These are some of the most pressing development priorities in South Asia and the topics for our most popular blogs in 2020.

Trishna Thapa |

The lack of affordable and reliable childcare options in Sri Lanka, especially for for daily wage earners, has brought the issue of childcare sharply into focus.

Renu Warnasuriya |

Niranjala’s husband started physically abusing her soon after they got married. It got worse after their first child. When she was about to file for a divorce, the pandemic struck.

Faris Hadad-Zervos |

In Yemen, collaboration is critical more so now when there’s a global pandemic, particularly if development institutions are to provide the best assistance package so client countries can restore…

Carmen Nonay |

The COVID-19 pandemic is having a devastating impact on public health, societies, and economies around the world: it could push up to 150 million people into extreme poverty by the end of 2021.…

David Malpass |

As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on in South Asia, reversing years of hard-won development and economic gains, it is more necessary than ever to think consciously about the future of transport and…

Hartwig Schafer |

Yemen is at a critical juncture as the peace process struggles to gain traction, the threat of famine looms, and COVID-19 continues to spread. Raja Bentaouet Kattan, Yemen’s outgoing Country…

Raja Bentaouet Kattan |

Hard-won gains in health and education over the past decade are at risk as essential services and household incomes crumble.

Mamta Murthi |

The World Bank Group's 2020 Human Capital Index reminds us that much still needs to be to done to strengthen human development outcomes such as health and education.

Hartwig Schafer |

To ensure that the Sri Lanka Water Supply and Sanitation Improvement Project was inclusive, we listened to the voices of diverse women, especially those in areas where poverty rates are high and…

Aroha Bahuguna |