ones. We develop, for the first time, an “Economic Potential Index” at state- and district- levels. This index measures the building blocks a district possesses for achieving high productivity, covering factors like infrastructure, human capital, and market access. And the results are striking: Take Sarawak, which scores lower on the Index at the state level, yet Kuching within it contains significant economic activity and latent capacity. Across all states, a sizeable 28 percent of district GDP sits in high-potential but low-performance districts – these are places with the right ingredients that are not yet delivering results. Another 23 percent sits in low-potential but high-performance districts. These are the ones punching well above their weight. A policy designed at the state level would miss much of this texture. Richer states can mask low-potential districts, while poorer states may also be home to high-potential ones EPI of Malaysian Districts  Source: World Bank staff calculations based on DOSM data Many districts across states – rich and poor -- are well-placed to benefit from targeted policy interventions EPI and performance quadrants weighted by district GDP   Source: World Bank “Understanding and Unlocking State-Level Growth Potential in Malaysia” report Note: Performance is calculated based on predicted GDP (proxied by night lights and other variables) vs actual GDP by districts What it means. The district – and not the state – is where spatial development policy needs to operate. ______________ Malaysia's development story is often told as a single national narrative, and it is a good one. But headlines can overly flatter a country's development story. For Malaysia, headlines mask the stark reality that millions of Malaysians will not live as high-income citizens long after the high-income flag is planted. Zooming in, a more complicated picture emerges. States that look poor on the surface contain districts of real promise – and vice versa. States that are perpetually viewed as “laggards” actually have higher potential – and in which policy can make a difference – much like Perak’s successful pivot from tin and commodities into manufacturing and services. Malaysia's next development challenge will be won city by city, district by district, and state by state. PS: If you want to know how your state does compared to others, click here for the scorecards. Read the full report here.          "},"content_1000":{"cdata!":" By Deisigan Shammugam and Apurva Sanghi Malaysia is on the cusp of reaching high-income status. But currently, only 5 of 16 Malaysian states and federal territories have attained the World Bank’s high-income threshold. Spatial disparities run deep: average incomes in Kuala Lumpur exceed those in Portugal, a high-income country. By contrast, average incomes in Kelantan are comparable to those in Sri Lanka — and almost eight times lower than those in Kuala Lumpur. Even if Kelantan grows at an above-average rate of 5 percent annually, it will still take nearly three decades for it to reach the current high-income threshold. Such disparities are evident when it also comes to what matters most to Malaysians: high quality and dignified jobs. Kelantan and Terengganu bear high levels of underemployment: over 4-in-10 people work below their skill levels. But that ratio falls by almost half for Kuala Lumpur and Penang. The fact that disparities are large may not be news to most Malaysians, and "},"displayconttype":"Feature Story","originating_unit":"Macroeconomics Trade and Investment, MTI"},"YjZmNGJhODEzODE3ZTY4MWE3YmM2MzkxMDExNTVhNmRlZTQ4YjM4Yw2":{"id":"YjZmNGJhODEzODE3ZTY4MWE3YmM2MzkxMDExNTVhNmRlZTQ4YjM4Yw2","url":"http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2026/07/02/meeting-emaswati-learners-where-they-are","count":"Eswatini","descr":{"cdata!":"See how Eswatini's TaRL pilot helped nearly 1,900 learners build literacy and numeracy skills and informed plans to scale up early learning support."},"keywd":"country:Eswatini,regions:Africa,subject:education,subject:human capital for growth,subject:jobs and development","lang":"English","admreg":"Africa","title":{"cdata!":"Meeting emaSwati Learners Where They Are: Teaching at the Right Level Opens Doors to Future Skills in the Kingdom of Eswatini"},"topic":"Education,Human Capital For Growth,Jobs And Development","cqpath":"/content/wb-home/en/news/feature/2026/07/02/meeting-emaswati-learners-where-they-are","lnchdt":"2026-07-02T10:36:36Z","regionname":"Africa","wcmsource":"cq5","country":"Eswatini","countcode":"SZ","conttype":"Feature Story","content":{"cdata!":" Nine-year-old Thandeka sits at the front of her classroom in rural Eswatini, tracing letters on a piece of paper. A few weeks ago, she could not read a single word. Today, she sounds out simple words, pausing between syllables before looking up at her teacher with a quiet sense of pride. Around her, some children are counting using bottle tops, while others read aloud from word cards. Each group is working on something different, learning at a pace that matches their current skills. For students like Thandeka, this small shift is opening the door not only to learning but also to future skills and opportunities."},"content_1000":{"cdata!":" Nine-year-old Thandeka sits at the front of her classroom in rural Eswatini, tracing letters on a piece of paper. A few weeks ago, she could not read a single word. Today, she sounds out simple words, pausing between syllables before looking up at her teacher with a quiet sense of pride. Around her, some children are counting using bottle tops, while others read aloud from word cards. Each group is working on something different, learning at a pace that matches their current skills. For students like Thandeka, this small shift is opening the door not only to learning but also to future skills and opportunities."},"displayconttype":"Feature Story","originating_unit":"Africa, AFR","funding_source":"IDA"},"Yjc3Y2UyNTgzNGFjZWY1YzI0MjkwNGUzZWQ5M2IzMDgzYzQ4YzdkNg2":{"id":"Yjc3Y2UyNTgzNGFjZWY1YzI0MjkwNGUzZWQ5M2IzMDgzYzQ4YzdkNg2","url":"http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2026/07/02/a-debt-for-development-swap-for-angola-expands-access-to-education","count":"Angola","descr":{"cdata!":"A debt-for-development swap is expanding access to education in Angola, helping prepare the country's youth for the jobs of the future. Backed by World Bank and MIGA guarantees, Angola is securing financing at more favorable terms to prepay higher-cost commercial debt — freeing up significant budget resources. Most of those savings will go directly toward building 30 more secondary schools, with over 32,000 students set to benefit. The operation also strengthens Angola's debt sustainability, turning costly debt into opportunity."},"keywd":"subject:debt management,country:Angola,africa,regions:Africa,subject:education,subject:jobs and development","lang":"English","admreg":"Africa","title":{"cdata!":"A debt-for-development  swap for Angola expands access to education"},"topic":"Debt Management,Education,Jobs And Development","cqpath":"/content/wb-home/en/news/feature/2026/07/02/a-debt-for-development-swap-for-angola-expands-access-to-education","lnchdt":"2026-07-02T09:00:00Z","regionname":"Africa","wcmsource":"cq5","country":"Angola","countcode":"AO","conttype":"Feature Story","content":{"cdata!":" A debt-for-development swap is expanding access to education in Angola, helping prepare the country's youth for the jobs of the future. Backed by World Bank and MIGA guarantees, Angola is securing financing at more favorable terms to prepay higher-cost commercial debt — freeing up significant budget resources. Most of those savings will go directly toward building 30 more secondary schools, with over 32,000 students set to benefit. The operation also strengthens Angola's debt sustainability, turning costly debt into opportunity."},"content_1000":{"cdata!":" A debt-for-development swap is expanding access to education in Angola, helping prepare the country's youth for the jobs of the future. Backed by World Bank and MIGA guarantees, Angola is securing financing at more favorable terms to prepay higher-cost commercial debt — freeing up significant budget resources. Most of those savings will go directly toward building 30 more secondary schools, with over 32,000 students set to benefit. The operation also strengthens Angola's debt sustainability, turning costly debt into opportunity."