With the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), world leaders made a bold pledge in 2015 to leave no one behind on the path of development by 2030. Half-way to the target date, some 22 countries…

Samuel Kofi Tetteh Baah, Christoph Lakner, Umar Serajuddin |

Sub-Saharan Africa has experienced low economic growth per capita, a very slow decline in poverty incidence, and the number of people living in extreme poverty has been rising steadily. As a…

Johannes Hoogeveen, Johan A. Mistiaen, Haoyu Wu |

Across the Sahel, young women are key contributors to the socio-economic development of their communities and countries.

Eleonora Cavagnero, Rohini P. Pande, Judith F. Helzner |

According to the recent World Bank Gender Disparities and Poverty: A Background Paper for the Togo Poverty and Gender Assessment 2022 , in many dimensions of gender equality, Togo performs better…

Miriam Muller, Jozefien Van Damme |

Like many of its neighbors, Benin is experiencing growing threats of conflict. The country’s proximity to Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, and Mali—all experiencing violent extremism—makes it…

Solene Rougeaux, Saint-Martin Kodjovi Mongan Agbeshie |

School leadership plays a major role in shaping the quality of education, acting as a strategic lever to foster conducive learning conditions for students. Despite this, the characteristics of…

Nathalie Guilbert, Carolina Alban Conto, Fabricia Devignes, Juan D. Barón |

An estimated 1 in 6 people experience significant disability, making it essential to consider accessibility when planning, financing and building infrastructure. Japan and the World Bank are…

Yohei Takahashi, Imad N. Fakhoury, Charlotte McClain-Nhlapo |

The World Bank supports cybersecurity skills development initiatives in developing countries to help close the cybersecurity skills gap and enhance cyber resilience as a catalyst for socio-…

Ghislain de Salins, Anat Lewin |

The Grand Nokoué metropolis of Benin has struggled with a lack of services for safe disposal and treatment of human waste for years. A new fecal sludge plant, built in Sèmè-Kpodji with support…

Mariam Sou, Xavier Chauvot De Beauchene, Kevin Ahouandjinou |

Between October 2021 and October 2022, seven countries in Sub-Saharan Africa implemented positive changes that have had a profound impact on women's participation in their economies.

Paula Tavares, Dion Benetatos |