In the Africa Chief Economist’s Office, we seek to generate knowledge on key development issues around the continent. We also host the Gender Innovation Lab, which – as the name suggests –…

David Evans |

Also available in: Français Entrepreneurs participating in the e-Takara competition to address specific challenges expressed by Nigerien public administrations. Credit: Niger Digital “The training…

Alexandre Laure, Simon Duchatelet |

Closing Plenary of the Investor Forum. © World Bank “Private capital is often an important source of sustainable finance. Public finance alone may not be sufficient to meet the demands for…

Ceyla Pazarbasioglu |

© Maria Fleischmann/World Bank Sustainability is the holy grail of development. There are many interventions that yield positive results in the short term but somehow fail to be sustained over…

Oscar Calvo-González, Abel Cruz, Marco Hernandez |

At the Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund in Bali, Indonesia, the World Bank highlighted the importance of human capital for economic development.   Central to…

Julia Liberman, Rachel Cooper, Victoria Levin |

When I asked a table of Nigerian bankers whether corporate debt to finance solar off-grid and mini grid companies would find favor in local capital markets, they literally laughed at the idea. No…

Jonathan Coony |

© Dominic Chavez/Global Financing Facility [[tweetable]]Still today, in almost all societies around the world, women are less well-off than men.[[/tweetable]] Women are still paid less than men;…

Kristalina Georgieva |

  © Dominic Chavez/Global Financing Facility [[tweetable]]​When countries invest in people—particularly young people—they're investing in the future and giving the next generation an…

Jim Yong Kim |

“African participants visit modern container port in Ningbo, China. Photo credit World Bank” This September I traveled to Beijing and Ningbo, China, to participate in the second Africa China World…

Girma Woldetsadik |

Newly assigned to Dakar, Senegal, I must, of course, take steps to have water, electricity, internet and a bank account.  For the latter, I chose a large bank for its reputation and its wide…

Laurent Gonnet |