},"displayconttype":"Feature Story","originating_unit":"External and Corporate Relations, ECR","funding_source":"MIGA,IBRD"},"ZTQyYjg4MWRlMGE2NWZhODRmNzBjZmZiMGIwODQ2MmM5MzI0MGFlNw2":{"id":"ZTQyYjg4MWRlMGE2NWZhODRmNzBjZmZiMGIwODQ2MmM5MzI0MGFlNw2","url":"http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2026/07/01/no-longer-invisible-unlocking-legal-identity-for-millions-in-madagascar","count":"Madagascar","descr":{"cdata!":"See how Madagascar’s 2026 reform could help millions gain legal identity, access services, and secure their rights."},"keywd":"country:Madagascar,regions:Africa,subject:digital-transformation,subject:human rights,subject:social inclusion","lang":"English","admreg":"Africa","title":{"cdata!":"No Longer Invisible: Unlocking Legal Identity for Millions in Madagascar"},"topic":"Digital-transformation,Human Rights,Social Inclusion","proid":"P169413","cqpath":"/content/wb-home/en/news/feature/2026/07/01/no-longer-invisible-unlocking-legal-identity-for-millions-in-madagascar","lnchdt":"2026-07-01T15:04:41Z","regionname":"Africa","wcmsource":"cq5","country":"Madagascar","countcode":"MG","conttype":"Feature Story","content":{"cdata!":" Mr. Francois Rakotondramanana, 37, mends shoes on the streets of Andoharanofotsy, on the outskirts of Antananarivo. A father of eleven, he has never held a formal job. “I hope to find more stable work as a security guard. But without a national identity card, nobody hires me. And without a birth certificate, I cannot obtain one,” he says. In Madagascar, François’s story is not unique. An estimated six million adults, around 40% of the population, do not have a birth certificate. For many, this means exclusion from jobs, barriers to opening a bank account, and limited access to basic services. In theory, registering a birth in one of Madagascar’s 1,700 communes is relatively straightforward, if it is done within thirty days. After that, the process becomes far more difficult. Late registration requires appearing before a judge, presenting witnesses, and obtaining a doctor’s attestation. For families living far from administrative centers and struggling with the costs of transport and paperwork, these requirements are often out of reach. For years, the Ministry of Justice, responsible for the judicial process, organized periodic field campaigns to encourage late birth registration. But the approach was costly and reached only a fraction of those affected. A problem of this scale required a different response: one combining legal reform, administrative coordination, and innovation. That response is now taking shape. On May 28, 2026, the Government of Madagascar passed a new law allowing births to be registered en masse “within the framework of the mass biometric enrollment operation.” The reform opens a pathway for adults who have long lived outside the civil registration system to obtain birth certificates without a costly and complex judicial process. The reform builds on an unprecedented national enrollment effort that is underway. Since April, more than 2,000 teams, led by Ministry of Interior staff and supported by the World Bank- and GFF-financed Digital Governance and Identification Management System Project (PRODIGY), have been deployed across the country with biometric kits. Operating 26 days a month, they are registering adults nationwide by collecting fingerprints, iris scans, and basic personal information, along with any existing documents.  As of June 10, more than 3.25 million adults were enrolled in the national database. A critical part of the effort lies at the community level. Across Madagascar, more than 19,000 fokontany chiefs, the heads of the country’s smallest administrative units, can help confirm the identity of people who have no formal documentation at all. Their signed testimony, combined with biometric data stored in a de-duplicated database, provides a trusted basis for issuing birth certificates at scale. For the first time, community verification, biometric technology, and legal reform are being brought together to address a problem that had long seemed impossible. François was enrolled in the biometric database on February 4, 2026, during the pilot phase, in the spacious marriage hall of the Andoharanofotsy commune. Welcoming people to enroll, at scale, without any prior document marks a significant shift. Some officials initially expressed concerns about the risk of identity fraud, while others remained attached to traditional procedures. The new law is a breakthrough, but its success depends on implementation. As of June 10, only about 50,000 of the 3.25 million people enrolled had never held any identity document. This is a small share of those who could benefit from the reform. Reaching the millions who have lived outside the system for years will require sustained communication, local mobilization, and continued deployment of mobile teams to remote communities. The reform also leaves an important challenge unresolved. While it creates a pathway for adults who were previously excluded, it does not remove the barriers that continue to prevent many newborns from being registered on time. Distance, cost, limited awareness, and the short registration window continue to hinder this aspect. Even though the PRODIGY Project strengthened capacity of hospitals and communes to digitally register births, further reforms will be needed to ensure that exclusion is not passed on to the next generation. Madagascar’s new approach marks an important step forward. It shows how evidence-based advocacy, political commitment, and practical innovation can work together to address a long-standing development challenge. “This reform shows that solving exclusion at scale requires more than technology. It requires political leadership, local institutions, and practical solutions that people can actually access,” shared Zubair Bhatti and Lira Rajenarison, World Bank Task Team Leaders of the PRODIGY Project.  Ms. Meme Zeria, 25, a farmer from Antetezamba commune in the Toamasina region, grew up without a birth certificate. She enrolled on May 23, 2026. For her, the process was simple enough to be possible. “The centre is only 15 kilometers away, and there is no fee,” she said. Her hopes extend beyond herself. “It will help me obtain documents for my three children. I also want to benefit from the advantages that people with a national identity card receive,” she said. She then added: “I want to be recognized by the state.”"},"content_1000":{"cdata!":" Mr. Francois Rakotondramanana, 37, mends shoes on the streets of Andoharanofotsy, on the outskirts of Antananarivo. A father of eleven, he has never held a formal job. “I hope to find more stable work as a security guard. But without a national identity card, nobody hires me. And without a birth certificate, I cannot obtain one,” he says. In Madagascar, François’s story is not unique. An estimated six million adults, around 40% of the population, do not have a birth certificate. For many, this means exclusion from jobs, barriers to opening a bank account, and limited access to basic services. In theory, registering a birth in one of Madagascar’s 1,700 communes is relatively straightforward, if it is done within thirty days. After that, the process becomes far more difficult. Late registration requires appearing before a judge, presenting witnesses, and obtaining a doctor’s attestation. For families living far from administrative centers and struggling with the costs of transport and p"},"displayconttype":"Feature Story","originating_unit":"Africa, AFR","funding_source":"IDA"},"MGQ1YTdkYmU2MWQ4Y2MzYWYwM2I1NGJkOTc2YzEwY2RkNmNlZmE0YQ2":{"id":"MGQ1YTdkYmU2MWQ4Y2MzYWYwM2I1NGJkOTc2YzEwY2RkNmNlZmE0YQ2","url":"http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2026/06/29/ethiopias-reforms-open-opportunities-for-firms-and-people","count":"Ethiopia","descr":{"cdata!":"See how Ethiopia’s reforms are easing forex shortages, improving trade, and helping firms invest, hire, and support vulnerable households."},"keywd":"country:Ethiopia,regions:Africa","lang":"English","admreg":"Africa","title":{"cdata!":"Ethiopia’s Reforms Open Opportunities for Firms and People"},"cqpath":"/content/wb-home/en/news/feature/2026/06/29/ethiopias-reforms-open-opportunities-for-firms-and-people","lnchdt":"2026-06-29T18:37:00Z","regionname":"Africa","wcmsource":"cq5","country":"Ethiopia","countcode":"ET","conttype":"Feature Story","content":{"cdata!":"HighlightsEthiopia's economic reforms are delivering results, opening access to foreign exchange, stabilizing the financial system, and improving conditions for businesses to invest, grow, and create jobs.For firms across the country, improved access to foreign currency is easing a top constraint to production, business confidence, and more private investment.For the most vulnerable households, an expansion of social protection payments is providing a critical buffer, helping protect families from the costs of economic adjustment.These gains are set to go further, with support from a series of World Bank Group Development Policy Operations, deepening Ethiopia’s homegrown reforms, broadening economic opportunities, and building the resilience that people and businesses need to thrive in the long term. Creating more and better jobs requires businesses to invest and grow. For years, however, businesses importing goods into Ethiopia faced a frustrating and costly uncertainty. Even with proper invoices and documentation, they could not reliably predict the customs value that would be assigned to their goods, or what they would ultimately owe. That unpredictability rippled across supply chains, made it harder to price products competitively, and undermined Ethiopia's appeal as a destination for trade and investment."