On World Toilet Day, we raise awareness of the value of safe sanitation for all. We can all recognize the importance of toilets for dignity, health, and safety. But less well known is how valuable…

Jennifer J. Sara, Ndeye Awa Diagne, Nishtha Mehta |

As countries rebuild their economies from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical that women and gender considerations are at the heart of governments’ strategies for an inclusive and…

Nora Elizabeth McGann, Nazaneen Ismail Ali |

Illicit trade in tobacco products undermines global tobacco prevention and control interventions, particularly with respect to tobacco tax policy. From a public health perspective, illicit trade…

Sheila Dutta |

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 |

Photo: shplendid | Flickr Creative Commons Talk of trade tariffs and heightened geopolitical tensions are dominating news headlines recently. As developed economies consider escalating…

Mark Moseley |

Many countries are experiencing urbanization within the context of increased decentralization and fiscal adjustment. This puts sub-national entities (local governments, utilities and state-owned…

Kirti Devi, Luciana Guimaraes Drummond e Silva |

More than 700 million people live in extreme poverty around the world. If that number seems daunting, then consider this: 1.1 billion people – more than three times the population of the United…

Korina Lopez |

Also available in: Français | العربية   A boat trip from Port Elizabeth to Kingstown, in the Caribbean country of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, is a one-hour trip that locals take several…

Valerie Lorena |

Paving a highway in Brazil. In 2014, Brazil's  infrastructure investment commitments ​drove an overall global increase. In March we released the update from the Private Participation in…

Clive Harris |