Globally, women earn about 80% of what men earn on average. But the gap is larger in Central Asia: working women earn about 60% of what men earn in Tajikistan, 61% in Uzbekistan, 75% in the Kyrgyz…

Tatiana Proskuryakova, William Seitz |

There is overwhelming consensus from high-performing education systems that effective professional development systems leverage the potential of teachers as drivers for improving education quality…

Tamo Chattopadhay, Syedah Aroob Iqbal |

The World Bank is committed to working with all our stakeholders to end gender-based violence (GBV). The time has come to break the silence surrounding GBV in Central Asia, increase awareness, and…

Tatiana Proskuryakova |

In marking World Toilet Day on November 19, we want to reaffirm the World Bank’s support to the Kyrgyz Republic in raising living standards of its citizens: improving people’s access to safe water…

Tatiana Proskuryakova, Naveed Hassan Naqvi, Jyldyz Djakypova |

Central Asian countries are joining forces across the environment, agriculture, and health sectors to protect food systems and prevent future pandemics.

Tatiana Proskuryakova, Martien van Nieuwkoop |

Policymakers around the world must balance providing continued support to households and businesses confronting new challenges, such as the global rise in inflation and the war in Ukraine, while…

Ilias Skamnelos, Martin Kanz, Emiko Todoroki |

Disaster risk financing is one crucial component of disaster preparedness. Financial resilience to climate-induced and other natural hazards can boost countries’ capacity to bounce back after…

Martin Melecky, Tatiana Skalon |

The Kyrgyz Open Joint Stock Company Guarantee Fund (GF) program has played an important role in supporting MSMEs’ access to finance when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Emiko Todoroki, Malik-Aidar Abakirov, Eric Talasbaev |

Businesses worldwide feel the repercussions of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but how exactly is the private sector faring in Central Asia—a region with deep trade and investment ties to Russia…

Mariana Iootty, Martin Melecky |

The more accurate the public can be in documenting their driving experiences, the more precise government agencies and development partners, like the World Bank, can help fill pot-holes—ensuring a…

Charles Cormier, Tatiana Proskuryakova |