},"content_1000":{"cdata!":"HighlightsEthiopia's economic reforms are delivering results, opening access to foreign exchange, stabilizing the financial system, and improving conditions for businesses to invest, grow, and create jobs.For firms across the country, improved access to foreign currency is easing a top constraint to production, business confidence, and more private investment.For the most vulnerable households, an expansion of social protection payments is providing a critical buffer, helping protect families from the costs of economic adjustment.These gains are set to go further, with support from a series of World Bank Group Development Policy Operations, deepening Ethiopia’s homegrown reforms, broadening economic opportunities, and building the resilience that people and businesses need to thrive in the long term. Creating more and better jobs requires businesses to invest and grow. For years, however, businesses importing goods into Ethiopia faced a frustrating and costly uncertainty. Even with pro"},"displayconttype":"Feature Story","originating_unit":"Africa, AFR"},"N2M3Yjc0ZGE4MGY4OGFiYTI1ZGZhYzgxYTNmZWZhMWFiODFkZDk0Ng2":{"id":"N2M3Yjc0ZGE4MGY4OGFiYTI1ZGZhYzgxYTNmZWZhMWFiODFkZDk0Ng2","url":"http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2026/06/29/dont-let-a-crisis-go-to-waste-pivoting-africa-s-transport-to-clean-energy","count":"Ethiopia,Rwanda,Kenya,South Africa","descr":{"cdata!":"See how electric mobility can cut fuel imports, ease fiscal pressure, and strengthen Africa’s transport resilience."},"keywd":"programs:mission-300,subject:transport,country:Ethiopia,country:Rwanda,country:Kenya,country:South Africa,subject:energy-access,subject:renewable energy","lang":"English","title":{"cdata!":"Don't Let a Crisis Go to Waste: Pivoting Africa's Transport to Clean Energy"},"topic":"Transport,Energy-access,Renewable Energy","cqpath":"/content/wb-home/en/news/feature/2026/06/29/dont-let-a-crisis-go-to-waste-pivoting-africa-s-transport-to-clean-energy","lnchdt":"2026-06-29T12:15:47Z","wcmsource":"cq5","country":"Ethiopia,Rwanda,Kenya,South Africa","countcode":"ET,RW,KE,ZA","conttype":"Feature Story","content":{"cdata!":" African policymakers dealing with the current oil shock would do well to recall the Chinese word for crisis, 危机 (wēijī), which has two characters: 危 (wēi), meaning “danger”, and 机 (jī), meaning “opportunity”. The current oil shock presents Africa with both. Import costs are rising, currencies are depreciating, fuel subsidies are consuming scarce fiscal space, and higher transport costs are pushing up food prices in economies where households have little room to absorb further strain. But within that danger lies an opportunity: to use this crisis to pivot Africa's transport systems away from imported petroleum toward locally produced clean energy. Countries that act on that opportunity will break a cycle of fuel dependence that has repeatedly drained their foreign exchange and transmitted external shocks through their economies. The conditions for a serious policy pivot are now more favorable than at any previous point. World Bank research and practical experience in Africa has demonstrated the economic case of electric mobility transition. Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Kenya have already demonstrated operational feasibility. Mission 300, the joint World Bank Group–African Development Bank initiative to connect 300 million people in Africa to electricity by 2030, is expanding the relevant energy infrastructure. Countries that respond only with subsidies and tax cuts will face the next shock with less fiscal room and no structural progress to show for the cost of this one.Oil shock transmission and the limits of current policy responses Road transport accounts for roughly 80% of imported fuel consumption across Africa, and median spending on gasoline and diesel imports amounts to 3.6% of GDP, which is higher than in any other region of the world. Between 80 and 90% of goods in Africa move by road, and transport costs account for up to 45% of the final retail price of basic staples such as maize, rice, and cassava. Higher fuel prices translate rapidly into higher freight rates, which pass through to consumer prices with minimal delay. In economies where households spend close to 40% of their income on food, the consequences fall hardest on those least able to absorb them. The fiscal consequences follow. Governments respond through subsidies, VAT reductions, and price controls, measures that widen deficits, crowd out development spending, and once introduced are politically difficult to reverse. Fossil fuel subsidies in Sub-Saharan Africa doubled after the 2022 energy price crisis and are expected to rise further under the current one. Meanwhile, rising import bills widen current account deficits, pressure exchange rates, and currency depreciation raises the local cost of fuel further, amplifying the original shock. Transport is not simply one sector affected by the disruption. It is the mechanism through which an oil price movement becomes an economy-wide crisis. Governments across the region have responded with familiar instruments. South Africa introduced emergency fuel levy relief at an estimated fiscal cost of R17.2 billion. Kenya deployed KSh5 billion from the Petroleum Development Levy Fund. Ethiopia has introduced rationing and administrative allocation measures. None of these responses reduce the underlying exposure. The billions deployed on subsidies and levy relief are a recurring fiscal cost that returns with every price cycle. Redirecting even a portion of that expenditure toward electric mobility would begin to reduce the import dependence that makes such interventions necessary. Binyam Reja, World Bank Practice Manager for Transport in the East and Southern Africa Region notes that, “Electric mobility should be part of Africa’s economic resilience strategy. By shifting transport from imported petroleum to increasingly domestic electricity, countries can reduce exposure to oil price shocks, protect scarce foreign exchange, and lower the cost of moving people and goods. Our analysis on the economics of e-mobility shows that this transition is not only technically possible, but already economically viable in several high use market segments, including buses, taxis, ride hailing fleets, and two and three wheelers.”The economic case for electrification is already established The global electric vehicle market is expanding rapidly. According to the IEA's latest Global EV Outlook, electric vehicle sales reached approximately 21 million units in 2025, representing one in every four new vehicles sold globally, and are projected to rise to 23 million in 2026. Growth is no longer confined to advanced economies. In Southeast Asia, sales more than doubled in the first quarter of 2026, while India recorded growth exceeding 30 percent. In Africa, electric vehicle sales grew from roughly 4,000 units in 2023 to nearly 25,000 in 2025.  