In seven East Asia and Pacific (EAP) countries, policymakers prioritize secondary school completion over basic learning quality, while underestimating the levels of learning poverty. This…

Noah Yarrow, Rythia Afkar, Paul Cahu, Mary E. Breeding |

Cambodia has made remarkable development progress over the past decades through rapid economic growth, averaging over seven percent per year in the decade before the COVID-19 pandemic and lifting…

Sebastian Eckardt, Faya Hayati |

Universal health coverage and health resilience must advance equality and inclusion and meet the needs of all people.

Lucas de Toca, Ronald Upenyu Mutasa |

The World Bank leveraged the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Trust Fund to help the Lao PDR improve healthcare waste and wastewater management through the COVID-19 Emergency Response…

Rieko Kubota, Emiko Masaki, Mahoko Kamatsuchi, Pham Ngoc Bao |

Laos relies on global and regional trade for economic growth. The World Bank supports efforts to streamline its border clearance.

Konesawang Nghardsaysone, Khampao Nanthavong |

Road safety in Laos is a major public health issue causing economic losses of around 5% of GDP, with challenges including unsafe road design, weak compliance with traffic rules, and limited…

Sombath Southivong |

A World Bank study of 1,900 Lao citizens found 1/3 burn waste at home, while 2/3 use waste-collection, recycle or reuse. A 3rd have no access to waste-collection services. Improved access to waste…

Ailin Tomio, Maurice Andres Rawlins, Kaysone Vongthavilay, Daniel Alejandro Pinzón Hernández , Renos Vakis |

With extensive coastlines, many island nations, and low-lying territories, the East Asia and Pacific region is highly susceptible to climate-related disasters. The region has developing and…

Abidah B. Setyowati, Susan Shen |

With nearly 10,000 inhabited islands, there are thousands of diverse island communities across Southeast Asia facing the challenge of beaches covered in plastic. Photo: Shutterstock/

Kate Philp |

The World Bank currently supports Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Lao PDR with the registration of land rights in rural areas, including various forms of technical assistance on…

Willem van der Muur |