A recent World Bank report on electric mobility finds that in many developing economies, the total lifetime cost of owning and operating an electric vehicle is already lower than a conventional one in the segments that carry the most passengers and consume the most fuel, and that this holds without large consumer subsidies. The strongest economics are in high-utilization segments: urban buses, taxis, ride-hailing fleets, and two and three-wheelers. Electrifying these segments reduces petroleum imports, lowers foreign exchange requirements, and reduces the transmission of international oil price volatility into domestic prices. These are macroeconomic benefits as much as sectoral ones, which is why this agenda belongs in finance ministries and central banks, not only in transport and environment agencies. Several African countries are already moving in this direction. Ethiopia has banned imports of new gasoline and diesel passenger vehicles as part of a broader effort to reduce fuel import dependence and foreign exchange pressures. Rwanda has become a leader in electric motorcycles and electric public transport. Kenya has witnessed rapid growth in commercially driven electric motorcycle fleets and charging networks, supported largely by favourable operator economics rather than regulatory mandates.Where energy access and transport electrification meet: Leveraging Mission 300 for e-mobility Mission 300 offers a significant and underused opportunity to advance transport electrification. About half of the new connections to electricity are expected to come from distributed renewable systems such as solar home systems and mini-grids. Their value can be increased further if they are designed to support vehicle charging. Transport electrification can also reinforce the energy access agenda: charging infrastructure for public and private transport can provide anchor demand, improve system utilization, and reduce the cost of expanding electricity access to nearby communities. A solar home system that also charges an electric motorcycle overnight eliminates a daily fuel expense for the operator at near-zero marginal cost once the system is paid off. At the mini-grid level, electric vehicle charging provides the productive daytime load that improves commercial viability, lowers unit electricity costs for all users, and makes the energy access investment more durable without ongoing subsidy. In both cases, the transport and energy investments are mutually reinforcing, and integrating them at the design stage costs far less than retrofitting the connection afterward. These two agendas have largely been managed through separate institutional channels. Specifying charging compatibility in solar home systems, incorporating vehicle loads into mini-grid demand projections, and embedding e-mobility targets in National Energy Compacts would improve the returns on both at marginal additional cost.  “One of our foci under Mission 300 is on productive use of energy and quality connections. In the current context, connecting and electrifying mobility systems will allow significant fiscal and economic gain. Many countries across Africa will benefit from a shift to e-mobility,” says Simon Stolp, World Bank Practice Manager for Energy in the East and Southern Africa Region.What policy makers must do to scale transport electrification Scaling transport electrification in Africa requires four practical shifts. First, governments should measure the right outcomes. Counting electric vehicles sold reveals little about whether fuel import dependence is declining. Targets should be set in terms of petroleum displaced and foreign exchange saved, the indicators that matter for reducing external vulnerability. Second, aggregate demand. No single African country is large enough to negotiate competitive terms from global manufacturers on its own. Pooling procurement across cities, countries, and regional bodies reduces unit costs, attracts manufacturer commitment, and builds the supply chain depth needed for long-term maintenance. Third, adapt financing to operator realities. The higher upfront cost of electric vehicles is a real barrier for motorcycle taxi riders, minibus operators, and small fleet owners who rely on informal credit. Financing structured around the fuel savings the vehicle generates, supported by blended finance instruments and fleet aggregation that creates bankable transaction sizes, can move these models from pilots to standard practice. Fourth, treat charging infrastructure as a public good. Operators will not switch at scale without reliable charging. Governments need to plan for charging access with the same seriousness applied to roads and electricity connections, including in secondary towns and along freight corridors, and should recognize that transport electrification as an anchor load can also improve the economics of broader energy access investment under Mission 300.The future The current oil shock will eventually ease, as such shocks always do, but it will not be the last. The structural dependence on imported petroleum that makes each episode so costly will not diminish unless the fuels powering transport begin to change. The 危 (wēi) is real, and its costs are already visible in fiscal accounts, exchange rates, and household budgets. The 机 (jī) is that viable solutions are present to pivot Africa’s transport energy. Whether the opportunity is used to drive structural change will determine how exposed African economies remain when the next disruption arrives."},"content_1000":{"cdata!":" African policymakers dealing with the current oil shock would do well to recall the Chinese word for crisis, 危机 (wēijī), which has two characters: 危 (wēi), meaning “danger”, and 机 (jī), meaning “opportunity”. The current oil shock presents Africa with both. Import costs are rising, currencies are depreciating, fuel subsidies are consuming scarce fiscal space, and higher transport costs are pushing up food prices in economies where households have little room to absorb further strain. But within that danger lies an opportunity: to use this crisis to pivot Africa's transport systems away from imported petroleum toward locally produced clean energy. Countries that act on that opportunity will break a cycle of fuel dependence that has repeatedly drained their foreign exchange and transmitted external shocks through their economies. The conditions for a serious policy pivot are now more favorable than at any previous point. World Bank research and practical experience in Africa has demonst"},"displayconttype":"Feature Story","originating_unit":"Africa, AFR","funding_source":"IDA"},"OWYwNDY4MTM1NWYwNDQ1NjRjYzJlZTMzYjFlYmZiNDNlYzE0OGNmNg2":{"id":"OWYwNDY4MTM1NWYwNDQ1NjRjYzJlZTMzYjFlYmZiNDNlYzE0OGNmNg2","url":"http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2026/06/29/delivering-safe-sanitation-and-better-health-in-mozambique","descr":{"cdata!":"Across five of Mozambique's fastest-growing cities, the Mozambique Urban Sanitation Project is expanding access to improved sanitation and transforming living conditions for more than 265,000 people."},"lang":"English","title":{"cdata!":"Delivering Safe Sanitation and Better Health in Mozambique"},"cqpath":"/content/wb-home/en/news/feature/2026/06/29/delivering-safe-sanitation-and-better-health-in-mozambique","lnchdt":"2026-06-29T09:50:22Z","wcmsource":"cq5","conttype":"Feature Story","content":{"cdata!":" For the first time, Jordina has a safe, private toilet. Standing outside the small green structure in the Filipe Samuel Magaia neighborhood of Tete, her baby in her arms, she smiles with pride.  Unlike the makeshift latrine her family once relied on, it does not flood during heavy rains or force them to leave home in search of safer alternatives. It may look simple but for Jordina it represents dignity, safety, and peace of mind. Jordina's story is becoming increasingly common. Across five of Mozambique's fastest-growing cities, Maputo, Beira, Nampula, Tete, and Quelimane, the Mozambique Urban Sanitation Project, financed by a grant from the International Development Association with support from the Global Water Security and Sanitation Partnership, and implemented by the Government of Mozambique, is expanding access to improved sanitation and transforming living conditions for more than 265,000 people.  A Crisis Long in the Making A decade ago, Mozambique's cities were struggling to keep pace with rapid growth. Urbanization, expanding informal settlements, recurring natural disasters, and years of underinvestment had pushed sanitation infrastructure to its limits. In most cities, fewer than 10 percent of residents were connected to sewerage networks, leaving the majority dependent on latrines and septic tanks. Untreated wastewater and fecal sludge often flowed into rivers and coastal waters. In cities such as Quelimane and Tete, more than one in five residents still practiced open defecation. Tete resident Jenifer Vontade says she had no choice but to relieve herself outdoors. “It often meant waiting until the area was safe to avoid snakes and other dangers.” Beyond the embarrassment, she adds, “the conditions left people constantly exposed to contamination and disease.” The health consequences were severe. According to Pedro Martinez, a neighborhood secretary in Tete, the city experienced cholera outbreaks almost every year because of inadequate sanitation. Poor sanitation was estimated to cost the economy $125 million each year - $75 million in urban areas and $50 million in rural areas. Government estimates placed the investment needed to achieve universal access to safely managed sanitation by 2030 at over $1 billion, far beyond what domestic resources alone could finance. A Different Kind of Solution The Mozambique Urban Sanitation Project was designed to do more than build infrastructure. It was the first in a series of investments supporting Mozambique's National Urban Water and Sanitation Strategy. Its approach was based on the principles of Citywide Inclusive Sanitation, recognizing that no single solution can meet the needs of an entire city. Instead, it combines sewerage networks with well-managed on-site sanitation and fecal sludge management, ensuring that services reach low-income communities as well as formally planned neighborhoods. Inclusion was built into the project from the outset, with a goal of ensuring that at least half of those benefiting are women and at least 40 percent come from the poorest households. From Household Toilets to Citywide Systems In Tete, the approach translated into 4,400 improved household toilets across eight low-income neighborhoods. The toilets were delivered through a sanitation marketing initiative known as Casa de Banho Verde (\"Green Toilet\"), which encouraged households to co-invest in their own toilets and take ownership of the solution. Maria Ernesto was one of them. She says that when she heard she could finally have a toilet of her own, \"my heart beat faster.\" Her family contributed 2,000 meticais toward the construction cost, a symbolic amount, she says, compared to what they received. The response exceeded expectations. More than 11,500 households applied for a Green Toilet in Tete alone, far surpassing the 4,400 toilets that could be delivered."},"content_1000":{"cdata!":" For the first time, Jordina has a safe, private toilet. Standing outside the small green structure in the Filipe Samuel Magaia neighborhood of Tete, her baby in her arms, she smiles with pride.  Unlike the makeshift latrine her family once relied on, it does not flood during heavy rains or force them to leave home in search of safer alternatives. It may look simple but for Jordina it represents dignity, safety, and peace of mind. Jordina's story is becoming increasingly common. Across five of Mozambique's fastest-growing cities, Maputo, Beira, Nampula, Tete, and Quelimane, the Mozambique Urban Sanitation Project, financed by a grant from the International Development Association with support from the Global Water Security and Sanitation Partnership, and implemented by the Government of Mozambique, is expanding access to improved sanitation and transforming living conditions for more than 265,000 people.  A Crisis Long in the Making A decade ago, Mozambique's cities were"},"displayconttype":"Feature Story","originating_unit":"Water, WAT"},"ODg3MTYyNTNmMjE1MmE5NjcyNmZhOGVhMjJlZDYzOTEyZGZhZWQ3Yg2":{"id":"ODg3MTYyNTNmMjE1MmE5NjcyNmZhOGVhMjJlZDYzOTEyZGZhZWQ3Yg2","url":"http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2026/06/29/how-central-asia-is-pioneering-a-scalable-solution-for-energy-reform","count":"Kyrgyz Republic,Uzbekistan","descr":{"cdata!":"With World Bank support through iCRAFT and iFIRST, Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic are testing a results-based model for energy reform that could scale globally."},"keywd":"regions:Europe and Central Asia,country:Kyrgyz Republic,country:Uzbekistan,subject:energy and extractives","lang":"English","admreg":"Europe and Central Asia","title":{"cdata!":"How Central Asia Is Pioneering a Scalable Solution for Energy Reform"},"topic":"Energy And Extractives","proid":"P512264,P180432","cqpath":"/content/wb-home/en/news/feature/2026/06/29/how-central-asia-is-pioneering-a-scalable-solution-for-energy-reform","lnchdt":"2026-06-29T08:18:07Z","regionname":"Europe and Central Asia","wcmsource":"cq5","country":"Kyrgyz Republic,Uzbekistan","countcode":"KG,UZ","conttype":"Feature Story","content":{"cdata!":" Across the world, many governments face a common set of challenges: how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, attract investment, and improve energy service delivery while implementing difficult reforms. In Central Asia, Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic are testing an approach that seeks to address all three issues at once. By combining policy reform, technical support, and results-based carbon finance, the two countries are pioneering a model that rewards measurable results and could offer lessons for other countries facing similar challenges.Why Reform Matters Reliable electricity underpins economic activity, from manufacturing and retail to health care and education. In Uzbekistan, businesses report that more reliable electricity has helped them expand operations and invest in new equipment.   \"Ten years ago, we relied on generators. Today electricity is reliable enough for us to expand our operations, invest in new equipment, and create new jobs,\" says Adham Anorov, the owner of a building supplies company in the country’s Samarkand region that now operates a laser cutter for sheet metal. But maintaining and expanding energy infrastructure requires utilities to have the resources needed to operate, maintain, and modernize their systems. In addition, saving energy is far more cost-effective and should be pursued alongside generation expansion.  For decades, many countries have kept energy prices below cost-recovery levels to shield consumers from higher bills. While well-intentioned, these policies can encourage overconsumption of energy use, strain public finances, and leave utilities without sufficient resources to invest in better services. Reforming energy subsidies can help address these challenges, but such reforms are often politically and socially complex."},"content_1000":{"cdata!":" Across the world, many governments face a common set of challenges: how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, attract investment, and improve energy service delivery while implementing difficult reforms. In Central Asia, Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic are testing an approach that seeks to address all three issues at once. By combining policy reform, technical support, and results-based carbon finance, the two countries are pioneering a model that rewards measurable results and could offer lessons for other countries facing similar challenges.Why Reform Matters Reliable electricity underpins economic activity, from manufacturing and retail to health care and education. In Uzbekistan, businesses report that more reliable electricity has helped them expand operations and invest in new equipment.   \"Ten years ago, we relied on generators. Today electricity is reliable enough for us to expand our operations, invest in new equipment, and create new jobs,\" says Adham Anorov, the "},"displayconttype":"Feature Story","originating_unit":"Europe and Central Asia, ECA","funding_source":"Trust Fund"},"YmJhNzIyYzZjMzZkY2ExZDQyZThjODdhMzQ0OTRiZTdkNTk5ZGJjNA2":{"id":"YmJhNzIyYzZjMzZkY2ExZDQyZThjODdhMzQ0OTRiZTdkNTk5ZGJjNA2","url":"http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2026/06/26/supporting-womens-economic-recovery-in-conflict-affected-ethiopia","count":"Ethiopia","descr":{"cdata!":"See how Ethiopia’s 3R4CACE project helps conflict-affected women rebuild livelihoods through childcare, tools, and tailored support."},"keywd":"regions:Africa,country:Ethiopia,subject:jobs and development,subject:gender,subject:fragility-conflict-and-violence","lang":"English","admreg":"Africa","title":{"cdata!":"Supporting Women’s Economic Recovery in Conflict-Affected Ethiopia"},"topic":"Jobs And Development,Gender,Fragility-conflict-and-violence","proid":"P177233","cqpath":"/content/wb-home/en/news/feature/2026/06/26/supporting-womens-economic-recovery-in-conflict-affected-ethiopia","lnchdt":"2026-06-26T12:11:11Z","regionname":"Africa","wcmsource":"cq5","country":"Ethiopia","countcode":"ET","conttype":"Feature Story","content":{"cdata!":" Before sunrise, many women in conflict-affected Ethiopia have already begun hours of unpaid work. Some walk long distances to collect water. Others gather firewood, prepare food, care for children, or tend to elderly relatives. By the time income-generating activities become possible, much of the day is already gone. When teams working under the World Bank-financed Response-Recovery-Resilience for Conflict-Affected Communities in Ethiopia (3R4CACE) project began studying how to support women’s economic recovery, the initial questions seemed straightforward. Which livelihoods are profitable? Which sectors are growing? Where is demand strongest? What enabling services will women need to access these livelihood opportunities?  In regions like Afar, Amhara, Benishangul-Gumuz, Oromia, and Tigray, conflict has intensified those pressures. Millions have been displaced. Gender-based violence (GBV) has surged. Markets have been disrupted, assets lost, and livelihoods uprooted. Yet across these communities, women continue searching for ways to rebuild. One key question came up that connected all the others: how do you recover and rebuild when you have lost so much to conflict?   The Hidden Barrier: Time Survey data from Ethiopia shows women spend significantly more time than men on unpaid domestic labor. When researchers asked women what kind of work they wanted, many gave the same answer: “I need something I can do from home.” The response reflected practical constraints rather than limited ambition. Many women were caring for children alone. Some faced mobility and safety risks linked to ongoing insecurity. Others lacked transportation or support networks after displacement. That changed how the project approached livelihoods programming. Rather than ask only what was profitable, the market analysis examined what was realistic under the conditions women were actually living in. The study, conducted with Ethiopian firm MAE Consulting, looked at customer demand and profitability as well as safety risks, climate resilience, access to inputs, and sustainability. Across regions, certain sectors consistently emerged as promising: livestock production, agriculture, food preparation, and small-scale processing. But the details varied depending on location. The findings of Ethiopia’s 3R4CACE project on women’s livelihoods reinforced a broad lesson: there is no one-size-fits-all model for rebuilding economic independence after conflict. Striking Gaps in Women’s Ownership of Assets Another pattern emerged from the Ethiopia Socio-Economic Panel Survey: women owned very few productive assets. Even tools commonly associated with women’s work—e.g., sewing machines, weaving equipment, and food-processing tools—were often controlled by men. The same was true for bicycles, agricultural equipment, and livestock assets. Without assets, women struggle to access credit, making it difficult to invest and deepening economic dependence. For GBV survivors and displaced women, that vulnerability can become even more acute. This reinforces why the project emphasizes economic reintegration packages that include the actual productive tools women need. Why Childcare Became Part of Economic Recovery Generously supported by a matching Early Learning Partnership grant, the 3R4CACE project is building 80 childcare centers in Ethiopia and training 1,500 women, many of whom are gender-based violence survivors, to become childcare providers. In most regions outside Addis Ababa, community-based childcare barely exists. This does three powerful things at once.It frees up women’s time so they can participate in training and income-generating work.It creates a new, dignified wage employment pathway.It builds social cohesion between internally displaced people and host communities. In regions where formal wage work is almost nonexistent for women, childcare work stands out. It’s not a side activity. It’s a structured job with national recognition, aligned with government standards. Designing Programs Around Women’s Realities In January 2026, the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs convened regional experts for a livelihoods workshop. The conversations made clear how time burdens, lack of assets, and scarce access to childcare shape what’s realistic for women. This exchange of on-the-ground expertise led to practical menus of livelihood options. In Benishangul-Gumuz, recommended options were agriculture, beekeeping, childcare, food processing, and livestock production. In Afar, they included beekeeping, dairy production, cooking, childcare, and livestock. In Oromia and Tigray, it was agriculture, tailoring, spice preparation, childcare, and livestock activities that emerged. The differences reflected a central lesson from the project: livelihoods programming for conflict-affected women and GBV survivors cannot be isolated from social norms, trauma, and time poverty. Economic empowerment is not just about income. It's about moving out of poverty through jobs, a core focus of the World Bank's Social Protection 500 (SP500) target. It’s about reducing vulnerability to violence and building resilience. It’s about giving a woman the ability to choose, and fostering realistic, context-specific, supported opportunities."},"content_1000":{"cdata!":" Before sunrise, many women in conflict-affected Ethiopia have already begun hours of unpaid work. Some walk long distances to collect water. Others gather firewood, prepare food, care for children, or tend to elderly relatives. By the time income-generating activities become possible, much of the day is already gone. When teams working under the World Bank-financed Response-Recovery-Resilience for Conflict-Affected Communities in Ethiopia (3R4CACE) project began studying how to support women’s economic recovery, the initial questions seemed straightforward. Which livelihoods are profitable? Which sectors are growing? Where is demand strongest? What enabling services will women need to access these livelihood opportunities?  In regions like Afar, Amhara, Benishangul-Gumuz, Oromia, and Tigray, conflict has intensified those pressures. Millions have been displaced. Gender-based violence (GBV) has surged. Markets have been disrupted, assets lost, and livelihoods uprooted. Yet ac"},"displayconttype":"Feature Story","originating_unit":"Africa, AFR","funding_source":"IDA"},"ODBlMzdmYmI5ZWEzMDgyYzZiMWMzYzBjMDkwMDYxZDNjYTEyMjJhZA2":{"id":"ODBlMzdmYmI5ZWEzMDgyYzZiMWMzYzBjMDkwMDYxZDNjYTEyMjJhZA2","url":"http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2026/06/25/connected-farmers-better-harvests-how-cameroon-agritech-innovators-are-transforming-agriculture","count":"Cameroon","descr":{"cdata!":"Cameroon is using digital innovation to transform agriculture, helping farmers gain better access to markets, information, inputs, and modern tools through the World Bank-supported PATNUC project."},"keywd":"subject:agriculture and food security,subject:agribusiness,subject:jobs and development,subject:sustainable economic growth,subject:green-growth,country:Cameroon,regions:Africa,subject:digital-transformation","lang":"English","admreg":"Africa","title":{"cdata!":"Connected Farmers, Better Harvests: How Cameroon’s Agritech Innovators Are Transforming Agriculture"},"topic":"Agriculture And Food Security,Agribusiness,Jobs And Development,Sustainable Economic Growth,Green-growth,Digital-transformation","cqpath":"/content/wb-home/en/news/feature/2026/06/25/connected-farmers-better-harvests-how-cameroon-agritech-innovators-are-transforming-agriculture","lnchdt":"2026-06-25T10:35:00Z","regionname":"Africa","wcmsource":"cq5","country":"Cameroon","countcode":"CM","conttype":"Feature Story","content":{"cdata!":" In Cameroon, where agriculture employs nearly 60% of the population, farmers have long faced limited access to markets, information, and modern tools. Today, a digital revolution is reshaping the sector — driven by a new generation of innovators and a World Bank-supported initiative accelerating change across the agricultural landscape. The Acceleration of the Digital Transformation of Cameroon Project (PATNUC) aims to expand digital inclusion while increasing the use of digital agricultural solutions. By investing in connectivity, digital literacy, and data systems, the project is helping farmers overcome structural barriers that have long constrained productivity and market access. Beyond infrastructure, PATNUC delivers tangible support to farmers. Through an e-voucher system, 35,000 smallholders access improved inputs such as seeds and fertilizers, while digital tools provide real-time insights into soil health and farming conditions. The result is stronger productivity and resilience, with projected yield increases of up to 100% for key crops. Central to this transformation is a flagship initiative: the Agritech Innovation Challenge."},"content_1000":{"cdata!":" In Cameroon, where agriculture employs nearly 60% of the population, farmers have long faced limited access to markets, information, and modern tools. Today, a digital revolution is reshaping the sector — driven by a new generation of innovators and a World Bank-supported initiative accelerating change across the agricultural landscape. The Acceleration of the Digital Transformation of Cameroon Project (PATNUC) aims to expand digital inclusion while increasing the use of digital agricultural solutions. By investing in connectivity, digital literacy, and data systems, the project is helping farmers overcome structural barriers that have long constrained productivity and market access. Beyond infrastructure, PATNUC delivers tangible support to farmers. Through an e-voucher system, 35,000 smallholders access improved inputs such as seeds and fertilizers, while digital tools provide real-time insights into soil health and farming conditions. The result is stronger productivity and resilie"},"displayconttype":"Feature Story","originating_unit":"Africa, AFR"},"M2I1ZDQxZDU4MGUwMTkyZmMyODAxMGRkMDc5MmQzODRjNmMxNGZjZg2":{"id":"M2I1ZDQxZDU4MGUwMTkyZmMyODAxMGRkMDc5MmQzODRjNmMxNGZjZg2","url":"http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2026/06/24/building-smarter-cities-how-digital-tools-are-transforming-public-services-in-viet-nam","count":"Vietnam","descr":{"cdata!":"An initiative supported by SECO and the World Bank worked with three cities in Viet Nam to co-design practical digital solutions tied to real public asset management needs."},"keywd":"country:Vietnam,regions:East Asia and Pacific,subject:digital-transformation","lang":"English","admreg":"East Asia and Pacific","title":{"cdata!":"Building Smarter Cities: How Digital Tools Are Transforming Public Services in Viet Nam"},"topic":"Digital-transformation","cqpath":"/content/wb-home/en/news/feature/2026/06/24/building-smarter-cities-how-digital-tools-are-transforming-public-services-in-viet-nam","lnchdt":"2026-06-24T16:19:00Z","regionname":"East Asia and Pacific","wcmsource":"cq5","country":"Vietnam","countcode":"VN","conttype":"Feature Story","content":{"cdata!":"  Viet Nam's cities face mounting development pressures—climate risks, rapid urbanization, and rising citizen expectations—alongside a persistent governance gap: paper files, inconsistent data, and siloed workflows that slow permits, deter investment, and limit job creation. The Disruptive Technologies for Public Asset Governance (DT4PAG) project set out to close that gap. Launched in 2023 with a US$3 million grant from Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) through the World Bank's Financial Management Umbrella Program, it partnered with three cities: Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Hue to co-design digital solutions around real operational needs—with early results pointing toward a larger prize: faster permits, better-managed public assets, and the investment and jobs that follow.  Ho Chi Minh City: Faster Flood Response Seasonal flooding can disrupt transportation, commerce, and daily life. Water levels can rise quickly, and decisions on where to deploy crews or how to advise residents depend on timely and reliable information. With DT4PAG support, the city introduced the Flood Exposure Reporting and Decision-Support Platform (FEDS), a real-time system through which field staff capture water levels and locations via mobile devices, feeding a live shared dashboard. Report compilation time dropped from two hours to 90 minutes—a 25% reduction—with greater accuracy and consistency, while the data generated strengthens longer-term planning on flood hotspots and patterns. “Based on this data, city leaders can develop appropriate solutions for flood prevention and control, while also providing timely updates to residents so they can proactively choose alternative routes,” explained Vo Thi Trung Trinh, Director of the HCMC Digital Transformation Center.  The platform’s biggest impact is still ahead. Two modules in development will allow authorities to prioritize flood mitigation investments and give residents live access to flood maps and real-time traffic rerouting. When fully operational, these features are estimated to generate up to VND 400 billion (~US$14 million) in annual travel time savings for citizens. Da Nang: Mapping and Managing Public Assets Public buildings such as offices, clinics, and cultural facilities are critical to service delivery. But when asset information is incomplete, or scattered across departments, cities struggle to plan maintenance, allocate budgets, and spot inefficient use. In 2026, with project support, Da Nang developed a centralized geospatial Public Buildings Management System (PBMS) that now tracks more than 5,000 public buildings, standardizing data on location, condition, and use. The results: a full asset monitoring cycle that once took 34 hours now takes 11 hours—a 68% reduction—freeing staff to focus on analysis and action rather than data entry. The system is also helping the city identify public buildings that are underutilized or improperly rented out. Addressing even half of such cases is estimated to recover more than VND 1 trillion (~US$40 million) in public asset value annually. “This will make it easier for us to manage and utilize assets, and develop proposals for their effective use,” said Phan Duy Anh, Deputy Director of the Department of Finance. Effective utilization, he added, can help prevent waste and support budget revenue for development investment.   A second Da Nang pilot—the Hai Chau Ward Spatial Integrated Management Platform (SIMP)—tackled construction permit approvals. Using GIS-based spatial analysis, the platform cut processing times from 10 days to 3.75 days. A cost-benefit analysis estimated SIMP’s benefits at eight times its investment cost.  Hue: Bringing Planning Online Urban planning shapes how residents and businesses interact with government—through permits, land-use decisions, and development approvals. In Hue, that process had long been slowed by paper-based records, scattered information, and manual reviews. Through DT4PAG, Hue created a citywide digital planning platform, integrating zoning maps, parcel data, and workflows into a unified GIS-based system. The platform aims to streamline reviews, improve consistency, and strengthen transparency for both officials and applicants. “It shows the digitalization level of each planning project through a large, user-friendly interface, which makes management easier,” said Tran Quang Hieu of the Department of Construction.  With Hue developing rapidly and its population exceeding 1.4 million, the platform provides decision-makers with tools to analyze shifting infrastructure supply and demand, manage urban sprawl, and balance competing economic, social, and environmental goals. Experience from Hue and Ho Chi Minh City also fed directly into a new government decree and circular creating a national construction database modeled on international standards — extending the project's impact well beyond three pilot cities. People and Processes: The Real Foundation   Technology alone doesn’t transform government. DT4PAG invested heavily in the human side of reform, co-developing a Digital Government Academy with Fulbright University Viet Nam to build skills in digital leadership, data governance, and user-centered design. International study exchanges to Singapore, Malaysia, Switzerland, and Austria deepened peer learning, while national-local dialogues advanced a new regulatory framework for construction management and digital transformation. “The practical lessons on user-centric design and data governance delivered during the DGA and knowledge exchanges have helped us improve the deployment of the Ho Chi Minh City’s OneApp and OneMap,” said Trinh from HCMC Digital Transformation Center."},"content_1000":{"cdata!":"  Viet Nam's cities face mounting development pressures—climate risks, rapid urbanization, and rising citizen expectations—alongside a persistent governance gap: paper files, inconsistent data, and siloed workflows that slow permits, deter investment, and limit job creation. The Disruptive Technologies for Public Asset Governance (DT4PAG) project set out to close that gap. Launched in 2023 with a US$3 million grant from Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) through the World Bank's Financial Management Umbrella Program, it partnered with three cities: Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Hue to co-design digital solutions around real operational needs—with early results pointing toward a larger prize: faster permits, better-managed public assets, and the investment and jobs that follow.  Ho Chi Minh City: Faster Flood Response Seasonal flooding can disrupt transportation, commerce, and daily life. Water levels can rise quickly, and decisions on where"},"displayconttype":"Feature Story","originating_unit":"East Asia and Pacific, EAP","funding_source":"Trust Fund"},"YTM1NmVjZGNkNDVhYzczZGIyNWI5ZTZiMzJkMjdhNGY0YWZhZDFkYg2":{"id":"YTM1NmVjZGNkNDVhYzczZGIyNWI5ZTZiMzJkMjdhNGY0YWZhZDFkYg2","url":"http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2026/06/24/world-bank-partnership-with-uganda-s-makerere-university-is-building-skills-and-job-potential","count":"Uganda","descr":{"cdata!":"See how the World Bank and Makerere University are building environmental and social skills for sustainable investments and better jobs in Uganda."},"keywd":"country:Uganda,regions:Africa,subject:jobs and development,subject:education,subject:environment and natural resources","lang":"English","admreg":"Africa","title":{"cdata!":"World Bank Partnership with Uganda’s Makerere University is Building Skills and Job Potential"},"topic":"Jobs And Development,Education,Environment And Natural Resources","cqpath":"/content/wb-home/en/news/feature/2026/06/24/world-bank-partnership-with-uganda-s-makerere-university-is-building-skills-and-job-potential","lnchdt":"2026-06-24T14:15:05Z","regionname":"Africa","wcmsource":"cq5","country":"Uganda","countcode":"UG","conttype":"Feature Story","content":{"cdata!":" Uganda’s development agenda is increasingly driven by large scale investments in infrastructure, energy, urban development, agro-industrialization, and service delivery. While these investments are essential for economic transformation, they also generate environmental and social risks that require careful management to protect people, and ecosystems, and to achieve long-term development outcomes. To address this challenge and bring the opportunities for sustainability, the World Bank has partnered with Makerere University to strengthen national systems for environmental and social sustainability through knowledge generation, capacity building, and job creation. On March 5, 2026, the World Bank and Makerere University signed a MoU in support of the established the Environment and Social Sustainability Centre (ESSC). This partnership supports the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) by strengthening country systems and building capacity where needed."},"content_1000":{"cdata!":" Uganda’s development agenda is increasingly driven by large scale investments in infrastructure, energy, urban development, agro-industrialization, and service delivery. While these investments are essential for economic transformation, they also generate environmental and social risks that require careful management to protect people, and ecosystems, and to achieve long-term development outcomes. To address this challenge and bring the opportunities for sustainability, the World Bank has partnered with Makerere University to strengthen national systems for environmental and social sustainability through knowledge generation, capacity building, and job creation. On March 5, 2026, the World Bank and Makerere University signed a MoU in support of the established the Environment and Social Sustainability Centre (ESSC). This partnership supports the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) by strengthening country systems and building capacity where needed."},"displayconttype":"Feature Story","originating_unit":"Africa, AFR","funding_source":"IDA"},"NjY0ZTU5MTc2NzEyM2FjMjdkNTMwZDYzMDkyY2EwMzEyMDIwMDk3ZQ2":{"id":"NjY0ZTU5MTc2NzEyM2FjMjdkNTMwZDYzMDkyY2EwMzEyMDIwMDk3ZQ2","url":"http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2026/06/24/guinea-bissau-2026-economic-update-pathways-for-unlocking-productivity-led-private-sector-growth","count":"Guinea-Bissau","descr":{"cdata!":"Economic activity strengthened in 2025, but recent gains remain fragile and insufficient to secure sustained, inclusive growth amid heightened political uncertainty. Fiscal consolidation progressed, but vulnerabilities persist. The external position improved modestly in 2025, as stronger export volumes and favorable terms of trade developments narrowed the current account deficit."},"keywd":"subject:economic growth analytics,subject:economic growth,subject:sustainable economic growth,country:Guinea-Bissau,regions:Africa,subject:private sector development,subject:private-sector","lang":"English","admreg":"Africa","title":{"cdata!":"Guinea-Bissau 2026 Economic Update: Pathways for Unlocking Productivity-Led Private Sector Growth"},"topic":"Economic Growth Analytics,Economic Growth,Sustainable Economic Growth,Private Sector Development,Private-sector","cqpath":"/content/wb-home/en/news/feature/2026/06/24/guinea-bissau-2026-economic-update-pathways-for-unlocking-productivity-led-private-sector-growth","lnchdt":"2026-06-24T13:12:00Z","regionname":"Africa","wcmsource":"cq5","country":"Guinea-Bissau","countcode":"GW","conttype":"Feature Story","content":{"cdata!":"Strong growth, but fragile foundations Real GDP expanded by 5.8% in 2025, driven by a strong cashew harvest and farmgate prices that supported rural incomes and private consumption. Services and construction added support, reflecting spillovers from agriculture. Inflation fell sharply to 0.9% in 2025, offering temporary relief to households amid continued political uncertainty. Recent gains, however, remain narrowly based, with the economy still heavily concentrated in raw cashew exports. The fiscal deficit narrowed to 6.5% of GDP, above target, reflecting capital expenditure cuts and restrained spending. Tax revenue rose slightly but remained the lowest in WAEMU at 8.5% of GDP. Public debt declined to 75.6% of GDP, supported by stronger nominal growth and a prudent concessional borrowing strategy, but remains above the WAEMU ceiling. The external position improved modestly, as stronger export volumes and favorable terms of trade narrowed the current account deficit, though cashew continued to dominate exports. The financial sector remains fragile with non-performing loans rising above 22% in June 2025. These developments are examined in greater depth in the Guinea-Bissau Economic Update 2026, which explores the country’s macroeconomic recent development, outlook, and the structural reforms needed to unlock productivity-led growth.Outlook dims as politics and global pressures weigh The outlook has weakened in the wake of the November 2025 political developments and spillovers from the conflict in the Middle East, with growth projected to slow to 4.8% in 2026. The conflict impacts Guinea-Bissau through higher fuel and food import prices (each about 30% of imports) and rising freight costs that squeeze cashew export margins —estimated to shave 0.3 pp off 2026 growth, lift inflation by 2 pp, and widen the current account deficit by 1.6 pp. Short-term policy priorities should focus on protecting vulnerable households while safeguarding macro fiscal sustainability. Medium-term growth is expected to stabilize around 5%, assuming gradual political normalization. Extreme poverty is projected to decline to 37.8% in 2028, but remains highly sensitive to food and fuel price volatility, which disproportionately affects rural households. Risks are tilted to the downside: prolonged political instability could delay reforms and weaken donor engagement, while higher global food and energy prices could strain inflation, the external position, and public finances."},"content_1000":{"cdata!":"Strong growth, but fragile foundations Real GDP expanded by 5.8% in 2025, driven by a strong cashew harvest and farmgate prices that supported rural incomes and private consumption. Services and construction added support, reflecting spillovers from agriculture. Inflation fell sharply to 0.9% in 2025, offering temporary relief to households amid continued political uncertainty. Recent gains, however, remain narrowly based, with the economy still heavily concentrated in raw cashew exports. The fiscal deficit narrowed to 6.5% of GDP, above target, reflecting capital expenditure cuts and restrained spending. Tax revenue rose slightly but remained the lowest in WAEMU at 8.5% of GDP. Public debt declined to 75.6% of GDP, supported by stronger nominal growth and a prudent concessional borrowing strategy, but remains above the WAEMU ceiling. The external position improved modestly, as stronger export volumes and favorable terms of trade narrowed the current account deficit, though cashew"},"displayconttype":"Feature Story","originating_unit":"Africa, AFR"},"facets":{"displayconttype_exact":{"0":{"count":7396,"name":"Feature Story","label":"Feature Story"}},"topic_exact":{"0":{"count":709,"name":"Environment And Natural Resources","label":"Environment And Natural Resources"},"1":{"count":675,"name":"Climate Change","label":"Climate Change"},"2":{"count":643,"name":"Education","label":"Education"},"3":{"count":605,"name":"Gender","label":"Gender"},"4":{"count":561,"name":"Agriculture And Food Security","label":"Agriculture And Food Security"},"5":{"count":510,"name":"Health","label":"Health"},"6":{"count":493,"name":"Jobs And Development","label":"Jobs And Development"},"7":{"count":433,"name":"Urban Development","label":"Urban Development"},"8":{"count":418,"name":"Energy And Extractives","label":"Energy And 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